by Gary Mintchell | Dec 5, 2014 | Data Management, Manufacturing IT, Operations Management, Software
Schneider Electric has released Wonderware SmartGlance 2014 R2 mobile reporting manufacturing software. The updated version includes a host of new features including support for wearable technologies, a modern user interface for any browser, self-serve registration, support for multiple time zones for a global user base and full import and export capabilities for even faster deployment.
“Plant personnel are now mobile so they require immediate access to real-time operations information via their smart phone, tablet or whatever mobile device they carry,” said Saadi Kermani, Wonderware SmartGlance product manager, Schneider Electric. “Wonderware SmartGlance 2014 R2 software delivers highly relevant information coming from industrial data sources to targeted plant workers in the form of personalized charts, reports and alerts. It provides them with the flexibility they need to view and instantly collaborate around real-time plant data on any device so they can make rapid, effective decisions.”
With a small install footprint and no additional hardware requirements, the Wonderware SmartGlance implementation process is fast and simple. MyAlerts, the software’s newest mobile app feature, proactively notifies users of process events so they can stay current with real-time information based on configurable thresholds for tag reports. The software can be used with smart watches to alert mobile and remote field workers, plant supervisors and managers of critical production and process information in a real-time, hands-free manner.
By leveraging the combined power of mobility and Schneider Electric’s cloud-hosted managed services, the software empowers mobile and remote users with the right information at the right time, without disruption or distraction, so they can quickly assign resources and resolve issues. It also features an open interface to connect and push data to mobile devices from virtually any data source, including historians, manufacturing execution systems, enterprise manufacturing intelligence systems or any real-time system of record. It also provides connectors for accessing data from any SQL database and any OPC-HDA-compatible system for better access to third-party data sources and systems. This most recent version also extends connectivity to key Schneider Electric software products, including its Viejo Citect SCADA offering, InStep PRiSM predictive asset analytics software and the InStep eDNA historian.
You might also check out my podcast interview with Kermani.
by Gary Mintchell | Nov 24, 2014 | Automation, Data Management, Manufacturing IT, News, Operations Management, Software
This trend in manufacturing software I expect to see accelerated as we move through 2015. Although not everyone is sanguine about the efficacy of fully integrated (if indeed that is even possible) design to manufacture software. Even so, here is yet another first step.
Apriso 9.7 is now available from Dassault Systèmes, with enriched integration to the company’s digital manufacturing applications. As the first significant new product introduction since Dassault Systèmes’ acquisition of Apriso Corp., the Apriso 9.7 application suite offers an improved business experience for Apriso users, with closer, out-of-the-box integration to other DELMIA Digital Manufacturing products, helping to better bridge the gap between the virtual and real worlds of manufacturing. This Apriso product portfolio update delivers enhanced digital continuity from design to execution, supporting paperless manufacturing initiatives while accelerating new product introduction.
“The launch of Apriso 9.7 represents an important first step to becoming part of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. Apriso capabilities will be available by simply adding widgets to the platform, extending real-time visibility to manufacturing intelligence to engineers and other users of the platform,” said John Fishell, DELMIA Product Management at Dassault Systèmes.
Dassault Systèmes customers can use Apriso 9.7 to help ensure engineering designed work instructions are properly executed on the shop floor. Examples include manufacturing Bill of Materials (mBOM), routings and 3D work instructions. Presenting feedback from manufacturing to engineering through the 3DEXPERIENCE portal helps improve production process performance and validate whether virtual routings are optimal for a real world environment.
by Gary Mintchell | Nov 13, 2014 | Manufacturing IT, News, Operations Management, Organizations
MESA International
This is an interesting announcement. One organization writes white papers and otherwise disseminates MES knowledge; the other is a standards setting organization. Although MESA did absorb WBF when it was left without a home. WBF was the developer of B2MML. All three of the organizations have contributed to the OpenO&M Initiative and to the OGI Pilot project.
Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association (MESA) International announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Open Applications Group Inc. (OAGi). According to MESA, this agreement will make it easier for both organizations to work together and bring value to their common set of stakeholders, and formalizes the ways in which each organization can contribute to the other’s committees and working groups to bring specific expertise to key initiatives.
The speed of technology advancement is so rapid today that collaboration with industry thought leaders is more important than ever. MESA has always worked to bring domain experts together, share knowledge and drive industry forward. This agreement is another example of such an effort.
Commenting on this news, Mike Yost, president of MESA, said, “We’re happy to formalize this cooperative agreement with OAGi. Given the speed of business today and the ever-expanding role IT-based solutions are playing within manufacturers, we need more capable people at the table working together to drive value for everyone. This agreement helps ensure our two organizations can do just that.”
by Gary Mintchell | Nov 6, 2014 | Automation, Data Management, Manufacturing IT, Operations Management, Software, Technology
There is a place for closed, proprietary manufacturing software. But standards and open source have proven to be a perfect way to solve additional integration and development problems for integrators and end users. And maybe add some excitement, enthusiasm and innovation, as well.
This post began from a ping on Twitter. Then an email conversation. Then some exploration.
