| Processing Talk, which covers the latest news for | | | | manufacturing execution system extends the |
| engineers in the process industries, recently addressed | | | | capabilities of SAP for control and monitoring of |
| the topic of how an "Efficiency system improves | | | | activities on the factory floor. Full integration with SAP |
| factory operations." More specifically, the publication | | | | further delivers the ability to communicate effectively |
| detailed how a factory floor efficiency system was | | | | with increased floor visibility and a minimum of |
| "helping to ensure smooth running" at a U.K. ice-cream | | | | implementation costs. Just as SAP turns supply chain |
| plant. But indeed, a real-time data collection system | | | | activity into real-time business information, a shop floor |
| that provides job tracking and factory floor control can | | | | system turns factory activity into actionable |
| "bring improved control, visibility and efficiency to key | | | | management information. Its open-systems design |
| parts" of almost any factory. | | | | delivers real-time information to individual work centers, |
| "Overall plant control at the Gloucester site comes | | | | supervisors and management. |
| under the auspices of ... [an] ERP system. An | | | | Some of the benefits shop floor management will |
| Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) and finite | | | | realize from a product with full SAP integration include: |
| scheduling system that visually improves the | | | | Improved visibility into production, work orders and |
| sequencing of production (and raw materials) through | | | | jobs that are currently on the floor |
| a PC-based system completely interfaces with most | | | | Real-time management alerts to user-defined |
| ERP and MRP systems like the one in use at the | | | | problems, such as poor efficiency, too much scrap or |
| ice-cream plant. Such a system uses a drop and drag | | | | non-conformance to quality requirements |
| electronic board and an unlimited set of scheduling | | | | Work scheduling capabilities (e.g., job sequencing |
| rules to afford shop floor managers greater control. | | | | by using finite sequencing logic to line up work in all |
| The Processing Talk article went on to point out, | | | | work centers based on finite capacity and |
| "Although efficient when correctly implemented, it is | | | | user-defined rules) |
| widely accepted that ERP systems suffer from what | | | | Highly accurate shop floor accounting with no |
| are termed as 'unaccountable losses,' typically | | | | operator data entry |
| emanating from discrepancies in raw material usage | | | | Better visibility and labor tracking |
| and wastage." That's where a lean paperless | | | | Document and communication control, including |
| manufacturing execution system can pick up the | | | | paperless messaging on the shop floor and access to |
| pieces. In particular, it can "counter these shortcomings | | | | critical documents such as CAD drawings, set-up |
| by continually updating systems such as SAP with live | | | | instructions and video clips |
| data from critical control points on the factory floor." | | | | An efficiency system has given the ice-cream plant |
| A partnership with a SAP Integrator can ensure floor | | | | "an environment where [it] now [has] total control, total |
| managers that the efficiency system they've selected | | | | reportability, less mistakes and one where every action |
| will provide them with the results they're seeking. The | | | | is logged." A real-time data collection system utilizing |
| factory floor capabilities afforded them through a | | | | touch screen capabilities can do the same for most |
| touch-screen-based, intuitive factory floor system | | | | factory floors. |
| leads to an overall seamless operation. Such a lean | | | | |