If you think cell phones represent manufacturing's most strategic application of wireless technology, think again. Wireless is fast becoming a supply-chain enabler, allowing manufacturers to locate and track inventory and assets. And wireless technologies soon will become an integral part of some products, providing remote monitoring and control. At Ford Motor Co., for example, "wireless technology is being used to drive a revolution in the supply chain," says Dan Doles, president and CEO of WhereNet Corp., Santa Clara, Calif Ford, his largest customer, is using WhereNet's wireless technology as a step toward its build-to-order man-ufacturing strategy. "Ultimately this technology-driven tran-sition will benefit products as well as the process," he adds.
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