When we think about automation in the auto industry, the images that typically pop to mind are robots that weld and paint bodies and automated guided vehicles that move parts around the assembly line. However, coordinating all of the aspects of a major manufacturing enterprise requires a lot more than just mechanical devices as Tesla has learned so painfully in trying to ramp up production. Plymouth, Mich.-based Thirdware is a software company that has been helping customers manage the parts of the business that outsiders rarely see for more than 15 years and a new partnership aims to take that to a new level.
