Telematics at work-really at work. (WIP).

One of the key aspects of lean production is that goods are delivered to the right place at the right time. Reliably. But as we all know, stuff happens. Particularly when the subject is vehicle-based logistics. Sometimes equipment breaks. Sometimes there are traffic problems.

While there is considerable debate vis-a-vis consumers and telematics solutions [e.g., are consumers willing to pay for the services, how much, when, etc., etc., etc.], for companies that are doing things like shipping to their customers on a JIT basis, trucks are essentially mobile assets, and it is as important to keep these pieces of equipment operating in good order as it is to keep a machine on a factory floor chunking out widgets.

So, to this end, Vetronix Corp. (Santa Barbara, CA] has formed an alliance with IBM Corp. (Armonk, NY] to develop Internet-based, wireless applications and services for fleet management. The objective is to provide an information exchange between fleet management systems and individual vehicles. For example, there will be diagnostic and prognostic maintenance capabilities such that maintenance centers can be notified of what's occurring [or is likely to], thereby facilitating parts ordering and service scheduling. Location information will provide dispatch offices with information of where assets are, as well as a means by which drivers can be rerouted around traffic bottlenecks.

Jim Zaleski, president of Vetronix explained, "Most of the industry is currently focused on consumer-related applications for telematics. The partnership between IBM and Vetronix is focused on optimizing telematics technology, infrastructure, and applications for commercial use by vehicle-centric businesses." Raj Desia, director of IBM Telematics Solutions, noted of the companies who run commercial vehicles, "It's all about establishing better control of your mobile assets while preparing to succeed in a world of higher operating costs and stricter government regulations."