www.insightssuccess.com July 2017
THE MOST INNOVATIVE
SOLUTION PROVIDER COMPANIES 2017
Industry Insider Advancing Trends in Automotive Industry Steve Luke CEO
Industry Watch Automotive is the Biggest platform to the Robotics Industry
Eclipse Corporation
The Power House of Enterprise Document Solutions
Editorial
T
he Automobile Industry is one of the most important sectors in any country around the world. The importance is drawn from more factors than just revenue and employment. The automobile industry is one industry that drives other major industries such as steel, iron, rubber, aluminum, electronics, plastics, glass, advertising and marketing, transport and insurance. It is futile to undermine the revenue potential of the automotive industry for any economy. However, the environmental factor is a major hindrance to an exponential growth for most of the automotive industries. This is the main reason why most of the recent innovations and research are being done in reducing the emissions or the harmful impact on the environment.
Being EnvironmentFriendly is Proving to be Benecial for the Automotive Industry
One of the most primary measures undertaken by the automotive industries all over the world is renouncing the traditional Linear Economic paradigm. This economic pattern was widely adopted at a time when resources were abundantly available and the demand was few. This model involved procurement of the raw materials from the earth’s surface, developing products that remained in the fad for a few years and then later being replaced with a new trend in the market. The problem with this model was the changing conditions that came about with the passage of time. With the rise in demand and with dwindling resources, the costs of basic resources have increased substantially. With the rising cost, consumers are looking at their vehicles as long-term acquisitions. Hence, in order to garner the image of a long withstanding product, industries are implementing better durable materials and a more sophisticated level of technology. Since the industry can no longer afford the scrapping of old cars, the automotive industry has currently incorporated the efficient circular economy. With this economy, industries could reuse the deserted resources into latest technologies and thereby overcome the effects on the environment and other major operational inefficiencies. With the adoption of the circular model, manufacturers are reinventing the design principles to make the entire manufacturing process environment friendly. The designs are made while keeping the future possible upgrades in mind and also while considering the usage of recycled products. This improves the longevity of the end product and brings the wastage rate almost to zero. This circular practice is truly proving to be a revolution in the automotive industry. With the wide acceptance of this model, major automotive players are adopting the build, reuse and upgrade model. Manufacturers are increasingly encouraging the consumers to upgrade to the latest models by submitting the older models instead of scrapping them. This way, manufacturers are saving on the procurement cost of the natural resources, building a long-term relation with their clients and doing their part to help conserve the environment.
Ujal Nair
Editor-in-Chief Pooja M. Bansal Senior Editor Ariana Lawrence Managing Editor Ujal Nair Co-Editors Jacob Thomas Kaustav Roy Debasmita Dutta Sachin Bhandare Visualiser David King Art & Design Director Amol Kamble Co-designer Alex Noel Picture Editor Rahul Kavanekar Art Editor Vinod Alhat Business Development Manager John Mathew Steve Smith Marketing Manager Chris Business Development Executive David, Joseph, John, Mary Research Analyst Jennifer Circulation Manager Robert Database Management Steve Technology Consultant Vishal More sales@insightssuccess.com
July, 2017 Corporate Ofď€ ces: Insights Success Media Tech LLC 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - (614)-602-1754 Email: info@insightssuccess.com For Subscription: Visit www.insightssuccess.com 7
Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. Ofď€ ce No. 513, 5th Floor, Rainbow Plaza, Shivar Chowk, Pimple Saudagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411017 Phone - India: 020-69400110, 111, 112 Email: meera@insightssuccess.in For Subscription: Visit www.insightssuccess.in ,
COVER STORY
08
Eclipse CORPORATION: The Power House of Enterprise Documentation Solutions
ARTICLES Industry insider
Advancing Trends in Automotive Industry
28
industry watch
Automotive is the Biggest platform to the Robotics Industry
20
environmental talk
Environmental Responsibilities for Business in depth Industrial Internet of Things: The Magic Wand That Can Change the Future Economy
34
16
General Motors: A Supreme Global Automotive Company
24 HDBaseT Alliance: Revolutionizing In-Vehicle Connectivity
26 Lowry Solutions: Improving Business Processes Since Decades
32 Micron: The Leading Memory Partner for the Automotive Industry
38
Balancing between Conventional and Radical is the Current Practice in the Automotive World
T
he current strata of the automotive industry stalwarts are stuck between two kinds of customers. Their differentiation lies in the fact that they belong to two different generations; one that stresses on the heavily tech-laden product and the other that looks for sheer practicality and affordability. Today, most of the companies are performing a spectacular balancing act that involves them satiating the thirst of the tech-savvy millennials and the practicality-seeking baby boomers. Through the issue, The 10 Most Innovative Automotive Tech Solution Provider Companies, 2017, we have shed light on some of the best innovations that have come from the automotive industry. During the process, we have taken the liberty of highlighting some of the most promising names in the automotive industry. As the cover story, we have Eclipse Corporation. Led by Steve Luke, Eclipse Corporation is renowned for offering a full range of software solutions for all the document design and automation needs. The popular DocOrigin from Eclipse Corporation is an all-in-one solution for all enterprise forms, documents, labels, and checks. Through this single software solution, they design and generate the presentation of labels, forms, and documents. This solution has made a complex and mission-critical process into a simple and transparent one. Eclipse is widely credited for improving the effectiveness of thousands of transactional documents and subsequently reducing the impact on the environment. In this issue, we are highly honored to feature General Motors, an influential figure when it comes to the automotive world. In this issue, you will find out as to why General Motors is widely recognized for their designs, manufactures, markets and the distribution of vehicle and vehicle parts. We find equal honor in introducing HDBaseT Alliance, a non-profit organization that extends solutions to the challenges in in-vehicle connectivity with a technology named HDBaseT Automotive. You would find it quite interesting to read about Lowry Solutions, a global system integrator of Supply Chain, IoT, and Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) for several application changes in a wide range of industries. Micron is another innovative company that is known to provide the best memory solutions for a broad range of applications and technological possibilities. While you are going through the achievements of these companies, do take a moment to glance through some of the interesting articles written by our writers under the section Mentor’s Mind and Industry Watch that are titled as, Passenger Commands, Car Disposes: The Future is Autonomous and Revolutionary Innovations in Automotive Assembly Plants. So Flip through the pages and spread the light.
