Productivity Technology has transformed the workplace and helped spur a booming economy. Twenty-five years ago, it took Johnson Controls a week to turn around an order for a car seat. Using technology to get more done in less time, without passing the cost on to the consumer, is a hallmark of the new economy.
Analysts say the biggest gains are still to come.
At Johnson Controls, a virtual reality lab makes it possible for car companies to test drive a new vehicle in any weather conditions on any road in the country without spending the time or money to build a prototype. We believe we can lower it down to somewhere between 12 to 18 months. It is not just huge companies that are betting on technology to keep this boom going. The changes don't stop there. Letandre is already envisioning the time when the day shift programs the night shift to operate without any workers at all.