Enterprise Systems Lab

How will the future GM enterprise operate?
That's the question the Enterprise Systems Lab is devoted to answering. The focus of this lab is to provide math-based processes and systems for GM's planning, vehicle development, manufacturing, and distribution operations - to enable GM to be the leading (and most agile) competitor in the global transportation industry. ESL aims to develop the following:
  • Math-based methods to enable agility, reduce costs, and improve quality in body assembly and joining operations
  • Math-based processes and systems modeling for the manufacture of body components that will reduce development cost and lead time, and enable new process technologies to be implemented at GM
  • Principles, analytic models, and decision tools to improve the design and operation of GM's supply chain systems and to help build strategies in electronic commerce
  • Math-based process and systems models, and next-generation agile system designs for powertrain-related manufacturing operations that will enable GM to reduce piece cost and lead time, and improve part quality for current and future manufacturing operations
  • Principles, analytic models, and decision tools to optimize the design and operation of GM's production systems.
The lab's competencies range from statistics, optimization, and operations research to engineering mechanics, materials science, production planning, information sciences, and financial and systems modeling. ESL is also active in quality research (not only investigating assembly issues, but also customer assessment and perception of quality); organization research, including decision making, alliances, social networks, and vehicle options; and market research and statistical modeling in product development. The lab is drawing upon all of these capabilities, working with GM operating units and key universities, in its efforts to transform virtually every aspect of the automotive enterprise.

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Neil McKay