I have followed Andy Robinson (aka @Archestranaut) for several years. As Eliot Landrum explained to me, “He started a project a little bit ago and we are picking up with a renewed interest. Our website can be found here, plus we also have the Twitter account and, most importantly, a GitHub repository.”
The main objective is to build an open, public community among (Schneider Electric/Wonderware) ArchestrA developers. Adds Landrum, “I personally have desired a public, technical conversation among our industry but haven’t found it. So, I decided to make it happen. Other programming communities have gained so much from public, open discussion and code sharing and I want some of that for us! I really think that we can build on each other’s successes and create a friendly community of knowledgeable developers.”
The Website will include tricks, techniques, and tutorials for improved manufacturing software implementation. In the GitHub repository, programmers will share real code! These will be anywhere from simple scripts to full-blown tools. “Anyone is welcome to submit code for inclusion, and Andy and I will be reviewing and monitoring the code,” concludes Landrum.
From the Website
So, what’s this all about anyway? Personally, I think it’s about helping to open up an industry that has been tight-fisted and scared to share anything of value. The automation / system integration industry has traditionally been very secretive about the tools we use and develop in-house. As we’ve seen from the Open Source movement’s success over the past 20 years, this “scared to share” route is a lousy path to take. The advantages of knowledge and code sharing across an industry are well understood and easily observed in industries such as web and mobile app development. Those industries have seen tremendous technical growth and advancement because developers across the industry are sharing knowledge and skills. They have been able to build on each other’s successes to create better tools, resources, and platforms.
The manufacturing / automation / system integration industry, on the other hand? We’re scared of sharing anything for risk of our competitors seeing what we do. In reality, we could be growing a stronger skill base by talking with others and comparing notes.
aaOpenSource is a way for us to start talking, start sharing, and create community. aaOpenSource is focused on tools, knowledge, and tricks for the Wonderware System Platform (ArchestrA). Check out our GitHub project, poke around, and jump on in. Our hope is that aaOpenSource becomes a little hub of like-minded ArchestrA developers who want to create better things for our customers and make our work lives a little better.
by Gary Mintchell | Oct 15, 2014 | Automation, Data Management, Manufacturing IT, News, Operations Management, Software, Technology
Furthering consolidation of the MES space, Siemens (the PLM division) announced agreement to acquire manufacturing software developer Camstar Systems. Siemens, in its press release, says “the acquisition will build on Siemens’ industrial digitalization strategy by broadening its integrated product development and production automation solutions for the electronics, semiconductor and medical device industries.”
I am a little surprised by the announcement, because I had the impression that Siemens was downplaying the MES space. No comments, just observation. But the PLM group has been pretty aggressively pursuing the Siemens dream of digital manufacturing–something that fits within the German government’s initiative of “Industrie 4.0”. The group’s leadership is solid and its ability to integrate acquisitions is outstanding. This will be a real benefit for the company.
I asked noted industry analyst Julie Fraser, principal of Iyno Advisors, for an opinion. Here are her comments:
“There are always challenges with keeping product, sales and customer momentum after an acquisition, and small private company employees may not be comfortable in one of the largest companies in the world. I always worry about those “people-centric” factors having seen it go awry many times in the past. However, The logic for both parties and synergy is pretty clear: Camstar gains deep resources worldwide to expand its business both in MES and in Supply Chain-wide analytics of product data. Siemens gains the leadership position in MES for both semiconductor back end operations and medical devices, a US-based MES presence, as well as leading-edge product data analytics designed to cross the product lifecycle and supply chain. Clearly Camstar was on a performance path that made them a very attractive acquisition target, and Siemens has been pushing not only into MES, but also into MES for discrete industries more recently. Siemens PL has experience with acquisitions, and some have been more successful than others. The Siemens stated intention to leave Camstar and is brands intact is the path they actually pursue, I see quite a bit of upside both for the company and the people involved. If this succeeds as they envision, it will significantly accelerate their progress toward a vision they set forth many years ago with the acquisition of ORSI in 2001.”
According to the press release: Camstar’s enterprise MES portfolio delivers scalable, flexible, enterprise-wide solutions for centralized or distributed multi-site manufacturing environments. The Camstar portfolio includes next-generation, high-performance analytics to gain insight into the operations of complex and global processes. This cloud-based capability leverages state-of-the-art, big data technology across the operations and global supply chain of the enterprise.
“The addition of the Camstar team and products represents the latest step in Siemens’ focus on delivering industry leading, comprehensive functionality and the deep expertise needed to support our customers’ digital enterprises,” said Chuck Grindstaff, president and CEO of Siemens PLM Software. “The addition of Camstar’s solutions will further accelerate our integration of PLM with the Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) domain. In the integrated digital enterprise, we are enabling PLM, MOM and industrial automation to work together to help customers realize innovation in their products and processes throughout the value chain. Camstar’s unique value and industry-centric approach complements the Siemens strategy for the MOM domain and will be a welcomed addition to our premier MES brand, SIMATIC IT.”
Schneider Electric has released Wonderware SmartGlance 2014 R2 mobile reporting manufacturing software. The updated version includes a host of new features including support for wearable technologies, a modern user interface for any browser, self-serve registration, support for multiple time zones for a global user base and full import and export capabilities for even faster deployment.
