MES Products

Components for a modular MES system

State-of-the-art Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) are structured in a modular way and offer maximum flexibility and scalability. Components are MES products used in MPDV’s MES solution HYDRA. Production companies with strong IT expertise and an in-house IT department or integration partners (Value Added Reseller) can utilize MES products to create their own individual MES or extend an existing MES solution. MES products by MPDV are function components that can be combined randomly and they still interact perfectly. It is also possible to upgrade the system with alien functions and components due to its service-oriented architecture. Profit from the advantages of a flexible standard software with an ergonomic user interface, a high degree of configurability, full modularity and scalability as well as long product life cycles. MPDV also offers a practical development environment and handy tools to simply connect machinery.

Products evolve into solutions

Normally, applications derive from MES products of different function groups that are combined based on needs and can interact without interfaces. Not always products of all function groups are required. This is dependent on the desired functional scope and possibly, existing applications.

For example, the HYDRA module Shop Floor Scheduling receives its data from interfaces from the superior ERP system and from other MES applications. Therefore, it does not require a shop floor connection as a rule. HYDRA Machine Data on the other side records mainly data from the shop floor and has not necessarily an interface to the business IT.

In addition, the way data is entered or evaluated is determined by your individual needs – you decide which user interface is best for you.

BENEFITS

More efficiency in production with HYDRA

The effects which production companies want to achieve by using an MES are manifold. They range from transparency and efficiencies to increasing quality. A precise goal is of the utmost importance to select and decide on the function specification of required MES applications. Companies profit from the modular structure of such systems and an extensive product portfolio. Powerful MES solutions are not only a must for efficiency in high wage locations but also a required basis for the future. A Smart Factory specified by Industry 4.0 can only function with an MES.

FUNCTION GROUPS

Central tasks of an MES application

In order to provide the required benefits, an MES application is made up of individual products with a specified function scope. The products are combined in a specific way. All these MES products can be assigned to the following function groups:

Shop Floor Integration Services: Collect data and connect machines

Interfaces to machines, facilities and test equipment ensure the data transfer with all resources on the shop floor (e. g. machines, sensors, test equipment). Intuitive data collection dialogs and the option to request and display order information support the operator during the daily routine.

MES Applications: Process, evaluate and condense data

Application Services are the core of an MES application and process recorded data in order to aggregate and correlate, evaluate and display these. User interfaces for office PCs build an ergonomic interface to the user in the office environment to evaluate, plan and maintain data.

Smart MES Applications (SMA): Mobile collection and evaluation of data

Data collection and evaluation with mobile devices (smartphone or tablet PC) enable data access and MES functions independent of the location.

MES-Cockpit Applications: KPIs and management dashboards

Web-based dashboards display data from HYDRA and other systems comprehensively – not only for the management.

Enterprise Integration Services: Base functions and integration into the existing IT landscape

Base functions offer general data structures for comprehensive use of master data across all HYDRA modules and comprehensive configuration tables to visualize processes specific to the company. Efficient interfaces to the business IT guarantee data exchange with superior IT systems (e. g. ERP, HR, PLM, SCM).

Development environment

MPDV offers for all products comprehensive development tools to individualize your HYDRA application or even develop your own applications. They enable simple changes or upgrades of existing components and applications. In addition, it is possible to create brand new components and applications.

You decide which MES products you require from MPDV, which software components you provide yourself and which ones you buy from other suppliers

Manual data collection

The HYDRA Shop Floor Client AIP (Acquisition and Information Panel) provides numerous and configurable operator dialogs for standard posting procedures. Examples are:

• Logging on and off as well as interrupting and partly confirming orders and operations

• Posting organizational standstills like lack of orders, material or personnel

• Input of interruption and standstills like repair, tool failure or maintenance

• Recording of clock-in, clock-out and break times

• Collection of attributive characteristics or measured values during an in-production inspection

• Posting of lot and batch IDs as a base for tracking & tracing

• Collection and posting of material consumption

SHOP FLOOR

Automated data collection and machine connection

The production environment consists normally of a heterogeneous landscape with different machines, facilities, controls and systems where machine and process data has been stored already. It is possible to connect machines and facilities in no time using the Shop-floor Connectivity Suite. Thereby, the user is supported by powerful wizards. The HYDRA Process Communication Controller (PCC) plays a central role with its extensive libraries and communication modules:

• Interfaces based on the OPC standards DA and UA

• Communication using specific protocols (e. g. Euromap 63 or 15) for standardized data exchange with injection molding machines of all significant machine manufacturers like Netstal, Battenfeld, Engel, Krauss-Maffei, Demag

• Interfaces to servers, e. g. Arburg Control System (ALS)

• Interfaces to transfer weighing results from scales by Mettler, Soehnle, Bizerba, etc.

