OCTOBER 20169MANUFACTURINGTECHNOLOGYINSIGHTS.COMenvironment using the source sensor data, selectively recall parts by applying a library of mathematical functions to the raw waveform, and so on.But on a manufacturing line that may be rolling out thousands, even tens of thousands of units a day, collecting and managing this much data creates a whole new set of challenges. To go that layer deeper than a traditional MES system, manufacturers need to take better care of their data.But is your data ready for MP&QM?To adopt an MP&QM system, it's not enough to have C-level approval for the infrastructure and IT purchases, or the support of the rank and file. If data is missing, inaccurate or not delivered in an easily usable form, confidence can be lost, the initiative can fail and the investment will be wasted.The minute a data stream starts to flow, there should be an "aha" moment among users as they see data in "real time" (which we define as within one cycle of process completion).Three critical factors must be addressed to accomplish this:1. Ensure the quality and content of data. Make sure your system's judgement criteria are clearly defined and instrumented in the data stream. You need to define and understand what you are testing and the type and volume of data this requires. Maybe not all your production line processes require wave form analysis, or the same degree of granularity.2. Break down the silos. We've seen one major automaker take two weeks to track down the full birth history of a single vehicle because the data is scattered among 15 different databases. While it is possible to "kluge" data after the fact, it just makes more sense if the data is transformed at source into a good model that allows for easily correlation to understand causal effect.3. Build a good model. Take the time to structure an intuitive data requirements model with clear specifications and standards that define what is a pass and what is a fail. This can help drive the process of implementing an MP&QM system in its infancy, even at the purchasing stage, so data collection can start even before the new equipment hits the plant floor. If it's already on your plant floor, you have an accepted standard to go by. Yes, the future is now Manufacturers must embrace a culture of continuous improvement to meet the challenge of Industry 4.0. This requires investment in technologies that take data collection, analysis and visualization one layer deeper than conventional MES, to boost first-time yields, reduce waste and ensure more consistent product quality. Supplementing your MES investment with a robust MP&QM system is well worth it. We've seen first-time yield percentages jump from the low 80s to the high 90s. The cost savings and benefits that come from this magnitude of improvement have a huge impact on the bottom line.There has already been a tenfold increase in the past few years in the amount of data stored per part in industries such as automotive and off-highway. Manufacturers that attempt to ride this big data wave without the right tools risk being drowned by it. Supplementing your MES investment with a robust MP&QM system is well worth itERPRevenues: $25.5 billionGrowth Rate (2016): 8.0%Revenues: $3.5 billionGrowth Rate (2016): 8.5%Revenues: $260.5 millionGrowth Rate (2016): 9.0%Revenues: $32.0 billionGrowth Rate (2016): 7.5%MP&QM(Discrete)PLM(Discrete)Advanced Control/MES/MRP/SCM(Discrete)
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