Shared "Virtual Factory" Tools. Massive visualization tools allow GMto determine the cost and effect of various changes to factories,factory floor configurations and tooling. They simulate everythingfrom the rate at which material can be unloaded from trucks with agiven dock configuration to the likely traffic patterns on roadssurrounding the shop.

Joint Product Design. In 1998, GM's design-to-production cycle tookthree years. Competitors required two at that point, according to KirkGutmann, GM's product development information officer. Today GM hascut its cycle to a year and a half. Gutmann says the competition isstill faster by a few months, but the playing field is morelevel.