Shanghai Volkswagen (SVW) depends on production line applications to manage car manufacturing. Legacy DOS-based production line software performs real-time mission critical functions such as conveyor control, RFID scanning and bar-code reading. Production line systems are integrated with production management servers and control rooms via proprietary binary messaging protocols that are poorly supported.

Faurecia China required integration of production management software with assembly-line equipment - torque sensors used to ensure correct bolt tightening. Each sensor is a complex electronic tool that communicates tightening results via TCP/IP utilizing a proprietary protocol. The integration requirement became clear very late in the overall project.

Shanghai General Motors (SGM) is 50-50 joint venture between General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), China's largest passenger car manufacturer. SGM's 24,000-square-meter plant is powered by world-class facilities and leading-edge technology. at the time of the project SGM ranked among China's top-three passenger car manufacturers, with a 10% market share.