MANUFACTURING NEWS

Carmakers to Test Designs with ILOG Configurator
Advanced optimizer to help reduce cockpit parts from over 100 to just 12

Software solution provider to the automakers, Ford’s Visteon Corp. has launched an innovative design project to reduce the number of parts in the vehicle cockpit, using an application based on ILOG Configurator.

Powered by the industry-leading ILOG Solver for constraint programming, ILOG Configurator applies end-user preferences in optimizing design parameters. In the Visteon solution, it will enable automotive engineers to test-drive their designs before constructing vehicle prototypes.

Besides reducing time and cost in designing cars, the application is expected to reduce vehicle weight and improve quality and performance. A goal of the project is to reduce the number of cockpit parts from more than 100 to just 12.

Unlike other configuration programs, ILOG Configurator concurrently considers all the possible configurations to find the optimal ones for the user. This extremely flexible approach is made possible by the constraint programming technology of ILOG Solver, which lets the user prioritize the desired features, rather than let the application impose an order.

ILOG Configurator is part of the ILOG Optimization Suite, which is used throughout the automotive industry to solve a wide variety of problems, including production sequencing and design optimization.

ILOG is the leading provider of optimization software components. With ILOG’s cutting-edge software, automotive manufacturers worldwide are better able to stay competitive by meeting the market’s ever-changing demands. Other automotive leaders powered by ILOG include DaimlerChrysler, Michelin, Nissan, Peugeot-Citroën and Renault.

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Advanced Software Assigns Tasks with ILOG Dispatcher
ILOG JViews powers Web access

To address the need for a reactive mobile workforce in today’s increasingly customercentric maintenance and repair market, French software vendor Advanced Software has created Optim’up, an application for optimizing task scheduling for mobile resources with ILOG technology.

Optim’up includes Optim’up Dispatching, a flexible optimization solution based on ILOG Dispatcher and ILOG Solver and designed to integrate daily operational activities, and Optim’up Java Charts, a rich, customizable pure-Java GUI based on ILOG JViews that gives access to all the features of the Optim’up solution. The Advanced Software solution facilitates the flow of information between mobile maintenance and field repair personnel and team managers. Operations managers can keep in touch with team members wherever they are, and have access to up-to-the-minute information for fast decision-making when unforeseen changes occur in day-to-day activities.

Advanced Software has leveraged its unique know-how and extensive experience to deliver the definitive optimization platform to its customers. Its developers maintain access to the system via the Internet or an interactive voice-mail server.

The client-server architecture of Optim’up, based upon market standards, facilitates its integration into the user’s environment. Interfaces are made seamlessly with existing third-party software solutions, including enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, human resource management and payroll systems.

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