Steve Luke CEO
Eclipse Corporation
COVER STORY
The Power House of Enterprise Document Solutions
“
“
We have the ability to design and deliver any document, anywhere, anytime and anyway you want it
O
ne of the biggest challenges faced by the automotive industry is convincing their clients of a need for the products they make and the services they provide. Clients of the automotive industry are always skeptical of the above two factors and the members of the industry are always toeing the line with strict government guidelines. So, the competition is pretty tough and the stakes are set very high. The Standards of Quality are raised with the launch of every new product from various companies. The entire prestige of a company rests on each and every small component produced, authenticity proven and transparency exhibited. This is where the need for document designing and automation arises. Manufacturers have to produce information that is human and machine readable at the speed of business. Whether it is labeling small components used in sub-assemblies or printing manifests on the automotive production line, manufacturers will only need one software solution to design and generate the presentation of your labels, forms and documents. In essence, DocOrigin from Eclipse Corporation is the go to solution for all enterprise forms, documents, labels and checks. Defining the Next Generation of Enterprise Document Design and Generation Software Eclipse’s flagship product, DocOrigin, is designed to create and generate dynamic forms, documents, labels, and checks on any platform. Paper or electronic, smart phone or desktop, if you need to present information or collect data in a fillable form, DocOrigin does it all. DocOrigin comes with the following features : Integration without ModificationTM - eliminates changes to your ERP or MRP software and makes the design and generation of dynamic data driven forms, documents, and labels easy with rapid migration features to replace most legacy form and label software packages. Dynamic Business Documents - personalizes high value forms, documents and packets easily from ERP, EMR, CRM and other enterprise software systems. Unlike other
document systems, DocOrigin can drive the printers at their rated speed, even while printing the manifest for a custom automobile production line with all the performance impeding images and graphics. Business Communications Center - easily transforms transactional documents into powerful communication tools that can be managed by marketing, sales, HR and legal executives without IT assistance. The DocOrigin Advantage There is a very interesting statement that comes across while scanning through all the experiences shared by the clients of Eclipse Corporation. Annette Swartz, Systems Analyst at ABC INOAC has stated that, “Eclipse made our job much easier in what was already a complex and mission-critical undertaking. We had our hands full, and not only did DocOrigin perform beyond our expectations, so did the team at Eclipse.” PPG Aerospace, one of the top 100 Global OEM parts suppliers, chose DocOrigin, because of its extended capabilities to dynamically enhance the existing forms without having to make changes to their ERP system. Similarly, Eaton Corporation adopted Eclipse’s global business communications platform to improve the effectiveness of the thousands of transactional documents they send to their customers, employees, and vendors on a daily basis. Along with seamless integration with leading MRP and ERP software used in the automotive and aerospace markets, DocOrigin produces documents and forms in electronic format also, which reduces the impact on the environment and delivers information when and where customers, employees, and partners need it. “DocOrigin supported all our existing apps and we converted them all without the need for reprogramming our ERP software and without consuming many of our internal resources.” Justyn Hancock, Global IT Director at PPG Aerospace.
“
DocOrigin leverages data from any line of business application to create and generate high-value documents
“
Some of the reasons to consider DocOrigin: -With DocOrigin, clients need only one software package to design and generate all your forms, documents, labels and checks. Paper or electronic, PC, Tablets, Smart Phones, DocOrigin is the only forms software anyone will need. -Most likely, if the current legacy document or forms software is at or near the end of life, then Eclipse guarantees that DocOrigin will provide their clients with the most reliable, cost effective migration solutions and work with their existing and or new business software without modification.
“ “
COVER STORY
-Eclipse guarantees 99.995% up time. -DocOrigin also supports international localization including Chinese, Thai, and other Asian Fonts. The Absolute Partner to Innovations At Eclipse Corporation, the label and form designers are Windows-based and hence, it is easy to create powerful dynamic documents. The entire design of the software is as simple as a click of the mouse or dragging a section from a list. DocOrigin production software is supported on AIX, Linux, IBM i, Windows, and on the Cloud AWS, Oracle, SAP, Eclipse and other popular cloud systems. BCC (Business Communications Center) Solution, which can highlight the features of a vehicle, is a real favorite among the sales and the marketing departments. It takes pressure off the IT department and relinquishes them from other interdepartmental stresses by letting any department easily turn ordinary documents into branding and marketing tools in just hours, instead of weeks. Marketing, sales and other non-IT departments can do this without knowledge of scripts or any programing. IT only needs to generate the data they already produce today. The Dynamic Business Documents automates workflow. Eclipse has designed it in such a way that even if there is a custom vehicle, the Sales team of that automobile manufacturer could select a recipient, select a form template, select an Omni-channel form of distribution (email, print, fax, web, SMS, archive, etc.) and complete a custom acknowledgement letter to let the buyer know when their new sports car will be delivered. They can even let the buyer of the sports car add features to their order. The Business Communications Center powered by DocOrigin is truly a revelation of its kind, a dynamic software solution that allows marketing, HR, and legal departments to create campaigns, messaging, and manage
legal T&Cs. With DocOrigin's Integration Without Modification™ technology, BCC works with any line of business application and legacy ERP, EMR and CRM systems. Eclipse has been providing software to design and generate business documents, forms, checks and labels for more than a decade and most of their team has 15+ years of experience in this industry. Many companies such as Honda, Toyota and other automotive manufacturers have purchased Eclipse’s software to design and generate their core business documents, many of which are used for internal communication of daily transactions like purchase orders, pack slips, order acknowledgements, statements, etc. When Eclipse campaigned for their latest innovations, it garnered much interest from their existing as well as prospective clients. Many of their clients like AT&T, Eaton, Konica Minolta and McKesson were all impressed by the ease of use and the comfort of utilizing their existing documents to promote, up-sell and cross-sell more products and services. The excitement generated by the power of the Business Communications Center was so much that one of the Fortune 10 customer’s marketing team bought the entire software suite from their own budget, even though this was traditionally handled by the IT departments of the company. Created by the Pioneers of the e-form Revolution The creators of DocOrigin were co-founders of JetForm, the enterprise e-forms software that captured the business of 100% of the Fortune 10 and 71% of the Fortune 1000 by 1999. The market for forms software continued to grow, even after JetForm was acquired by Adobe in 2002.
