Product category:
Manufacturing Information Technology systems
News Release from: Dataworks | Subject: Manufacturing Execution System
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 23 September 2004
Shop floor and IT - closing the loop
During the 80's great emphasis was placed production automation and ten years later, business automation was in the 'limelight' - now emphasis is on linking up the two.
During the 80's great emphasis was placed on the automation of the production floors A decade later, with the advent of affordable computing, business automation was in the limelight with everything automated from ordering to delivery
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 26 Jan 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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One of the areas left behind is the appropriate integration between the two.
This is where a MES (Manufacturing Execution System) come into place.
A MES closes the loop between the shop floor and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning - ie SAP, PeopleSoft, BPCS).
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Whilst most of the major industrial automation companies currently have their own flavour of MES (including Invensys, Siemens and GE Fanuc), one would be naive to think that such a product can do it all in a plug and play fashion.
Given the variety of ERP configurations, coupled with the various manufacturing environments, most MES deployments require customised solutions in order to provide complete and seamless integration between the business tier and the shop floor.
Irish-based custom software company Dataworks has been developing made-to-measure solutions in partnership with its clients since 1995.
Over 200 successful custom software implementations have contributed to Dataworks' broad range of expertise in discrete, process and business environments in Ireland, the UK, France, Italy and the USA, including plants in regulated environments.
From discrete applications to complete bespoke Shop Floor Information Systems, Dataworks' expertise allows companies to leverage the huge benefits of MES integration.
Here are some of these benefits: - Improved Data Collection (WIP control, efficiency improvement, supply chain improvements) - Improved Quality (enforce product and process rules, regulatory compliance, machine integration) - Improved Measurement of Business Drivers and Key Performance Indicators (lot turn-around times, machine efficiency, process yields, process data) - Improved Response to Changes in Business (greater integration from planning phase to product release, greater reporting, enforcement of business rules and BOM) Dataworks will be presenting a technical talk on the subject in Limerick on the 23rd of November in association with the ISA (Instrumentation, Systems and Automation society).
This is a unique opportunity to meet not only with other people involved on the engineering side of the automation industry but also with professionals involved in IT, bridging the human gap as well as the technical gap between IT and the shop floor.
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