Xfactory, a collaborative manufacturing solution by USDATA, turns plant data into manufacturing knowledge, by providing realtime information visibility.
Applying 25 years of industrial experience and manufacturing knowledge, USDATA developed a flexible, adaptable and extensible MES application suite based on Microsoft standards. Examining the suite's components, the benefits of Xfactory become apparent. The components of this complete MES solution are the Tracker, Analyzer, Connector and FactoryLink, offering fast implementation time at no risk, worldwide service and a foundation for e-manufacturing.
Tracker is the component that does production tracking and reporting and allows managers to:
* Stay on top of inventory levels.
* Track production runs from lot sizes as small as one.
* Determine resource use by tracking equipment status and availability and optimise resource utilisation.
* Track defective components back to a supplier.
* Increase customer satisfaction by identifying and removing defective product quickly and easily prior to shipping.
* Identify the status and location of units in production in realtime, anytime, anywhere!
* Go paperless - track work through electronic travellers and work instructions.
Analyzer does ad-hoc data analysis, web reporting, performance monitoring and genealogy (traceability):
* Determine and display key plant performance indicators. Completely configurable, it offers the ability to establish performance benchmarking against either internal company objectives or known industry metrics or standards. Pre-defined configurations may include cost of goods produced, cost of scrap and equipment use.
* Chart production performance.
* Develop personal, individualised queries.
* Access complete history of material consumed by production order (reverse genealogy).
* View all data, production screens, charts, queries and reports anywhere, anytime through a web browser
Connector manages the information, exchanging information from the shop floor to ERP:
* View production orders.
* Create, change or cancel production orders.
* Change production order priority in realtime.
* Send bill of material to production.
* Re-schedule production orders.
* Backflush inventory.
* Backflush production orders.
FactoryLink provides the ultimate control through data acquisition and process management:
* Improve quality through statistical process control.
* View all alarm and event notifications historically and in realtime to determine equipment and process problems.
* View the production process graphically.
* Acquire, log and trend all plant and process data for further analysis.
* Report on all equipment and process parameters.
Based on Microsoft standards, this comprehensive application suite requires minimal training and therefore reduces cost of ownership. The familiar operating environment creates ease of use. The system can easily be extended (using VBA) to perform customised functions. It is easy to integrate with the multitude of Microsoft applications to extend its functionality. It affords the security of knowing that the system is able to remain current with the state-of-the art in technology. The fact that Microsoft is an established market player reduces cost and risk.
Any plant can be accurately modelled
There is no requirement to modify a process to conform to a pre-defined software design: Tracker is easily adaptable and is designed to allow accurate modelling of individual plant processes. With its 25 years of manufacturing experience, USDATA has developed an implementation methodology for rapid application configuration that is non-disruptive, allowing process implementation and change without downtime. Changes can be performed instantaneously in realtime. Any functionality can be incorporated, based on Microsoft standards; the design can easily be extended to include third party applications. The inclusion of pre-defined 'manufacturing objects' allows for rapid development without the restriction of conformance to a pre-defined plant configuration, allowing:
* Faster time-to-market (new product introductions).
* Ability to quickly implement engineering design changes.
* Faster turnaround time on orders (quick deliveries).
* Ability to prototype production changes.
* Ability to respond more quickly to the demands of shorter product lifecycles.
* Ability to customise orders and produce lot sizes of one.
* Ability to introduce production changes in the system on an incremental basis or en masse as a batch of tested changes.
Silicon Systems is the South African distributor for USDATA.
Silicon Systems
(012) 664 0598
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