COVER STORY When the market got saturated with obsolete document and forms software, Steve Luke, the CEO of Eclipse Corporation, introduced DocOrigin in 2011 to represent a reliable, high performance and feature rich enterprise software solution in the legacy form market. He is the brain behind Integration without Modification™. Steve is a man of core principles and lives by his strong beliefs. “The key to success is attitude, effort, and knowledge, the right combination of these will accomplish your goal every time!” Passing the Power to the Stakeholders DocOrigin is currently being used in more than 35 countries and Eclipse is expanding their market penetration with resellers worldwide. The innovation never stops at Eclipse Corporation and their current software and clients are continually getting upgraded and updated with new features to meet the industry’s growing needs. This Business Communications Management system is so user-friendly that any department can carry out their campaigning, messaging and managing without engaging the IT department for ongoing projects. Now, the design and delivery of transactional documents that serve as a vehicle for custom marketing and messaging are put in the hands of the stakeholders within the business. Many Automotive giants have realized, many are finding out and almost everyone is being informed, that everyone is great at doing certain things, but they cannot be good at everything. Many are heeding to the words of the Industrial Legend Henry Ford that buying the best components from the best manufacturers makes a better car. Eclipse Corporation’s partners and customers are all excited about the potential to use their existing business documents to increase profits, improve communication and up-sell to their best customers. The leadership and the entire team at Eclipse Corporation have pledged to focus their energy to provide the most reliable, feature-rich, highest performance forms, documents and labels software on earth. With DocOrigin, BCC and DBD, Eclipse has raised the bar for designing and generating forms, documents, labels and checks. These provide reliability and performance that meet the demands of Fortune 10 companies and a scaled pricing model that provides the same features, reliability and performance for SMBs. Now any company can afford an enterprise class solution!
Read it First
Subscribe to Success Global Subscription 1 Year.......... (12 Issues) .... $250.00
6 Months ..... (06 Issues) ..... $130.00
3 Months ... (03 Issues) ....
1 Month ...... (01 Issue) .....
$70.00
$25.00
Date :
Name : Address :
Telephone : Email :
City :
State :
Zip :
Country :
Check should be drawn in favour of : INSIGHTS SUCCESS MEDIA AND TECH PVT. LTD.
CORPORATE OFFICE Insights Success Media and Technology Pvt. Ltd. 555 Metro Place North, Suite 100, Dublin, OH 43017, United States Phone - (614)-602-1754,(302)-319-9947 Email: info@insightssuccess.com For Subscription : Visit www.insightssuccess.com
Company Name
Management
Brief
Advantech Co. advantech.com
Chaney Ho President
Advantech offers comprehensive system integration, hardware, software, customer-centric design services, and global logistics support; all backed by industry-leading front and back office e-business solutions.
Capgemini capgemini.com
PAUL HERMELIN CEO
Capgemini is a French multinational information technology consulting corporation.
DXC Technology dxc.technology
Mike Lawrie Chairman, President & CEO
DXC Technology is the world’s leading end-to-end IT services company.
Eclipse Corporation eclipse.org
Steve Luke CEO
Eclipse Corporation offers a full range of software solutions for all the document design and automation needs without changing the existing business software.
Emerson emerson.com
David N. Farr Chairman & CEO
Emerson Automation Solutions is a leader in helping process and discrete manufacturers automate and optimize production processes through our best-in-class technologies and industry expertise.
General Motors gm.com
Mary T. Barra Chairman & CEO
General Motors Company is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes vehicles and vehicle parts, and sells financial services.
hdbaset.org
Ariel Sobelman President
The HDBaseT Alliance is an organization of technical experts tasked with promoting and advancing HDBaseT technology as the global standard for ultra-high-definition, digital connectivity.
Lowry Solutions lowrysolutions.com
Mike Lowry CEO & President
Lowry Solutions is the total solutions provider of enterprise mobility solutions and AIDC technology for diverse application challenges in a wide range of industries.
Walden C. Rhines President & CEO
Mentor is a multinational corporation dealing in electronic design automation for electrical engineering and electronics.
Robert Bielby Senior Director
Micron provides innovative memory solutions that delivers memory and storage systems for a broad range of applications and technological possibilities.
HDBaseT Alliance
Mentor
mentor.com
Micron micron.com
In Depth
Industrial Internet of Things: The Magic Wand That Can Change The Future Economy
T
he Industrial Internet of Things is transforming the way the industry works. Just like IoT, the IIoT covers a wide variety of cases, apps, and industries. Initially, the primal focus of IIOT was on the optimization of operational productivity and automation. Since then, IIoT has helped early adopters by identifying the cut-throat advantages and new business models which have led towards cost-effectiveness, improved customer support system, and better revenue numbers. It combines different modern technologies such as big data, machine to machine communication, machine learning and automation with the existing technologies within the industry. IIoT, also known as the Industrial Internet, is an amalgamation of the information and operational department of the industry. Thereby, boosting the rate of productivity, curbing down the current complex processes and radically improving the visibility of the industry. To sum it up, Industrial Internet is a revamped manufacturing strategy that has helped an industry to improve its security,
16
July 2017
productivity, and quality. It is predicted that the Industrial Internet could add a staggering amount of $14.2 trillion to the global domestic product by the year 2030. IIOT offers a varied range of advantages that one can get when opting for it. Some of them are – Predictive Maintenance Efficacy Currently, most companies within the industrial sector have a hands-on approach towards the failure of equipment. In case of any falter or breakage, they go out to fix the issue themselves but with the implementation of sensors in the manufacturing equipment and combining them with software, grants companies the opportunity to predict any emerging failures in the equipment. This provides an unmatched advantage to the IIOT adopting companies as they would be able to identify and fix any issues at an early phase before it translates into a bigger one. With a predictive maintenance system, operators have the scope of keeping a record of the equipment's performances and its conditions, accumulating and analyzing those data, and usage of those information to efficiently manage the application. Real-Time Monitoring of Data Besides the use of predictive maintenance, companies are also using sensors to track or monitor real-time data. With the connected automation equipment in place, it provides operational managers with the ability to gain insights about the performance of those devices, and extract relevant data for analytical purposes. Previously, it was extremely difficult or not worth the effort for the companies to compute this meaningful information. However, with the help of modern technology, grabbing hold of these data is not as difficult as it was before. Higher Operational Efficiency By accessing the data through sensors and automated equipment, it enables operators to use predictive maintenance methods with remote management that inversely improves the operational efficiency. With the help of real-time performance analytics, operational managers can strategically schedule the maintenance of the systems instead of doing continual and regular maintenance. An IIoT-enabled application promptly reduces the overhead cost of a company incurred in system maintenance operations.
that may lead to a system failure in the future. The time taken for a message to travel across a network of workers is a critical area that should be considered upon implementing IIoT. Communication between devices located hundreds of miles apart is another challenge for the global companies adopting IIoT. Additionally, to meet the growing demands and requirements of the future industries, IIoT should expand and revamp within the coming decades. The Future Ahead for the Industrial IoT The estimated number of $14.2 trillion that it could add to the global economy by the year 2030 can be increased even higher, if companies take a bolder approach of making higher investments in innovation and technology than what they are doing now. Although the progressive companies of today are already among the many to adopt the Industrial Internet of Things, most businesses are not yet equipped to take the plunge and pull the trigger. A survey conducted by the Accenture group found out that out of 1400 imminent business leaders only one-third of them understand the positive implications of IIoT. Businesses that have applied for the Industrial IoT into their scheme of things have observed powerful results with a considerable reduction in the operational overhead, improved worker safety and higher revenue outcome. This transformation in business will have noticeable implications upon the workforce with IIoT's digitalization of the job market that has until now resisted automation. In future, IIoT will lead us towards more job opportunities, provide much more engaging work, prevention from cyber threats and create a spontaneous and responsive workplace environment. There have been countless technological advancements in the recent past that has been billed as the “Next Big Thing” in the tech arena. But only a few within those evolving technologies have the potential to break through the business landscape, and thankfully Industrial IoT is one among them.
