Latest technology evening – manufacturing execution systems (MES)
Becher Raffoul, divisional manager for MES at Siemens, gave us a presentation on how increased competition, globalisation and shorter product lifecycles have put enormous pressure on the ‘make-to stock’ production model causing some companies to shift to a more demand based ‘make-to-order’ approach.
Collaborative manufacturing focuses on leveraging information technologies to compete more effectively. It is about connecting the plant floor production system to the business systems and integrating the internal manufacturing and business processes with the external environment.
Debbie Scott presents Becher Raffoul with his SAIMC Presenters Certificate, accompanied by Andrew Bharath, Johan Maartens, Alvin Seitz, Eric Carter and Jay King from the SAIMC Jhb branch
Globalisation and competition brought the urge to evolve manufacturing IT into systems that support real-time, collaborative business models. Essentially the use of information from the control systems guides production planners through access to real-time production information that can then be correlated with desired production – what orders are on hand; should production be switched to a different product and how does this tie in with maintenance scheduling.
Site visit: Members of the SAIMC Jhb branch on their plant tour to SAA technical centre in Kempton Park
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