Product category:
Weighing systems, Strain gauges
News Release from: Marco | Subject: Trac-IT MES
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 31 October 2006
Unlocking the true potential of ERP and
MRP
The Marco Group claim that their innovative and ground breaking Trac-IT MES factory floor software suite is unlocking the real power of ERP and adding value to MRP
The Marco Group claim that their innovative and ground breaking Trac-IT MES factory floor software suite is unlocking the real power of ERP and adding value to MRP Already tried and tested in dozens of applications, this critical piece in the manufacturing jigsaw offers a remarkably fast return on investment and a number of important tangible benefits to the user
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 20 Mar 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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Confidence in the installed Marco Trac-IT MES Factory Efficiency System at EuroCaps has resulted in a second prestigious order, now for a weigh count system to control and track finished goods packing
More and more of today's manufacturing companies are becoming reliant on ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems to co-ordinate and control their operational activities.
On the face of it there are very attractive reasons for going down the ERP route.
Benefits include a single system to support rather than several small and different systems; a single applications architecture with limited interfaces; and access to management information unavailable across a mix of applications.
Further reading
Leading fruit packer benefits from Marco Packhouse
A comprehensive Trac-IT MES Packhouse Solution is bringing significant benefits to a dedicated packhouse in the Richard Hochfeld fruit packing, grading and storage facility in Faversham, Kent
Trac-IT MES for Cott Beverages production
The dynamic working partnership between Marco and Cott Beverages has expanded with the installation of a second Trac-IT MES Recipe Formulation Module in the syrup rooms at their Pontefract site
Trac-it MES in ready meal manufacture
MES specialists Marco have installed a ground breaking factory wide solution for Rannoch Food Group at their newly commissioned Cucina Sano plant near Boston in Lincolnshire
In principle more integration should mean lower costs.
The investment to implement such systems in terms of direct cost and personnel time is significant, often running into hundreds of thousands or even millions of pounds.
The real costs and impacts are understandably not played up by the vendors and implementation effort is always greater than expected.
It is unheard of for an organisation to have implemented ahead of schedule and under budget.
Once operational, most companies appear to be reasonably content with their ERP - on the surface.
However bubbling underneath is the concern over what have become known as 'unaccountable losses'.
Mention this taboo phrase to any corporate finance director and it sends a shiver down their spine.
These losses usually arise from the inability of the system to access and use essential factory floor data in real-time.
The food industry is a classic example where lack of accurate real-time information is a serious problem.
In such fast moving ever-changing environments keeping the finger on the pulse is critical.
Consider a company manufacturing their products from pre-defined recipes.
ERP systems normally work on preset targets for the batches and all their calculations assume that during the process these targets are met - precisely.
Under normal circumstances they have no real-time information to contradict this assumption.
For instance, if a recipe make-up calls for a target weight of 100 kg for a particular ingredient, the system assumes that 100 kg is used; the stock is downgraded by this amount and costings calculated accordingly.
However what happens if the amount used is outside the target as is typically the case? If the process relies on manual ingredient addition, more product rather than less is usually added.
This may or may not be critical to the product quality itself, but it is definitely detrimental to accurate stock management and yield, both of which can seriously impact on the bottom line.
In parallel with this, if a particular batch is spoilt through inaccurate additions, there may be no mechanism for bringing this to the attention of the ERP system.
The first time management may become aware of these 'target excursions' is when stock checks are done and the inevitable stock inconsistencies come to light.
By then it is usually too late to carry out any meaningful analysis to find out what went wrong and the 'unaccountable losses' then become an 'expensive reality'.
Marco have recognised this shortcoming and their Trac-IT MES software suite, in conjunction with their ProRange workstations, already has a proven track record in bridging the gap between the factory floor and ERP.
Acting as a thin client server to programmes such as SAP, their solution brings a 'measure - control - improve' ethos to the overall manufacturing process - from goods-in to product despatch.
Trac-IT MES is the result of extensive research and development, together with many years of practical experience and as Marco MD Murray Hilborne explains: "In many applications we investigate, it is as though there is a thick fog permeating across the factory floor keeping critical data away from the ERP system.
Unfortunately most ERP vendors don't fully appreciate or understand the practical issues of key processes such as weighing, especially in fast moving processing environments.
Of all measured parameters on the factory floor, weighing provides the most useful and crucial data throughout the process.
and yet in practice we find it is significantly under-utilised.
Real time information is essential and Trac-IT MES ensures that data from all key performance locations (KPL) is instantly available to the ERP system so that it can react to actual information rather than assumed target achievements.
MES brings true integration that continually fine tunes operational equipment efficiency (OEE).
The 'improve' factor in MES allows processes to be optimised exactly where and when it's needed, making full use of dynamic data.
This approach is highly effective in improving productivity, optimising raw material usage and minimising wastage - all important, if not obvious, factors in ensuring ongoing profitability and, above all, customer satisfaction.
Traceability in line with legislation is an integral part of the Trac -IT MES concept.".
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