ERP Software for Manufacturing Comparison

I don't cover ERP in detail, but I do touch on the parts that interact with manufacturing. I received a note from Derek Singleton who researches aspects of ERP and has done this comparison of the features of various ERP applications that reside in the cloud. It's a worthwhile look into the players, but you'd need to dive deeper if you're evaluating for possible purchase, of course.

Invensys Announces ArchestrA Workflow

Invensys Operations Management presented next at the ARC Forum press conference announcing embedded ArchestrA Workflow software, a component of the company's open InFusionT Enterprise Control System (ECS). According to its release, it further extends the integrated application capabilities of the ArchestrA System Platform software and fueled by the company's latest SkeltaT BPM 2011 technology, ArchestrA Workflow software captures and enforces operational processes across business and production systems to automate the response to process exceptions. The software synchronizes human and system activity by enforcing standard operating procedures, as well as standard responses to abnormal events, such as downtime, quality breaches or yield decreases.

"Workflow automation for manufacturing and industrial applications has been growing in importance for plant operators and engineers, primarily due to their increased responsibility for compliance, quality and tracking, as well as knowledge capture," said Bob Mick, ARC Advisory Group. "Invensys Operations Management's unique approach of embedding workflow software within its ArchestrA technology enables customers to implement standard operating procedures and corrective actions, basically structuring repeatable, managed responses to process exceptions across the enterprise. This can be especially effective for processes and workflows that cross organizational boundaries such as operations, maintenance, laboratories and other business domains. For most customers, a single workflow application should help reduce delays in responding to abnormal events, thereby significantly increasing productivity."

The company recently signed a contract to deliver its ArchestrA Workflow software to one of the world's leading biotechnology companies. Under the terms of the agreement, Invensys Operations Management will provide its new software to help this multinational industry leader track issues and requests throughout its global operating facilities. Invensys Operations Management will also supply training and consulting services. The contract highlights the growing importance process manufacturers are placing on the link between people and processes as they seek operational excellence.

"Driving collaboration across people, processes and systems by streamlining workflow is the new frontier for achieving operational excellence in industrial automation," said Steve Garbrecht, vice president, products, solutions and services marketing, Invensys Operations Management. "Virtually all of the first-generation products that were intended to address this objective reside as standalone applications, outside the core software of automation and manufacturing systems. This approach limits the potential applicability across a customer's entire operation. ArchestrA Workflow software, on the other hand, readily equips users to configure the operational workflow activities of people, systems and equipment as an integral part of the automation system configuration. In addition, ArchestrA Workflow software can extend other manufacturing and business applications with new collaboration capabilities, making our InFusion Enterprise Control System an even more comprehensive offering for real-time business and operations control. This embedded approach enables new collaboration, standardization and cross-enterprise visibility for processes that have typically been isolated or addressed on an ad-hoc basis."

Typical applications for ArchestrA Workflow software according to the company include materials quarantine; escalation of incoming materials inspection to respond to quality or performance issues; and corrective action/preventative action (CAPA) enforcement, unscheduled downtime/maintenance responses or other unscheduled/unplanned activities that take place within a manufacturing enterprise.

Here's another automation blogger

Just received a note from PC Romano of Avid Solutions who has a Wonderware-oriented blog. Some useful information for Wonderware users--and probably other software users, too.

MESA Manufacturing Operations Management Training Update

I have received more information from course architect Charlie Gifford about the upcoming series of courses on MES/MOM from MESA International.

MESA International, an international organization promoting best practices in manufacturing execution systems (MES) and manufacturing operations management (MOM), is launching two programs this year in a series of forums that are offering MES/MOM Methodology Certificate of Competency (CoC) and MES/MOM Methodology Certificate of Awareness (CoA).

Much of the training materials are derived from the ISA-95 Best Practices Working Group’s 20 Methodology Papers and the MESA Guidebooks. This new book published by the International Society of Automation (ISA), "When Worlds Collide in Manufacturing Operations: ISA-95 Best Practices Book 2.0," is derived from the papers. The book's outline is:

Chapter 1: Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) for Manufacturing Overview
Chapter 2: Data Architecture for MOM: The Manufacturing Master Data Approach
Chapter 3: Building a Manufacturing Transformation Strategy with ISA-95 Methods
Chapter 4: Work Process Management for Adaptive Manufacturing
Chapter 5: B2MML, Integration Patterns, and Data Mapping
Chapter 6: Integration of Manufacturing Intelligence with MOM
Chapter 7: Lifecycle of Service Creation using the ISA-95 MOM

MESA MES/MOM Methodologies Program: MESA Certificate of Competency (CoC, 4 Days)

This MESA CoC Program is a comprehensive program of MES/MOM Methodologies courses in a 4 Day Curriculum for MES/MOM Consultants, System Analysts, Architects, Programmers, and Project Managers.

