VC Visteon Corporation

Visteon Engine Induction System's 'Genetic Code' Helps Engine Diagnosis DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Insurance companies maintain that knowing a person's "genetic code" will help early diagnosis of disease. While some people argue about the privacy of such genetic data, no one argues that a person's DNA reveals a great deal about his or her potential physical strengths and weaknesses. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO ) The same is true of engine systems although, until recently, few people understood the benefits of recording a component's birth date and other historical data. At the forefront of this growing trend is Visteon Corporation's (NYSE:VC) Rawsonville Plant in Ypsilanti, Mich., USA, which supplies the Engine Induction System (EIS), an integrated air/fuel module, for the redesigned Ford F-150. The plant has created a method of storing a part's history and test data in an electronic file, which future technicians can activate by scanning the two-dimensional bar code on every EIS. Birth certificate Information is being collected even before the first parts are assembled at Visteon's EIS line at Rawsonville. For example, an integral part of the system supplied to Visteon is the manifold. The supplier sends each manifold with a bar code of its own containing information about when it was made and the results of the supplier's internal quality tests. Starting with this information, a computer file is created for each EIS that is assembled. As the system is assembled, every operation on the line that can transmit data -- such as torque, angle or leakage -- sends the information to the electronic file. At the final operation, a unique bar code is generated and attached to the housing of the EIS before it gets packed in a crate and sent to the customer engine plants in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The information is kept in the data bank for ten years. Engine diagnosis "This is a pretty sophisticated engine, so this information will be valuable in diagnosing any future issues," says Jeff Riedel, Lean Manufacturing manager and EIS launch manager at Rawsonville. "When a customer comes into the dealership with an engine issue, we can scan that bar code and look at the history of that part or a group of parts. They can compare it with the data they have and try to troubleshoot the problem. The 'genetic code' is going to make it much easier to get a response back and get the customer's issue fixed quickly." Visteon Corporation is a leading full-service supplier that delivers consumer-driven technology solutions to automotive manufacturers worldwide and through multiple channels within the global automotive aftermarket. Visteon has approximately 75,000 employees and a global delivery system of more than 180 technical, manufacturing, sales and service facilities located in 25 countries. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO DATASOURCE: Visteon Corporation CONTACT: Robin Pannecouk, +1-313-755-9121, or Jim Fisher, +1-313-755-0635, both of Visteon Corporation Web site: http://www.visteon.com/

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