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Product category: Enterprise Resource Planning software (ERP)
News Release from: Wonderware United Kingdom | Subject: Wonderware
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial Team on 14 November 2006

Wonderware redefines approach to MES

Wonderware redefines approach to MES with new production and performance management software modules

Wonderware, a business unit of Invensys, has announced the release of new production and performance management software modules designed to help manufacturers significantly improve the consistency, reliability and agility of plant operations The new Equipment Operations Module is designed to assist manufacturers to increase operational performance and manufacturing responsiveness as well as maintain brand integrity

These goals are achieved through consistent execution of unit and line operations, improved reliability and repeatability of equipment setup, and capture of complete "as built" records for rapid response to unexpected production events such as product recalls - all exploiting the ISA-95 information standard.

The Equipment Performance Module empowers companies to maximise resources and achieve lean manufacturing objectives by capturing critical equipment performance events and efficiency information.

This important real-time information is provided to operators and decision-makers, enabling them to take immediate action to improve operational performance.

In addition, these new modules include one or more QuickStarts.

A QuickStart consists of a pre-configured example of best practices to address a specific manufacturing scenario.

QuickStarts accelerate operational design and implementation as well as reduce risks by supplying example applications, database structure, HMI graphics, Web reports and implementation guidelines.

The software modules run with the Wonderware System Platform, providing customers a common strategic platform for all networked supervisory HMI, SCADA, production management (MES) and performance management (manufacturing intelligence) solutions.

ArchestrA, the underlying industrial automation and information application architecture, provides manufacturers with the means to dynamically reformulate their manufacturing footprint, enabling an incremental, low-risk deployment of increased application functionality.

Another enhanced offering being released is the Manufacturing Execution Module, the next generation of the product formerly known as InTrack.

This highly popular software package is used for work-in-progress tracking applications to monitor, manage and improve manufacturing production efficiency.

The Manufacturing Execution Module includes an enhanced graphical user interface, new Web-reporting capabilities and support of the latest Microsoft and Oracle databases.

Also available from Wonderware are corresponding application objects, built on ArchestrA technology, that integrate this module into the Wonderware System Platform.

"Using these new modular components, our customers can rapidly create functionally rich plant applications, Web-based reports and dashboards that provide real-time visibility into what happens on actual equipment," said Claus Abildgren, marketing program manager for production and performance management at Wonderware.

"The real differential value lies in the tools available to the 'first line of defence,' or the operators at the machines and their supervisors.

They need to be empowered to adhere to operational procedures, know instantly how they are performing, understand what the issues are and what they need to do to avoid production losses".

The release of these software modules and the associated QuickStarts is part of Wonderware's strategy to offer production and performance management software solutions that empower customers to align business strategy with operational activities.

"The customer directly benefits because exploiting a unified system platform, along with the modular nature of Wonderware's new components, offers a common data model for manufacturing resources that decreases the risks associated with initial implementations, as well as increases application flexibility for rapid change over time," said Kevin Tock, vice president for the production and performance management/MES business group at Wonderware.

"Based on our experience with the evolving role of IT in manufacturing, we understand that the success of our customers requires alignment of business operations, engineering and IT departments, along with aligning technology roadmaps with current and future investments.

"The scalability and flexibility found in Wonderware's software solutions has an even more profound impact in enabling customers to adapt the functionality of their applications as their company's needs evolve.

This is in sharp contrast to the 'Big Bang' large project approach to MES in the past".

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