Valeo Corporation, located in Rochester, New York, manufactures windshield wiper systems and electrical motors that control a vehicle’s door locks, windows, seats and antenna. From their 1.7 million square foot facility, Valeo supplies auto plants around the world to General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, BMW, Mazda, and more.

While implementing a new warehouse management system, Valeo had to address the complex AIAG compliance labeling requests of their worldwide customers without significantly affecting the Unix-based warehousing software. Valeo turned for help to Michael Shacket of Corner Office Consulting, Inc., a Rochester-based software integrator. He recommended a middleware interface to the warehousing system and LABELVIEW™ software from Teklynx International. The middleware, incorporating LABELVIEW, cut programming time in half while productivity doubled.

Another outstanding benefit of the middleware is Valeo’s ability to immediately respond to customer changes in label designs. A common occurrence, label design changes are now handled easily and quickly. In fact, the user-friendly middleware, with LABELVIEW, readily allows non-technical personnel to make label format changes. This capability keeps costs down by not affecting the warehousing system.

An equally important benefit has been the reliability of the middleware and LABELVIEW software. Fifty-two label formats can be sent to more than 100 printers located throughout the plant with some installed on forklifts using RF connectivity. Over 60,000 labels are being printed each week without problems.

Statistical reports generated from this labeling system enable Valeo IS management to better maintain label stock inventory, schedule preventative printer maintenance, and improve printer distribution throughout the plant.

This is a compelling story of how a billion-dollar, international corporation satisfied the automotive industry’s compliance labeling request while increasing productivity and reducing costs.