FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2002

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.¾GE Fanuc Automation, an affiliate of GE Industrial Systems, announced today that it has formed a new Global Solutions Business, which assesses, designs, implements and monitors e-manufacturing systems that align factory floor operations with critical business goals. The new GE Fanuc Global Solutions Business combines the extensive knowledgebase of the worldwide GE organization with domain experience, web-centered software technologies, open architecture hardware and capital financing to drive turnkey, industry-based manufacturing solutions. 

Led by GE Fanuc Vice President Kevin Roach, the new Global Solutions Business reflects the results of Six Sigma-based e-manufacturing projects at GE and other leading manufacturers’ plants completed during the last two years.  These projects sought to improve quality; reduce cycle times; increase productivity, equipment uptime and inventory turns; and facilitate collaboration in the manufacturing supply chain.  Six Sigma involves a proven set of best practices and disciplined methodologies to define, measure, analyze, improve and control (DMAIC) quality in products, processes and transactions to improve operational efficiency. 

“The GE Fanuc Global Solutions Business combines the two leading initiatives at GE – Six Sigma and Digitization – which have helped the company save billions of dollars and maintain a global leadership position,” Roach said.  “With this new solutions division, the worldwide manufacturing marketplace can tap the consulting expertise of the largest company in the world and take advantage of proven methods to dramatically increase competitiveness and drive out cost during these uncertain economic conditions.” 

Using the Six Sigma DMAIC approach, the GE Fanuc e-manufacturing solution involves a structured cycle that begins with a detailed assessment and analysis.  Comprehensive diagnosis and recommendations lead to a tailored solution design, integration, project management, implementation, improvement control, and financial return.

Each resulting solution is designed to align a company’s manufacturing practices with business objectives. GE Fanuc    e-manufacturing solutions include:  manufacturing execution systems, supply chain execution, enterprise asset management, quality management, e-diagnostics, business intelligence, finite scheduling, and regulatory documentation compliance.

About GE Fanuc Automation

GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc. is a leading global supplier of industrial automation solutions and is a joint venture between GE and FANUC, Ltd. of Japan. GE Fanuc products and services include CIMPLICITY® collaborative production management software, nano to high-end PLCs, a wide range of CNCs, motion control, operator interfaces, industrial computers, lasers, and a wide range of integration and customer support services. Headquartered in Charlottesville, Va., GE Fanuc is part of GE Industrial Systems.

About GE Industrial Systems

GE Industrial Systems is a $6 billion global leader in manufacturing products used to distribute, protect and control electrical power and equipment, and supplying product and service solutions for commercial, industrial, residential and utility applications. GE Industrial Systems is one of GE's major businesses.

For more information, visit http://www.gefanuc.com or contact:  GE Fanuc Information Center, P.O. Box 229, Whitehall, PA 18052, Phone: (800) 648-2001, Fax: (610) 437-5212, e-mail: gefanuc@gefanuc.com.

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CIMPLICITY is a registered trademark of GE Fanuc Automation North America, Inc.