Challenges Ahead for the Industrial IoT The Industrial Internet of Things has been designed to manage the vital machinery or equipment of the company July 2017
17
NEVER
L L I . W N I D A N G O A C E U S O O Y R R C I O F M A E SAME BE TH
20
July 2017
Industry Watch
Automotive is the
Biggest
Platform to the
Robotics
Industry A
utomotive industry has been well known for its massive use of industrial robotics. Since the implementation of the first industrial robots back in 1960, many of the things have changed. Nowadays, with increasing demand, the production lines need to be much more efficient, flexible, precise, and easy to use. Over the last few years many of the enhancements have been made on production lines to help workers in their day to day tasks. With the massive enhancements in the robotics, recently Ford decided to introduce a robotic arm with eyes during the production of 2013 Ford Escape. The ‘so called’ eyes are originally a combination of a camera and a laser placed on the robot wrist, which eventually helps to apply various parts more precisely. Recently, a Chinese manufacturer named GWM introduced collaborative robots, where 27 ABB robots work tirelessly at 30 different workstations, the collaboration happens between handling robots and welding robots. Result? One of the most productive line ever made in the automotive industry. Thanks to the massive innovation in the robotics industry, a company named Equipois developed a bionic arm to reduce the weight applied on a human hand. The device gives additional 10 pounds of gripping fore to the user, and comes with sensors, simulated nerves, and actuators that eventually decreases fatigue. GMC is using the device for quite some time to reduce stress produced by repetitive movement. So, let’s have a look from where it all began and how robotics is coping up with the changing demand and scenario. The beginning of the Robotic revolution in the Automotive Industry More than hundred years ago, the founder of Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford, alongside his team at Highland Park July 2017
21
assembly plant, launched the world's first moving assembly line. It eventually went ahead and simplified the assembly of the Ford Model T’s 3000 parts by breaking it into a total of 84 different steps performed by various groups of workers while a rope pulled the vehicle chassis down the line. The all new process of car manufacturing revolutionized production and the car assembly time dropped from massive 12 hours to mere 90 minutes. After reducing the time, money, and the needed manpower to build a car, Ford was quite successful to reduce the price of Model T from $850 to less than $300, which brought the Model T within reach of common Americans. Eventually, Ford went further ahead and built a Model T every 24 seconds, and by 1927, it had sold more than 15 million Model Ts worldwide, accounting to half of the automobile sold. Robotics Improve Quality of the Product and of the Plant Coming to the present scenario, most of the automobile companies are heavily investing in robotic innovations to improve its vehicle quality and production efficiencies. Organizations now use various new systems, which include robotic vision in order to create a digital model of each car in the final assembly line to analyze the paint quality and imperfections in the surface by comparing with a perfect model. The automated robotic systems can perform most of the automated tasks on vehicle frames, chassis, underbodies, fenders, as well as interior parts during the production of the vehicle. Previously, changing a line to work on the different model was quite tedious and lengthy process; however, nowadays one can easily reset a robot and reprogram it according to the preferences, thereby increasing the versatility of the production line without hampering the production. Back in the late 1990s, another American manufacturer started robotic automation process in their factories, and eventually produced a completely unprecedented number of different models. Producing different models from a single assembly line is by no means a small feat; the manufacturer was able to do that due to the versatility of the robots used. Different model comes with different materials, shapes, sizes, and obviously, different design, and the American Manufacturer was able to do all this thanks to the material handling automated robots. While US based companies are investing heavily in robotics and on automating the production line, how can the Japanese manufactures be left behind? One of the stalwarts of the Japanese industry has improved their productivity by using robotics. They have robots that can perform various tasks including spot welding and painting on different vehicles, which not only increases production quality but also speeds up the production. The automated robots can do risky jobs including welding and painting, which often produces toxic gases and fumes, keeping human workforce out of the harm's way. According to several studies, various Japanese car makers have achieved the highest level of automation and manufacturing efficiency. However, according to a few observers, the Japanese firms took inspiration from various production techniques from U.S and eventually helped workers with better education. Still, this was not the case with Japanese companies based in U.S, as they had demonstrated same or higher levels of productivity, equivalent flexibility, and quality compared to its U.S counterparts. On the other hand, not all the firms from Japan took the inspiration from west; those who were interested in experimenting and creating new opportunities, started to build their production line and technology. Some went against the tide and avoided copying foreign models, designs, and technology and eventually focused on developing better and more efficient production line specifically for the Japanese market. Humans are needed to handle the complexity of customizations However, robots can't match a human’s intelligence, and when it comes to intricate designs and customizations, robots often cannot match up. So, a Bavarian giant has been forced to trade in some of the assembly line robots for its more capable human counterpart. As per the century old company, robots cannot handle the complexity of the key customization option available for their flagship saloon model. The company is saving money and safeguarding its future by investing and employing heavily on the human workforce. Now, the company is moving away from trying to maximize automation, with people taking much bigger part of the industrial processes. This is mainly because robots cannot work with all the different options, and they often fail to keep pace with the changes. Now, the company is slowly moving towards robot farming where it will equip workers with small and more flexible tools to work alongside robots. The main key is to maintain the qualities of robotics, consistency, and obviously, reliability while gaining an edge to be quicker to change as the industry adapts to new technology. Nowadays traditional car manufacturers are coming under constant pressure from the likes of Tesla. Speed is the key to survive, but still, a traditional car takes around seven years to hit full-fledged production. At the same time, models have boomed, and customization has become the key ingredient, so mass production is not at all a good idea. However, when it comes to models that are being built for masses with much lesser customization options, robotics can be a great option for them, mostly due to a less complicated assembly process.
22
July 2017
General Motors (GM): Mary Barra Chairman & CEO
24
A Supreme Global Automotive Company
he global automotive market evolves into a groundbreaking cluster that includes all the technology companies. The full range of connected car products provide significant incremental revenue potential, which will be driven across the automotive value chain – comprising with innovative technology players, able to deal various types of services directly and innovate more quickly.
