by Gary Mintchell | Apr 1, 2014 | Automation, Technology
“Gary, what are you hearing about PackML lately,” asked an acquaintance the other day. “I’m getting a lot of requests for it.” My friend is a software integrator working primarily in factory automation and MES.
Developed by a working group of engineers from companies that use packaging machines, companies that design and manufacture packaging machines, and suppliers of machine automation and control, PackML defines the various “states” of a machine and provides a common vocabulary of terms.
Companies that use such machines favored the development of PackML, because it would make user interfaces and machine operations standard. This makes operator training and machine operations easier and better. Nestle and P&G are examples of companies who have pushed hard for the development of the standard.
Thought models help not only the companies who use the machines, it should help the machine builders, too. By structuring not only the programming, but also the design of the machine, machine builders can both satisfy customers, perhaps with a unique capability, but also reduce future design cost and time-to-market.
PackML was developed by an organization composed of technology developers, machine builders and end user companies. The Organization for Machine Automation and Control (OMAC) Packaging Working Group developed the state model borrowing from the ISA88 standard (ISA88.05). The group itself has been quiet for the past few years, but according to my friend, companies are beginning to request it in the machines they procure.
Taking the thought process one step further, companies are beginning to look at their entire manufacturing enterprise by applying the ISA95 model to operations. Once companies understand operations and data movements, then they can begin applying information technology solutions from manufacturing execution systems (MES) suppliers.
If the machines are modeled, and operations are modeled, and data flows are defined, then connections can be made to automatically move real-time data from the machine into MES applications. These applications provide the contextualized information required to adequately manage manufacturing.
Machine builders who provide machines based on the state model that is understandable to their customers and at the same time provide pathways for information flow—such as built-in OPC servers—have a competitive advantage over their peers. Manufacturers who use these standards can benefit from using the information.
Research by LNS Research in collaboration with MESA has revealed that companies who use their MES applications have benefited from many annual performance improvements.
The recent report notes, “The average annual performance improvements listed below are each combinations of several different metrics and KPIs. The results shown are for manufacturers that indicated measuring each of the listed metrics. In some cases, such as in the financials category, up to 10 different variables were included in the calculation. This data shows improvements in those categories based on 2013 compared to 2012.”
Optimum asset performance
Add to the mix that all these standards aid interoperability of systems and data flow. When you can get data flowing from machines and processes into your management systems—MES, CMMS and EAM—then information about the state of the plant is at your fingertips.
by Gary Mintchell | Nov 11, 2013 | Operations Management, Software
MESA International
I have been doing a lot of traveling again. Last week it was meeting with new companies (to me) that are relevant to my other full-time position–Maintenance Technology. Today, I am sitting at the Starbucks at the Columbus, Ohio airport on my way to four days of Rockwell Automation deep dive. Today and tomorrow–Process Solutions User Group. Tomorrow morning is the annual editors’ meeting, this year dubbed Automation Perspectives. (For years it was called Manufacturing Perspectives–wonder if there is significance or just time for a change 😉 )
Meanwhile, the opportunity to contribute to the MESA ends this week. Check it out and help the industry by contributing your information. Thanks.
MESA has announced its latest “Metrics that Matter” research. The four previous have yielded some interesting and valuable data that help managers use and justify MOM software investments. Typically this information is available only to members, but see below for an additional offer. I have been a MESA member for many years and have heard many success stories over that time. This really does work for manufacturers. The official press release follows.
LNS Research, a technology research firm focusing on the industrial space, and MESA International, a global not-for-profit industry association of manufacturers, producers, industry leaders, and solution providers, have launched the fifth ‘Metrics That Matter’ research survey. Targeted at manufacturing executives, IT and plant managers seeking to improve and optimize business performance, the 2013-2014 research focuses on the trends and correlations between specific operational metric improvements, the use of Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) and other manufacturing software applications, role-based metrics reporting, and the effect of emerging technologies such as mobility, big data, and cloud computing on metrics programs.
“We are excited to extend the previous MESA metrics research work into new operational and technology areas that manufacturers and software suppliers are seeing as transformational to their businesses going forward,” states Mark Davidson, Principal Research Analyst for LNS Research. “We also appreciate the support we have from a great group of sponsor and advisor companies that are helping to guide the research, including: Aditya Birla, Epicor, InfinityQS, Invensys, Plex Systems, Rockwell Automation, Volvo and Whirlpool.”
“MESA’s point of view is that metrics do matter to manufacturers’ success, and that manufacturing matters to the global economy. MESA is delighted that LNS Research is leading fresh primary research on best practices in measuring and improving performance,” says Julie Fraser, Outreach Director for MESA International.
Industry professionals are invited to participate in the new ‘Metrics that Matter’ survey until November 15, 2013 through this link. Qualified participants will receive one year of access to the LNS Research Performance Management Research Library. This library contains the previous ‘Metrics That Matter’ research report, a 2013 Manufacturing Operations Management Best Practices Guide, and the new ‘Metrics That Matter’ research report upon completion in early 2014.
by Gary Mintchell | Oct 10, 2013 | Operations Management, Software
MESA International
I have been doing a lot of traveling again. Last week it was meeting with new companies (to me) that are relevant to my other full-time position–Maintenance Technology. Today, I am sitting at the Starbucks at the Columbus, Ohio airport on my way to four days of Rockwell Automation deep dive. Today and tomorrow–Process Solutions User Group. Tomorrow morning is the annual editors’ meeting, this year dubbed Automation Perspectives. (For years it was called Manufacturing Perspectives–wonder if there is significance or just time for a change 😉 )
Meanwhile, the opportunity to contribute to the MESA ends this week. Check it out and help the industry by contributing your information. Thanks.
MESA has announced its latest “Metrics that Matter” research. The four previous have yielded some interesting and valuable data that help managers use and justify MOM software investments. Typically this information is available only to members, but see below for an additional offer. I have been a MESA member for many years and have heard many success stories over that time. This really does work for manufacturers. The official press release follows.
LNS Research, a technology research firm focusing on the industrial space, and MESA International, a global not-for-profit industry association of manufacturers, producers, industry leaders, and solution providers, have launched the fifth ‘Metrics That Matter’ research survey. Targeted at manufacturing executives, IT and plant managers seeking to improve and optimize business performance, the 2013-2014 research focuses on the trends and correlations between specific operational metric improvements, the use of Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) and other manufacturing software applications, role-based metrics reporting, and the effect of emerging technologies such as mobility, big data, and cloud computing on metrics programs.
“We are excited to extend the previous MESA metrics research work into new operational and technology areas that manufacturers and software suppliers are seeing as transformational to their businesses going forward,” states Mark Davidson, Principal Research Analyst for LNS Research. “We also appreciate the support we have from a great group of sponsor and advisor companies that are helping to guide the research, including: Aditya Birla, Epicor, InfinityQS, Invensys, Plex Systems, Rockwell Automation, Volvo and Whirlpool.”
“MESA’s point of view is that metrics do matter to manufacturers’ success, and that manufacturing matters to the global economy. MESA is delighted that LNS Research is leading fresh primary research on best practices in measuring and improving performance,” says Julie Fraser, Outreach Director for MESA International.
Industry professionals are invited to participate in the new ‘Metrics that Matter’ survey until November 15, 2013 through this link. Qualified participants will receive one year of access to the LNS Research Performance Management Research Library. This library contains the previous ‘Metrics That Matter’ research report, a 2013 Manufacturing Operations Management Best Practices Guide, and the new ‘Metrics That Matter’ research report upon completion in early 2014.
