Pioneering any aspect of technology can be both exhilarating and frustrating. Ultimately, however, it's always empowering.
That's been the experience of Jim Caie, who, as chief of quality, information, and control systems at General Motors from 1984 to 1992, led the Factory of the Future project, an initiative aimed at creating a "lights out" facility for front-wheel-drive axles.
"The concept was that it would be automated and could run the whole night without anyone there," Caie said. "It never got to that point, but that was the vision. It was way ahead of its time, so it was more of a test in order to understand what could be done and what was needed to make it work in the future."
Fast-forward 16 years, and one of the key elements of his vision — simulation — has become Caie's cause. He played a key role in getting GM to embrace simulation and manufacturing process modeling. And GM's success with simulation has influenced other major manufacturers inside and outside the automotive industry to follow suit.