T
One of the world’s largest automotive manufacturing company, General Motors is influencing the sector for more than a century and embroils an immense range of industrial activities around the world. It drives manufacturing and assembly plants and distribution centres throughout the United States, Canada, and many other countries. Its major products embrace automobiles and trucks, automotive components, and engines.
A technological revolution is at the heart of the shifts that are stirring in the automotive sector. Developments in electric vehicle technology, telematics and autonomous driving, with safety and driver assistance features are the most visible, but technology is transforming the production method as well. Consumers’ technology likings will have a major impact on future developments, but so will the government regulations. Technology establishments have begun to partake in the automotive value chain and are likely to advance importance as they look to capture a share of the industry’s profits.
GM is strongly dedicated to designing, building and selling the world’s most luxurious vehicles and industrial segments. Its vision bonds them as a team and it has become the trademark of their customer-driven culture. Their high standard company ethics and commitment to deliver vehicles with compelling designs, flawless quality and reliability, and leading safety, fuel economy and infotainment features are making them the leader all over the world. Whether it’s a Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac or Holden, making the world’s best vehicles can only transpire with the world’s greatest employees. July 2017
Till date, GM is proudly serving superiority in work; dispensing exceptional cars and a confident ownership experience to the customers. An Ingenious Leader of GM Mary Barra, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors Company, began her career with GM in 1980 as a General Motors Institute (Kettering University) co-op student at the Pontiac Motor Division. She was elected Chairman of the GM Board of Directors in January 2016. Since January 2014, she is serving as a CEO of GM.
and China while capitalizing significantly in fresh mobility services like shared, autonomous electric vehicles. “We've made very important and strategic investments in key technologies that have put us in a leadership position in the areas where this industry is being transformed. In fact, we plan on leading in that transformation,” Mary adds. Essence of Innovations, Creativity and Culture The vision, leadership and experimenting movements of GM empower their employees to drive
Under Mary’s leadership, GM is aimed at strengthening its fundamental business of building great cars, trucks and crossovers, while also working to lead the revolution of personal mobility through cutting-edge technologies like connectivity, electrification, autonomous driving and car sharing. She has also established a strategic direction, based on positioning the customer at the center of everything the company does. Prior to becoming CEO, Mary served as Executive Vice President, Global Product Development and Purchasing & Supply Chain since August 2013, and as Senior Vice President, Global Product Development since February 2011. As a leader, Mary governs a fusion of discipline and vision, dexterously balancing GM’s immediate imperatives; making vehicles that people want at a cost-effective priceand it's length; term challenges; warranting GM’s future in the face of extraordinary industry upheaval. She has made many decisions that other GM leaders never dared, like pulling out of Europe to appear on highermargin operations in North America July 2017
change throughout the company. In the company, leaders understand the business value and societal needs in chasing sustainable business practices. For GM, to thrive, their communities must thrive.
are, but as they could be. They believe that creativity and collaboration is a key to drive the culture change, which is helping GM to deliver value back to their customers. Leveraging the scale of top-class services, GM has become distinct from other competitors happening due to the great-grand efforts of GM’s team and leaders who are driving the company to walk safely through the industrial functions. Moving Humanity Ahead To GM, making the best vehicles has never been enough. Its goal has always been – and will continue to be – making the world a better place. Whether that means helping explore the uncharted reaches of space or improving someone’s quality of life, GM has an enduring tradition of partnering with other leaders in engineering and innovation to form this vision a reality. GM's partnership with NASA has taken them to the moon, and has helped to make enhancements in the manufacturing sector by giving countless people greater independence. Thus, GM is constantly seeking out partnerships in their quest to make the world a better place. In shaping its future, GM is betting on products that are yet to gain a position in the marketplace and possibly will take years to cultivate extravagantly.
Employees across GM are budding ideas to support the company’s sustainability mission and fresh talent is connecting with GM as they want to work for a company that is doing well. Getting everyone involved drives the future of sustainability. All the team members of GM always do something with an open mind and are always executing things not as they
25
HDBaseT Alliance: Ariel Sobelman President
Revolutionizing In-Vehicle Connectivity
I
‘‘
The elegance of
‘‘
the one-cable
solution for every
connectivity needs
26
n recent years, the automotive sector has seen some unprecedented changes, which range from self-driving cars to cars that can communicate with each other. In real life, people want more from their cars, be it from the Heads-Up- Display, or from the Instrument Cluster & Head Unit. Nowadays cars also come with USB connectivity which enables portable devices to be connected with the car. Alongside all these, telecommunications also play a big part in cars nowadays. However, to connect all these together, one needs a robust system, which could perform these tasks every day without any issue. So, here enters the HDBaseT Alliance, which is a non-profit organization comprised of members from LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Valens, Daimler, Delphi, and Harman. The Alliance advances a brilliant solution to the challenges in in-vehicle connectivity with a technology named HDBaseT Automotive, invented by Alliance cofounder Valens. It enables simultaneous tunneling of high-
throughput video and data streams, over a single, low-cost unshielded cable, while keeping top performance and low latency in mind. Revolutionizing Video Distribution Since its inception, HDBaseT has revolutionized the video distribution sector. Along with that, it brings a rich feature set, increased reach and better performance than the solutions that are already present. The best part of the technology is the simultaneous delivery of uncompressed UHD digital video and audio, Ethernet, USB, control signals and power over a single cable. However, HDBaseT is currently being optimized for different markets, while addressing specific needs of sectors such as audiovisual, automotive, industrial PCs, etc. The common needs for these kinds of sectors are distribution of high-quality signals over the best, and lowest-cost infrastructure, as far as possible. The Dynamic President The HDBaseT Alliance is managed by a Board of Directors, which is comprised of representatives of July 2017
founding members from LG, Samsung, Sony Pictures, and Valens. Ariel Sobelman is the President of the Alliance and serves on the HDBaseT Alliance Board of Directors, representing Valens. With a massive experience of 12 years in high-level business development, industry standardization and strategic research experience, Ariel also serves as Valens’ Vice President of Corporate Alliances and leads the standardization process for HDBaseT technology. He is also the founding member of IEEE 1667 Transient Storage Device Authentication working group and also has been involved with the HDBaseT Alliance since its inception. Showcasing Latest Products and Solutions The HDBaseT Alliance represents its members in all the relevant industry trade shows, showcasing the latest products and solutions to its audiences. It increases the visibility of Alliance members, by providing the opportunity of having a stand-in-a-stand in the industry’s major shows. The Alliance’s website provides installers and integrators with a full list of members, and technical information about the technology, including use cases, real-life installation stories, white papers, and tutorials. Additionally, installers and integrators can also receive the HDBaseT Expert certification after attending the course conducted by the Alliance or one of the Authorized Trainers. It also provides a process for certification of HDBaseT products by using a website and a mobile app that helps users to check which products were certified for which feature, resulting in better interoperability and installation. July 2017
Adding to all these, the Alliance is always open to inquiries from both installers and integrators, regarding any aspect related to HDBaseT. Installers can reach out to the experts through the Installer Zone of Alliance, which is entirely dedicated to educating the market on technology through the use of several useful resources. Providing Solutions that Fits the Best According to the HDBaseT Alliance, the world is getting interconnected day by day. Users expect the best connectivity even in the existing infrastructure, in homes, offices and even in cars. Sometimes, less than top quality solves the purpose, but few times the market demands top notch
quality and high performance to resolve the need of the end users. For example, in cases of a corporate setting, high-resolution transmission of content with zero latency increases the productivity and efficiency of the users. When it comes to industrial setting, a solution that can handle the size and noise in large manufacturing plants is necessary to enable better manufacturing capabilities. In the case of cars, an efficient in-vehicle connectivity infrastructure is essential to guarantee the safety and comfort of drivers and passengers as cars are becoming an extension of the connected world. Additionally, the Alliance is also looking for new markets and sectors to penetrate as connectivity expands from realm to realm.
