Volvo signs contract for $1million in IFS upgrades

Volvo Cars, the Swedish automotive giant, now owned by Ford, has just signed a $1 million agreement with IFS to upgrade its existing material supply software. In addition to upgraded automotive functionality, Volvo has chosen portal-based interfaces, to integrate suppliers and customers via the web. And the software, which is expected to be up and running by January 2002, will be implemented across two of the firm’s engine centres in Gothenburg (Sweden) and Gent (Belgium). Volvo’s main reason for upgrading the current system was to meet increased demands when introducing new car-models and to support added production capacity. Bo Persson, manufacturing process IT co-ordinator, commented: “After an extensive evaluation of a number of possible alternatives, including in-depth assessment of software functionality, technical support capability and company strength, we decided to make a significant upgrade to our current solution to IFS Applications 2001.” Volvo’s research and development mostly takes place in Gothenburg, Sweden, with the main production facilities in Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden. The number of employees is approximately 27,000 people.