AUTOMATIONMES
Andreas Strauch of AIS Automation states that they have discovered that many PV companies that began without an MES solution soon discover that capabilities developed internally in an ad-hoc manner are now isolated from the bigger holistic picture. Motivated by recent PV industry trends Strauch sees manufacturers frantically unwinding these disparate systems with a need to redevelop and codify core business processes and then having to adopt open IT architectures in support of current and future business objectives. These remodelling efforts are expensive and often require oversight and intervention from the highest levels of the organization to reduce conflict within a company structure.
Ali M. Aksut is President of Business Solutions Provider, Olive-3 and believes traditional MES systems have been designed and used for tracking the material flow in established, standardized processes. As the PV industry is still in the process of maturing this is not the case so so PV manufacturers need flexibility to support this evolution. Aksut feels that manufacturers need to be able to collect various process specific attribute data, analyze this data to quickly adjust recipes and work instructions, reroute the work order or use a different equipment for a specific step.
“They do not need a system just to collect and track work order data,” he emphasises.
Choosing for the future
Despite the fact that companies survive on selling software, the respondents for this article were all sure that manufacturers need to choose tools to meet their needs and shop around. Developing the right foundation tools with a correct understanding to growth paths will ensure modular sections can be added or new tools and recipes incorporated. With such a rush for market share in the industry agree that it is not long before manufacturers will have to differentiate between competition if they wish to increase market growth. Companies need tools to help them make better decisions and optimize their overall manufacturing operations.
Picking a partner
Creating and maintaining the appropriate MES system for any company requires a balancing act between business operation needs and desired improvements. The timing of an upgrade of productivity increasing tool is vital and luck plays a huge amount. The difference in luck can mean new market leaders while strong players drift away
as they miss the next boat of technological advancement.
As Systema’s Travis Stevens said, “development of a comprehensive manufacturing IT strategy is a complex undertaking that is effectively realized through detailed analysis, identification and development of existing and ‘to-be’ business processes. The resulting IT system architecture, including MES, ERP and Factory Automation is iteratively developed, contrasted, and refined against prioritized business-operation requirements to develop an actionable architectural blueprint.”
Savantech’s Connor adds, “If an MES is an important element in collating and managing the data that will improve productivity and profitability, equipment automation is equally crucial in collecting data directly from the tools. The PV manufacturing process typically includes a large number of metrology equipment at the end of the production line, feeding back key quality-related KPIs. The sheer volume of this data dictates automated collection, and automated distribution to the MES and other key analysis systems.”
Having an MES system can assist manufacturers define process and manufacturing challenges they were unaware of as well as discover new opportunities.
According to Stevens, “ Opportunities realized through skilful analysis and deployment planning can fundamentally change the definition of interdependent project objectives, milestones, and manufacturing operations. A focused and analytical approach to defining the MES can expose opportunities that if properly exploited allow introduction of disruptive processes and capabilities to deliver competitive advantages to manufacturing and business operations.”
The main issue for manufacturers is choosing and setting up an MES takes time and you have to decide what benefits you expect to gain. Manufacturers are between a rock and a hard place as they decide what level of information technology they require and when should they implement. Timing is crucial for manufacturers in this important decision making process and they can choose to go it alone and develop internal tools or define exactly what they would like and seek out experts and set your goal simply.
They can provide your needs or they cannot. It is the knowing your needs that is the key element.
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www.solar-pv-management.com Issue IV 2010
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