CoC Program Courses Overview:
1. Manufacturing Operations Models and Integration Standards (3 hours)
2. The Role of MES/MOM System in Continuous Improvement and the Collaborative Pull Supply Chain (2 hours)
3. Manufacturing Transformation Strategy: Maturity and Roadmap Modeling(3 hour)
4. Metric Framework for Enterprise Manufacturing Intelligence (EMI): Aligning Financial and Operations Metrics (4 hours)
5. MES/MOM System Justification and ROI Assessment (4 hours)
6. MES/MOM SOW, RFP and Product Evaluation Method (4 hours)
7. Manufacturing 2.0 Architecture Overview (SOA for Manufacturing) (4 hours)
8. MES/MOM Implementation and Governance: MES/MOM System Requirement Specifications, GAMP and Industrial System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Methods (4 hours)
9. MES/MOM Project Management Techniques (4 hours)

MESA MES/MOM Business Function Program: MESA Certificate of Awareness (CoA, 2 Days)

A MESA CoA Program is a high-level program of the MES/MOM Business Function courses in a 2 Day Curriculum for Executives, IT Professionals, and Manufacturing Professionals are short courses. These short courses are high-level versions of the 4 hour courses in the MES/MEM Methodology CoC Program.

CoA Program Courses
1. Strategic Relationships between MES/MOM, ERP, PLM, Supply Chain, BPM and Automation Initiatives (2 hours)
2. Market Requirement for Adaptive MES/MOM Systems based on Industry Standards (2 hours)
3. Manufacturing Transformation Strategy: Maturity and Roadmap Modeling (1 hour)
4. Justifying Manufacturing Operations System to Business Leaders (3 hours)
5. The Role of MES/MOM Systems in Continuous Improvement and the Collaborative Pull Supply Chain (1 hour)
6. Metric Framework for Enterprise Manufacturing Intelligence (EMI): Aligning Financial and Operations Metrics (2 hours)
7. The Influence of Management Philosophy on MES/MOM Deployment and Governance (2 hours)
8. Choose the Right Solution: MES/MOM SOW, RFP and Product Evaluation Methods (2 hours)
9. MES/MOM Project Management Techniques (1 hours)

Course dates and locations are:
Chicago: CoC, March 7-11; CoA; March 14-15, 16-17
Sydney, Australia: CoC, April 5-8; CoA April 11-12.
Melbourne, Australia: CoA, April 14-15; CoC, April 18-21.
Philadelphia, PA: CoC, April 5-8; CoA, April 11-12
San Francisco, CA: CoA, May 5-6; CoC, May 9-12
Johannesburg, South Africa: CoC, May 4-7; CoA, May 11-12
Toronto/Mississauga, CN: CoC, May 31-June 3; 2 CoA. June 6-9
Copenhagen: COA, April 7-8
Haarlem, Netherlands: CoA, March 7 & 8
Nuneaton, UK: CoA, 28 Feb & Mar 1
Nuneaton, UK: CoC, 14-17 June

"When Worlds Collide in Manufacturing Operations: ISA-95 Best Practices Book 2.0," by Charlie Gifford, Editor and Contributing Author. ISA member price is $99.00, while non-members can purchase it for $109.00. Information can be found on the Web here.

MESA Launches Certification Course Series

Important initiative addresses knowledge gap in Operations Management field globally

MESA International announced the launch of the MESA Global Education Program, delivering independent competency training in the MES/MOM (Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions/Manufacturing Operations Management) arena. The program aims to remove the recognized lack of wide-scale MES/MOM competency as a barrier to plant and supply chain optimization and global operations excellence.

With members in 78 countries, MESA is an independent, objective community of like-minded enterprises and people working to make Operations more reliable, capable and profitable. The MESA Global Education Program offers Certificate of Competency and Certificate of Awareness programs on different subjects and audiences. The initial programs offered focus on MES/MOM Methodologies and Business Awareness.

MESA Certificate of Competency (CoC): MES/MOM Methodologies – a 4-day, comprehensive program of MES/MOM Methodologies courses aimed at Systems Analysts, Architects, Programmers, Project Managers and Consultants.

MESA Certificate of Awareness (CoA): MES/MOM Business Awareness – a 2-day, high-level program of MES/MOM Business Functions courses geared for executives, manufacturing/operations and IT personnel and sales professionals.

Check here for course abstracts, schedules and registration information.

Locations MES/MOM Methodologies 4-day Certificate of Competency (CoC) MES/MOM Business Functions 2-day Certificate of Awareness (CoA)
Nuneaton United Kingdom June 14 – 17 February 28 – March 1
Haarlem The Netherlands March 7 – 8
Copenhagen Denmark April 7 – 8
Johannesburg South Africa May 4 – 7 May 11 – 12
Sydney Australia April 5 – 8 April 11 – 12
Melbourne Australia April 18 – 21 April 14 – 15
Chicago U.S.A. March 8 – 11 March 14 – 15, March 16 – 17
Philadelphia U.S.A. April 5 – 8 April 11 – 12, April 13 – 14
San Francisco U.S.A. May 9 – 12 May 3 – 4, May 5 – 6
Toronto/Mississauga Canada May 31 – June 3 June 6 – 7, June 8 – 9