HDBaseT has also simplified and optimized the transmission of highbandwidth multimedia content over a simple infrastructure for longer distances than possible. It continues to evolve the technology and sectors it targets, as per the market advancements and trends. Bright Future The HDBaseT Alliance is always working on future specifications and norms for HDBaseT technology. Recently, the Alliance is promoting its HDBaseT-IP technology. The new technology expands the realm of HDBaseT for better possibilities for installation, from in-room to crosscampus, providing installers and end users with more choices and better solution to address their needs, and even retains the standardization, interoperability, and future-proof of HDBaseT. Additionally, the Alliance is also working with its Automotive Work Group to finalize the specification of HDBaseT Automotive, and it is also working on issues such as cybersecurity and more. Soon, the Alliance will hold its HDBaseT World Congress, where members and interested parties will come together to discuss the latest and future issues surrounding HDBaseT. The Congress is a great opportunity for members to know what to expect, and for potential parties to learn more about the technology and about activities of the Alliance.
27
28
July 2017
Industry Insider
T
he revolving days from craft production to lean production in the auto production industry have led the world to experience a huge transformation in economic terms. Initially, during the craft production phase, it was primarily focused on dozens of small enterprises that vied to establish a standard product and process. But in the late 70s, the introduction of lean production proved to be the revolutionary management process of product-development and production. The process made it possible to produce one car in just over one-and-a-half hours for the master companies. This advanced mechanization within the industry facilitated lower-cost and faster production on the supply side of the industry.
Introduction of such mass production techniques shaped the auto industry into the production line and assembly line. As the production division dealt only with raw materials to develop the parts of a car or truck, the auto assemblers internalized in gathering these semi-finished parts into the final product. This minimized the transaction costs associated with late deliveries and parts that are not produced in exact specifications. The Industry that Changed the Common lives Automotive production lines not only revolutionized the automotive industry, it also impacted the American life. They made building cars more efficient. Because of the upgrade in efficiency the cost in car production went down, and with the decrease in cost, the showroom price of the cars also dipped. This reduction in price meant more people could afford to buy a vehicle on their own. Also, because of the numerous crews who needed to staff these lines – millions of Americans migrated from the farms to the cities, transforming the economy from agriculture to manufacturing. Also the relatively high wages and good benefits offered by the automotive manufacturers helped to pull many families into the American middle-class bracket, changing America’s social makeup for generations to come. This boom and bust years of development had an immense impact on the domestic economy too. The number of new cars sold annually was a reliable indicator of the nation's economic health. July 2017
29
The growth was not merely limited to the Automotive industry, it also had a positive effect on the various other industries which flourished by this key element. The automotive industry required the steel industry and machine tool-makers for the ever-increasing supplies and components for the engines, chassis and other metal fixtures of the cars. Apart from these, every car require a battery, head light, interior upholstery and paint. Entirely new businesses, or subsidiaries of existing business, were created to meet the needs of the automobile industry as it grew incrementally year after year. Car businesses are not constrained till its production; it accounts for hundreds of millions in revenue as the insurance coverage provided by the cars. Nationwide advertising campaigns for cars add millions to ad agencies and print and broadcast media. The maintenance and repair of cars became a major business. Among all profiting businesses, the conqueror was the petroleum industry which sold fuel for the ever-outspreading count of cars on the road. The Innovation for Care in the Automotive Industry According to researchers and some extensive studies, the global reserves which were the sole raw material for the automotive industry will run out in 2030. This dependency upon the raw materials and certain precious metals is a major obstacle and presents highly strategic challenges for the supply management. Due to this shortages and supply challenges of the metals and rise in global demand for raw materials, it has created extraordinary price increases for the automotive industry. So, as this is the primary concern for the manufacturers they are consequently finding solutions to limit on the current dependence on earth metals. The check on the utilization of valuable resource, investing in recycling technologies and increasing the use of recycled material has been found to provide a promising outlook. The Circular Economy fits ideal to protect and raise the natural capital by regulating the limited stocks and stabilizing inexhaustible resource flows. The process restores and regenerates by design and aims to keep products, components, and materials at their highest utility and value at all times. Firstly, the damaged parts destined for re-manufacturing, called as scraps, is collected by the commercial network and stored in the Scrap Warehouse. Then, as per requirement, the scrap is molded in new parts by the re-manufacturing machines. The Cores Collection Sorting Centre is responsible to check the quality and efficiency of the re-manufactured products. It goes through the same quality control test and carries the same guarantee as for the new parts. Reconditioning of the product is involves stretching it back to its original state and characteristics as far as possible. This process efficiently prolongs the life of the vehicle, retains value and saves upon energy, whilst reducing waste. Moreover, this activity involves a skilled workforce and demand jobs locally. In order to be economically interesting, re-manufacturing has to be performed within the market in which vehicles are used to avoid negotiating the price. This greener economy promotes green growth where nothing is wasted. The eco-friendly business helps in waste prevention and the re-use of raw materials, thereby benefitting the environment and reducing the greenhouse emissions. The Waste to Wealth cycle serves as a huge advantage to the industry by providing profits on re-usable products. The refurbished products come as 30-50% less expensive from the new parts, which are affordable and attractive for the nature lovers. Importance of technology in Automotive Industry Being able to anticipate the shortages of resources with securing production and supply, technological solutions can provide a huge significance to it. On the verge of major change, in both its products and business structure, the industry is gradually reforming itself with the help of the latest technologies. The rise in strategic partnerships with external tech companies is involved with building the innovative features demanded by their customers. Customer expectations of vehicle quality, reliability, safety, and utility are at an all-time high. At the same time, environmental concerns including tailpipe emissions, carbon dioxide production and pollution and recycling are the critical elements of the manufacturer’s agenda. These challenges help to accelerate innovations and integrate technology planning with business strategies. Upon collaborating with the tech companies, an acute surge has been noticed on the demand of software and applications. Assistance in tracking vehicles for authorized people, displaying road maps and directions, booking cabs and cars via mobile apps, the design of the self-driving car, automated tractors for betterment in agriculture and invention in types of convertibles are the outcome of adit of technology. The automotive industry is driving more innovations and global technological advancements. As a result, today’s automobile represents the most sophisticated technology owned by most consumers.
