How will the future GM enterprise operate?
That's the question the Manufacturing Systems Research 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. MSR 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. MSR 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.
