APRIL 15--USDATA Corp. (Richardson, TX; www.usdata.com), a supplier of industrial automation software, and Robotic Vision Systems Inc. (RVSI; Nashua, NH; www.rvsi.com), a provider of machine-vision systems, have formed a strategic alliance to provide end-to-end traceability solutions for component manufacturers. RVSI direct-part-mark verification and reading technology will be integrated with USDATA manufacturing execution system technology.
The companies will immediately commence joint marketing, sales, and system delivery initiatives targeted at industries that have heightened requirements for unit level traceability, principally, the automotive and aerospace industries. Multiple factors are moving manufacturers to implement unit-level traceability, including product-liability issues, warranty costs, regulatory issues, and cost avoidance. Companies need to contain potential quality problems before and after the product leaves the plant and provide detailed product genealogy information to trading partners.
"Warranty costs in the automotive sector alone exceed $9 billion a year," said Jim Fleet, interim president and chief executive officer of USDATA. "OEMs are beginning to require component and subcomponent genealogy and traceability information from their suppliers. Our alliance with RVSI will allow us to deliver seamless systems that support this requirement."
The agreement also provides for ongoing collaborative solution development and technology integration between the two companies.