30
July 2017
Lowry Solutions: Mike Lowry
CEO & President
‘‘
S
We are completely focused on simplifying traceability to improve outcomes and business processes for our customers
‘‘
32
Improving Business Processes For Decades implifying traceability of resources, inventory, and other key aspects are very important for any organization nowadays. Headquartered in Brighton, Michigan, Lowry Solutions is a global system integrator of Supply Chain, IoT, and Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) technology that include Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), barcode, and wireless networking services for different applicational challenges in a wide range of industries. It delivers a broad, deep knowledge base in many industries. Lowry’s experienced team includes experts who leverage their proven processes to ensure sustainable solutions for tracking critical elements within its enterprise. Their clients have realized improved business performance in the value chain through predictability, reliability, and profitability. In recent days, the company’s client base mainly includes manufacturing firms with their associated warehouse and distribution units, government, transportation, and logistics enterprises. “Mostly the
Department of Defense,” Lowry said. “The remainder of our business is in the healthcare and retail sector.” With 110 employees at present, the company serves in U.S and Canada and is looking to extend its network globally. The Farsighted Leader Mike Lowry, the CEO and President of Lowry Solutions is a well-known innovator among the clients, as well as the business community. Through his vision and leadership, he has helped to identify and establish company’s niche. He has transformed the company from a regional computer peripheral distributor to a leading national manufacturer and integrator of wireless, RFID-EPC bar code and data collection solutions that are in the vanguard of technology, equipment, and industry compliance. Since the last four decades, the company has continued to evolve, and ultimately changed its name from Lowry and Associates to Lowry Computer Products, and finally to Lowry Solutions, Inc., back in 2014. Under Mike’s leadership, the company has July 2017
been more focused on being a turnkey solutions provider. Now, Lowry Solutions not only provides hardware and break fix services, but is also expanding into software solutions, professional services, engineering, and consulting as well. During the past few years, Mike has purchased an automated labeling system business and a label conversion operation to help grow Lowry’s offering and position in the rapidly growing use of RFID-EPC technology. Mike has built a partnership with EPC Global, an organization that is completely devoted to education, the creation of standards and implementation of EPC technology. Lowry is the founding Solution Provider of the organization.
technologies while enabling easy and quick integration of technology throughout its client’s enterprise. Lowry Solution’s core value of sustainability ensures future-proofing that any company in the Internet of Things need to endure in today’s cutthroat and fast-moving world. Adding to all these, Lowry Solutions also offers a software platform through its multi-tenant cloud infrastructure and new E-Portal, that helps clients to rapidly acquire additional products, request support services or engage with
Encompassing the Entire Value Chain Deliverables from Lowry Solutions stretch from the basics of bar coding to the intricacies of radio frequency technology, which includes everything from RFID to wireless networks. The company works alongside manufacturing product lines/product manufacturing lines, in warehouses, in order to deliver time-sensitive materials visibility, throughout and extend its viability through transportation and logistics businesses, in government, as well as in healthcare and retail sectors.
any subject matter experts. “We are in what is now a mature industry,” Mike stated. “Many companies use our technology today in their supply chains. In both the technology and the services we offer in North America, and global regions, to we are continuing to drive future innovation.”
Lowry’s focus has always been in simplifying traceability. The company addresses challenges of global monitoring and integrated platforms that can accommodate enhanced legacy
Serving the Industry Since Inception Lowry Solutions is serving the automotive industry since its inception. The company understands the industry and its challenges deeply. It helps
July 2017
different OEMs and Tire suppliers to leverage RFID and barcode technologies along with other complementary technologies, with the aim of simplifying traceability. This sooner or later results in improved profits, faster turnaround and better knowledge. Always Involved in Innovation The company nowadays is actively engaged in IBM Blockchain, which is an emerging community of business leaders and developers, solving various enterprise problems with open source blockchain technology. Blockchain is a shared, immutable ledger for recording the history of transactions. It nurtures a new generation of transactional applications that build trust, accountability and transparency. Lowry Solution’s goal is to be the first blockchainenabled solution and for that, it houses a Hyperledger Fabric team. Being Close to Customer’s Needs Lowry Solutions is a company, that is built on being close to its customer’s needs. The company’s main advantage over its less integrated providers is its understanding of technologies that it offers. As a result of that, it can configure and implement off-the-shelf technologies to better meet client’s needs. Additionally, the software service group can help with custom built solutions that eventually improve the user experience without the need for users to have specialized long-term resources in the form of staff.
33
Environmental Talk
ENVIRONME
Responsib
FOR
U
Busi
nder the Environmental Responsibility of the Corporates, it is expected to operate in a manner that protects the environment. Going beyond business activities and taking care of the environment can bring business beneďŹ ts. Now corporate companies have realized that business activity in an environmentally responsible way is not only a legal duty but also a responsibility. Over the past few years, stakeholders increasingly require corporate organizations to become more environmentally aware and responsible. CSR activities of corporate organizations affect their bottom line and the long-term success of their business. The environmental aspect of Corporate Social Responsibility had been debated over the past few decades and it's a hot matter of any business house. Earlier in the traditional business model, environmental protection has been considered only in relation to the “public interestâ€?, but now it's a part of business. Governments of all over the world have maintained the principle of environmental responsibility for ensuring environmental conservation and management as well. Business Organizations Should Consider these Environmental Points Business organizations should store waste safely and securely, make sure it is treated appropriately and also be ensured that it is collected by an authorized body such as your local authority or a licensed waste
34
July 2017
NTAL ilities
ness
contractor. You can also manage waste for recycling by separating paper, plastic, metals and glass and for those organizations that are in the food businesses they need to separate food waste for recycling. Be sure that your business activities do not cause a statutory nuisance like producing smoke, noise, gases, odor, fumes, accumulating rubbish or light pollution which could affect someone's health. If your business activities pose an imminent threat to the environment, then notify the relevant enforcing body to take steps to prevent the damage and if your activities also cause actual environmental damage then you must take a remedial action to repair the damage. Before directing efuent detergent and waste chemicals into sewage, you should get permission from relevant body.
