| A recent study conducted by the Center for | | | | Management in Spain. This is for a Design Change |
| Automotive Research (CAR) revealed that | | | | Collaborative Management platform for Nissan auto |
| automakers are working together in small clusters to | | | | parts and automobiles. Microsoft technology is aiding |
| gain faster communication about their upcoming | | | | Nissan to improve efficiencies in the entire process of |
| innovative cars. In order to do so, they use different | | | | complex planning, coordinating and monitoring vehicle |
| information channels like web conferencing and other | | | | manufacturing. |
| ways to effect live conversations through the Internet. | | | | Patty Dilger, national sales director for the U.S. |
| By doing this, the manufacturers can secure the quality | | | | Manufacturing Industries at Microsoft, said "The auto |
| of product and customer awareness in a snap. | | | | industry is competing globally against an |
| The study is entitled "Key Factors that Enable Product | | | | ever-increasing wave of nameplates. If an OEM |
| Development: An Investigation of Creating 'Great' | | | | expects to succeed, it must stand out with innovative |
| Products". According to said study, the automakers | | | | cars developed through globally collaborative means |
| are demonstrating greater passion by turning to | | | | that pull the consumer into the design process. By |
| collaborative product development (CPD) technique | | | | employing easy-to-use Microsoft solutions - from |
| through the help of Microsoft solutions. They are | | | | shared Web sites designed for collaboration to |
| adopting these solutions to serve as catalyst to gain | | | | project-management tools and a whole range of |
| more advantage in the automotive world. | | | | Web-based methods for direct communication - the |
| PSA Peugeot Citroën, for one, has worked with | | | | auto industry is deploying new ways to work together." |
| Microsoft Corporation to implement a Microsoft Office | | | | Microsoft solutions are maximizes management and |
| Enterprise Project Management solution. Due to this, | | | | accelerates productivity. This is the focal reason why |
| information is shared hassle-free. | | | | more and more automakers are turning to them for a |
| Consequently, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. has also upgraded | | | | rewarding collaboration. |
| to Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 and the | | | | Auto Parts Discount |
| Windows(R) XP Professional operating system, along | | | | Nissan auto parts |
| with Microsoft Office Outlook(R) Web Access and | | | | Joe Thompson is the owner of a successful auto |
| Exchange Server 2003. With this change, Nissan is | | | | body shop in Ferndale, California. This 38 year old is |
| expecting to maximize productivity at the same time | | | | also a prolific writer, contributing automotive related |
| save at least $135 million in the coming years. Nissan | | | | articles to various publications. |
| will also adopt Microsoft Office Enterprise Project | | | | |