Supply Chain Optimization Drives the Need for High Quality Thermal Transfer and Line Printers in the Automotive Sector

Business Wire, May 21, 2008

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- The automotive industry consists of highly complex supply chain operations that require the convergence of various suppliers. Such convergence needs to be supported by printing systems that deliver high quality labels to ensure 100 percent readability. Therefore, printers and printing applications are vital to ensure accuracy in the assembly sequence. Since most assembly operations are automated and supported by IT systems, the individual components that go into the final assembly need to be identified and scheduled in the correct sequence.

Recently, Frost & Sullivan completed a White Paper for Printronix which identifies the need for mission critical printing applications within the automotive sector. The whitepaper reveals that these printing applications have a significant impact on areas such as inventory management, shipping / transportation documentation, manufacturing instructions, and vehicle identification.

If you are interested in receiving the white paper entitled "Printronix's Solution for Mission-critical Printing in the Automotive Industry" or you would like to request more information regarding Frost & Sullivan's custom research and white paper services, please contact David Escalante - Corporate Communications, at david.escalante@frost.com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, e-mail address, city, state and country. We will send you the requested information via e-mail upon receipt of the above information.

"At each of the supply chain levels, there is a need for suppliers to deliver just-in-time (JIT) and in the proper build sequence," notes Frost & Sullivan Research Manager Keith Robinson. "This co-ordination exercise is made possible with automated identification and labeling systems, which in turn depend on printers."

The automotive supply chain is challenged by issues such as frequent model launches, part and platform re-use, and software complexities. These challenges need to be addressed at a global level since the present-day supply chain cuts across different regions. Printed barcode labels could include details such as manufacturer information, specific batch details, product information and codes, as well as testing certification data. For example, the vehicle identification number (VIN) is a combination of characters that provides a unique identity for each automobile that is manufactured.

In fact, supply chain optimization is a key requisite in today's automotive sector given that it is facing increased consolidation and intense competition from new rivals. Printed forms and labels form an integral part of this optimization process by ensuring an information flow that supports the existing automated systems. Automotive manufacturers need printers that fulfill their expanding printing needs while operating in the existing work environment of their manufacturing facility.

Only the highest quality printers can successfully compete for a share in the automotive supply chain market due to its inherent complexities and difficult environmental conditions. Within this market, Printronix has emerged as a strong participant in the market with its extensive portfolio of Line Matrix and Thermal Transfer printing solutions. Largely, the company benefits from high brand awareness levels in the automotive industry due to its focus on uptime and print quality.

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