Take care of Hazardous substances before throw-outs The business organization needs to think about the risks posed by chemicals or hazardous substances to the environment. Hazardous substances include oil, chemicals, pesticides, ozone-depleting substances, radioactive materials, electrical or electronic equipment solvents and biocides. You must ensure that your organization is aware about the environmental risks for every hazardous substance which you store, use, produce or dispose of at work. If you are in manufacturing business then you must comply with the restriction of the Use of Certain
July 2017
35
Hazardous Substances such as lead, mercury and calcium. Manufacturers are prevented from placing products on the market with more than a certain amount of hazardous substances. If you work with equipment containing ODS or uorinated gases then there are requirements that you must ensure prevention and repair of leaks, checking for leakages and record keeping recovery for the purpose of recycling. Store of Wastage and Recycling Business organizations must ensure that any waste they produce as a result of their business operations is stored safely and securely, treated appropriately and collected for disposal or recycling by an authorized body to do so. The regulations of waste management require all businesses to separate the following forms of commercial waste for recycling plastic, paper, metals, and glass. Conservation and Biodiversity to be protected by the business organizations Biodiversity refers to all species of animals and plants. The increasing human activities cause the loss of biodiversity in the world. All types of business organization operating near these types of the area should be aware, and take responsibilities for conservation and protecting biodiversity. This not only applies to land-based industries such as farming and forestry but also to all factories, industries, ofďŹ ces and other business activities based on or near biodiversity areas. Protected areas like UNESCO biospheres include local nature reserves, areas of natural beauty that needs conservation, the heritage of wildlife habitats and national parks of the country.
36
July 2017
Micron: Robert Bielby Senior Director
‘‘
F
We’ve become a leading provider
of automotive
‘‘
memory solutions – not by chance,
but by design
38
The Leading Memory Partner For The Automotive Industry
or all their importance, cars haven’t changed that much over the last century in terms of purpose or functionality. This is not to say that cars are simple. In fact, cars are incredibly complex, as well as cleaner, safer, and more reliable; but the formula for success has remained consistent over time. That is, up until the last two decades, when advancements in mobile computing and semiconductors – the now ubiquitous computer chip – started transforming vehicles in ways that would have seemed improbably futuristic even a few years ago. Today the automotive industry is on the cusp of a second revolution. The car of tomorrow is coming to life more quickly than anyone imagined. Technologies like cameras to gather and process data to enable the driver and vehicle to respond more quickly and efficiently have already been integrated into vehicles and are resulting in a safer driving experience. And multiple vehicle manufacturers predict that we are only a few short
years away from mass-production of vehicles that can fully drive themselves. These advancements create opportunities for personal use, as well as fleet usage for entire cities. Nurturing Data the way it was meant to be Autonomous cars will save the U.S. economy roughly $642 billion dollars a year according to Forbes. With so much to gain from the self-driving car, manufacturers and automotive technology providers are working vehemently to meet the safety needs and entertainment wants of future car buyers looking to maximize their time and money with connected cars. There are four main areas in a car in which memory is used, and each area has different memory requirements: Ÿ Power train system: NOR flash with
its ability to work at extreme temperatures (from -40°C to +125°C) and its reliable code storage is the memory used in power trains. Memory used in the power train enhances conventional engines and July 2017
Ÿ enables new types of engines, such
as electrical vehicles (Evs), hybrid electrical vehicle (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid electrical vehicles (PHEVs). Ÿ Communication systems: Multichip packages (MCPs), which combine two technologies into one package, fit the requirements needed given the tight space constraints and memory requirements of communication modules. Memory used in communication systems integrates ‘hands-free’ operation, utilizing a consumer’s smartphone via a wireless link or an integrated transceiver. Ÿ Infotainment/Cluster systems: DRAM, NOR flash, managed NAND and MCPs are all needed to meet the needs of infotainment/clusters due to the variety of applications included in these systems. While e.MMC devices are typically used for storage (of contacts, maps and other media), industry leading LPDDR4 devices are essential to support the bandwidth demands associated with highresolution video available in today’s cars. Flash enables a wide range of information for a driver, including heads-up displays which project pertinent information—including speed, night vision assistance and turn-by-turn directions—onto the windshield to help keep a driver's eyes on the road. Ÿ Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS): Similar to infotainment/clusters, DRAM, NAND, NOR flash and MCPs are all used to meet the needs of ADAS, which includes a wide range of features including adaptive cruise control, automotive night vision, traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning, parking assistance, backup cameras, collision July 2017
avoidance, automatic electronic braking, and smart headlights. The extensive compute performance associated with the three stages of ADAS—sense, perceive, act—drives this system to use the highest performance memory. And, as ADAS scale to extend to autonomous driving, system requirements will further tax memory bandwidth. Translating needs into the most efficient Capabilities For today’s automotive memory solutions, high temperature and quality standards are key. Connected car applications require specific memory solutions due to the stringent quality, reliability, and operating temperature requirements of the automotive market. Not only are performance and more advanced systems driving these requirements, but the relative location of the memory pushes the boundaries. Think of the forward-looking camera right behind the windshield with no
airflow and the sun beating down on it during a hot Texas summer. Combine that with the proximity to the processor and the volatile memory quickly heats above the 105ºC range quickly pushing towards 125ºC and the nonvolatile sees a similar increase from 85ºC to 105ºC. The automotive market's unique set of feature requirements include:
assembly, and test to ensure the highest quality product Ÿ Long Lifecycle – 10-year product availability and support Ÿ Burn-In Flow – Simulating the first year of product life to improve overall quality, which is statistically when marginal products fail Ÿ Automotive Certification of Fab and Assembly Sites – Fab and assembly certification to ISO/TS 16949 Ÿ AEC-Q100 – A failure mechanismbased stress test qualification for integrated circuits] Ÿ Automotive documentation such as: ¨ Production part approval process (PPAP) documentation – Additional documentation stating where die is fabricated, parts are assembled, and testing is conducted so there is a formal return merchandise authorization (RMA) trail ¨ 8D failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) support – In-depth support with guaranteed timelines and clear steps for improvement The Catalyst to the next leap in Automotive Evolution ‘Micron is focused on the automotive market segment with parts purposed built to meet the above standards,’ said Robert Bielby, Senior Director, Micron Technology, Inc. ‘We continue to work closely with manufacturers and their suppliers to define the next generation memory. We've become a leading provider of automotive memory solutions – not by chance, but by design.’
Ÿ Continuous Improvement Process
– Persistent focus on improving the overall quality of products, including legacy products Ÿ Automotive-Grade Selection – Strict selection criteria in fabrication,
39