ECI launches MES & APS tools for manufacturers in ANZ region
ECI Software Solutions has made its Manufacturing Execution System (MES) and Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) solutions available to manufacturers in Australia and New Zealand.
The company states that these solutions offer visual planning, real-time machine data collection, and advanced scheduling capabilities, designed to help manufacturers minimise downtime and maximise their use of resources.
This comes at a time when the manufacturing sector is dealing with increased regulatory compliance and a rapid shift toward digital operations.
Real-time visibility
MES is designed to give organisations real-time insight into all aspects of their production processes. The system tracks staff, equipment, and jobs as they occur, capturing data directly from machines and providing performance analysis, including visualisation of losses.
The company says this level of information helps businesses identify where quality issues might materialise, enabling them to proactively adjust production, allocate resources more efficiently, plan maintenance to avoid breakdowns, and assign tasks based on staff capabilities.
APS, included as part of MES, supports manufacturers in developing online production plans and interactive job lists. Its finite capacity-based planning and scenario analysis features are intended to assist manufacturers in managing production to avoid bottlenecks and improve resource allocation with the goal of producing consistent, high-quality output.
According to the company, the integration of MES and APS with ECI's existing Manufacturing ERP solutions establishes a feedback loop intended to enhance tracking, scheduling, and quality control across various manufacturing activities.
"These solutions now enable manufacturers to easily react to any unanticipated events, whether that's staffing changes, machines going down, amendments to customer orders, and global uncertainty," says Andrew Mamonitis, Vice President APAC – Manufacturing Division, ECI Software Solutions.
Mamonitis added, "Being able to make the needed changes and understand how those changes impact the rest of the production operation and ensure quality consistency, is now assured with our new MES and APS offerings all underpinned with data-driven continuous improvement."
Resource allocation and quality control
One of the main features highlighted is the capability to optimise resource allocation.
The integration between MES and APS is intended to ensure that suitably skilled personnel and appropriately maintained equipment are available when required for quality-sensitive processes. The linkage allows APS to build schedules that factor in the skills held by employees and enables MES to trigger maintenance in APS based on machine performance data.
These processes are described as particularly relevant for mid-sized discrete manufacturers which, without such systems, can suffer from inefficiencies if factory jobs are not effectively managed.
APS uses data from MES to inform production schedules, aiming to minimise rushed production and the risk of errors or quality lapses.
MES also provides a detailed record of production linked to the APS-created schedules, giving manufacturers an audit trail to assist with the identification of quality issues when they occur.
"Ultimately, we're making quality count. While both MES and APS each offer significant benefits on their own, the true advantage lies in their seamless partnership. When these systems work in harmony, they elevate quality from a reactive measure to a proactive, ingrained element throughout operations. At the same time, by breaking down the silos between planning and execution, manufacturers can unlock a powerful coupling that empowers users to proactively build quality into their processes, reduce waste, optimise resources, and ultimately achieve a significant competitive advantage. The end result is the delivery of high-quality products on time which leads to happier, more loyal customers," says Mamonitis.