• Communication using bus systems like Arcnet or Profibus

• UMCM (Universal Machine Connectivity for MES): A universal interface defined by MPDV to easily collect machine statuses, quantities and process data

• Serial data interface to communicate with machine controls via proprietary protocols

MES APPLICATIONS

Individual function scope of an MES system

The VDI guideline 5600 specifies the function scope of an MES in form of ten MES tasks. In addition, the individual demands of a production company require certain MES applications. MPDV offers numerous HYDRA applications which can be combined randomly with each other or with alien MES applications.

MES Applications

HYDRA covers a broad field of applications and works completely integrative. In order to guarantee an integration with alien MES components, MPDV offers standardized interfaces. The following HYDRA applications offer businesses exactly the support needed for their daily production routine.

MOBILITY

An ingenious combination:Collect and evaluate data on a single device

In times of high demands in flexibility and mobility, Smart MES Applications (SMA) offer a broad range of functions to collect and evaluate production data. A major aspect is to use standardized mechanisms to access a central production database and an intuitive operating concept following known design rules for tablet PCs and smartphones.

Platform-independent display, also in the web

No matter what device Smart MES Applications are running on – the user keeps an eye on everything due to flexible displays. SMA have always the same appearance independent of the device (e. g. tablet PC or smartphone) or operating system (iOS or Android). Alternatively, SMA can be requested as a true web application using a common Internet browser.

Intuitive operation

The most important feature of mobile application is on Intuitive operation operating concept. The user must be able to operate an app without reading a big manual or substantial documentation. SMA use a combination of talking pictures and explanations. Basic gestures link "scroll" and "swipe" facilitate the navigation of Smart MES Application.

Platform-independent display, also in the web

No matter what device Smart MES Application are running on - The user keeps an eye everything due to flexible displays. SMA have always the same appearance independent of the device (e. g. tablet PC or smartphone) or operating system (iOS or Android). Alternatively, SMA can be requested as a web application using a common internet browser.

MES-COCKPIT

Keep an eye on production with KPIs

What the cockpit is for a pilot, KPIs are to a production company. They are a powerful tool supporting management to lead the company. MES-Cockpit Applications display relevant KPIs individually and comprehensively. This enables you to create a control cycle for production.

Easy access to all relevant information

MES-Cockpit Applications are flexible web clients that can be requested with an Internet browser without additional installation. In addition, they can be integrated into existing or new company portals. Every user can individually design their own dashboard depending on required information and store it for later reuse. MES-Cockpit Applications can also access imported data from different databases.

Benefits through independence

Two qualities in the MES-Cockpit Applications are very different from classical MES applications like HYDRA: The MES-Cockpit Applications are a true evaluation tool and, in addition to common MES applications, can evaluate data from all sites. They even can integrate data from other systems. MES-Cockpit Applications enable compressed data to be evaluated over several years, even though they are no longer included in the productive MES system as they have been exported or archived. Apart from independently configurable dashboards, MPDV offers pre-defined functions for shop floor information, production monitoring and performance analysis.

Closer to production with an MES

Business systems like the ERP are pushing boundaries if they have to take on large data volumes from machines and facilities. Also, it can be a challenge to supply the data into information suitable for production in real time. Here MES systems are at their best: As a central data hub, the MES ensures for the collection of information from the shop floor, which is subsequently prepared and forwarded in an aggregated format to the ERP. Data is therefore increasingly up-to-date. Additionally, MES functions focusing on machine and process applications enhance the functionality of the ERP.

FLEXIBILITY

More than products

If we look at the IT landscape of production companies, there are two obvious categories: On the one hand production companies that basically operate without IT support. On the other hand businesses that introduced IT-based systems in the past but only covering parts of the MES portfolio. This often led to self-programmed solutions. At the same time, companies gained valuable experience in supporting production processes using IT applications. Independent of the category your business falls into, the MES experts from MPDV have the right offering for you. It is your choice whether to source products, services or solutions from MPDV. In addition to MES Products that are described in detail in this brochure, MPDV also offers:

MES Services – consulting and services in the MES environment

MPDV offers individual, needs-based services. They can be added to MES products or detached from it. MES experts from MDPV support you in the introduction of an MES or implementing your machine connection. They also provide support, carry out training and assist you in operating your HYDRA system. Our consultants can rely on 40 years of experience and knowledge from projects in the production environment.

MES Solutions – all from one source

We can accompany production companies wishing for a complete MES from beginning to end. Experienced project managers coordinate closely with you, the future user, when certain activities are required and which services you have to carry out yourself. You create the premise for an MES introduction - the MES experts by MPDV shoulder the overall responsibility of the MES project.