Making the value of technology clear
System Fundamentals
These capabilities can add significant value to the process industry digital thread. There are other fundamental PLM capabilities that translate well to process industry PLM, such as user and role management, granular security models, workflow management, cloud deployment, and more. Ideally, these are created as services that can be adapted and reused to support and digitally transform the process industries.
Manufacturers of all kinds can gain significant business value from a trusted digital thread managed by PLM. However, traditional PLM systems were not designed to meet unique process industry needs, let alone specific needs for industries like chemicals or food and beverage.
Traditional PLM capabilities, on the other hand, can support packaging design and BOMs, which follow a discrete model. These systems can also manage the digital thread and digital twin of plants and plant assets.
Look for Flexibility and Adaptability
How do you expand a solution from an 80% fit to a fully capable solution without impacting maintainability and the ability to upgrade? Consider that it might be easier to get from a 60% fit with a solution built on a low-code architecture so you don't create technical debt.
One way to pursue PLM for the process industries is to adopt PLM basics and use low-code to replicate, modify, and augment it to fill the process industry disconnects. This approach offers the fundamentals of PLM for both recipe- and BOM-centric needs in a way that doesn't create unmanageable technical debt.
Get the Right Architecture
When looking at a system to support the process industries, it's essential to consider the architecture of the solution in addition to the capabilities. For example, is it open? Easily integrated? Available on the cloud? Does it offer low-code to make it flexible and maintainable? These are important considerations to get the right combination of capabilities for today and the ability to future-proof the system to support the business of the future.
Gain Business Value
Ultimately, the purpose of selecting and implementing a PLM system is growing business value through higher revenue, greater agility, lower cost, better quality, and increased compliance. PLM delivers proven value, but it's critical for PLM to support the uniqueness of the digital thread in the process industry.
*This summary is an abbreviated version of the ebook and does not contain the full content. For the full report, please visit our sponsor Aras.
If you have difficulty obtaining a copy of the research, please contact us.
[post_title] => The Role, Value, and Fit of PLM for the Process Industries
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => plm-for-the-process-industries
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2024-12-03 12:02:36
[post_modified_gmt] => 2024-12-03 17:02:36
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://tech-clarity.com/?p=20650
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[1] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 20613
[post_author] => 2
[post_date] => 2024-09-10 09:00:38
[post_date_gmt] => 2024-09-10 13:00:38
[post_content] => 
How can manufacturers drive innovation and agility by digitalizing the factory lifecycle? Join this webinar as Tech-Clarity’s Jim Brown and Autodesk’s Bassanio Peters discuss the challenges manufacturers face in their factory lifecycle and the best practices they adopt to hit their critical program timelines, project costs, manufacturing quality, and performance targets.
Jim will share his recent survey data on digitally transforming the factory lifecycle and Bassanio will share insights gained from working with manufacturers as they plan, commission, and operate their plants. They’ll discuss the ways that digital twins, collaboration, and integration help drive innovation and agility from facility design through operations.
Join this educational webinar to hear what the survey finds about:
[post_title] => Digitalizing the Factory Lifecycle
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => factory-lifecycle-webinar
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2024-09-26 11:54:01
[post_modified_gmt] => 2024-09-26 15:54:01
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://tech-clarity.com/?p=20613
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[2] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 20596
[post_author] => 2574
[post_date] => 2024-09-06 09:00:30
[post_date_gmt] => 2024-09-06 13:00:30
[post_content] => 
What are major manufacturers are learning about AI? What is their path toward greater value? To get answers to these questions, join MESA and watch the Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association’s Smart Manufacturing NOW virtual event. During the September 23-26, 2024 event, on Wednesday September 25, Tech-Clarity’s Julie Fraser and Dave Noller of Virginia Tech co-hosted a panel discussion with Will Spears of leading packaging manufacturer Sonoco and Jan De Nijs of Lockheed Martin Aerospace. These industry leaders discussed their experiments to date, and the lessons they have learned along the way.
It is not an easy road, but their companies - and many others - are gaining benefits today. These experienced manufacturing practitioners will share both what has worked, the AI use cases they foresee moving forward, and share cautionary tales of challenges. They will also share their ideas and best practices on how to ensure ongoing success and value on many fronts.
Attendees brought their questions and challenges, for a lively a discussion with questions from the audience in this interactive session. Be ready to learn from these industry leaders.
Every manufacturer owes it to themselves to learn from this open exchange of ideas and experiences. MESA Members can access the recording of this session. Log in and find the session recording here to listen to this dynamic session.
MESA Members have access to four partial days of compelling content from companies such as Toyota, Stanley Black and Decker, Pursuit Aerospace, Kellanova, Thermo Fisher, Komatsu Mining, Genera, and an array of solution experts. The replay folder in the MESA Resource Center is here.
Thank you to Manufacturing Solutions Association International (MESA) for creating the virtual conference and for providing slots for the MESA Smart Manufacturing Community that Julie Fraser co-facilitates to have these panel discussions.
[post_title] => What Does it Take to Gain and Sustain Value from AI in Manufacturing? Experiments and Lessons Learned
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => gain-and-sustain-value-from-ai
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2024-12-06 16:48:06
[post_modified_gmt] => 2024-12-06 21:48:06
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://tech-clarity.com/?p=20596
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[3] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 20580
[post_author] => 2
[post_date] => 2024-09-05 10:00:45
[post_date_gmt] => 2024-09-05 14:00:45
[post_content] => 
Join this webinar as Jim Brown as speaks with Razorleaf’s Jonathan Scott and Derek Neiding to discuss the survey results from his survey of 138 manufacturers on how to integrate across the digital thread.
Jim will share the research results and Jonathan and Derek will share real-world integration expertise and customer experiences.
Topics they’ll cover include:
- The impacts of poor data and process integration
- Common causes of underlying integration issues
- Key challenges throughout the integration lifecycle
- What integration capabilities drive business value
- The advantages realized for those who have integrated
- What top performing companies do differently
Register for this webinar on September 12th, 2024 at 1:00 PM ET.
[post_title] => Mastering Digital Thread Integration
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => integration
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2024-09-05 10:33:50
[post_modified_gmt] => 2024-09-05 14:33:50
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://tech-clarity.com/?p=20580
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[4] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 20646
[post_author] => 2574
[post_date] => 2024-09-05 09:00:10
[post_date_gmt] => 2024-09-05 13:00:10
[post_content] => Can pharmaceutical and life sciences manufacturers get simplified management by exception in production? Can they get a proven and full-function GMP-ready MES that’s also configurable yet valuable and out of the box? Decades into its existence, the POMS Corporation team says their POMSnet Aquila SaaS solution can do all that. Their satisfied and committed customer base helps us believe they are right.
Comprehensive, configurable, and out-of-the-box are the three pillars of POMSnetAquila MES. This is an unusual combination, as a comprehensive MES is often not ready to use or deliver value out-of-the-box but needs extensive modeling or customization. Many out-of-the-box MES offerings are not very configurable. Configurability is crucial for MES, as every plant and often every area of a plant is a little different.
POMS and its products have won numerous awards over many years. One that stood out to us recognized 97% customer satisfaction. The company has customers large and small. POMS must have vital ongoing customer relationships and an effective approach to incorporating their feedback into the standard product to keep them all happy.
For over three decades, POMS has focused its MES on only pharmaceutical, biotech, cell and gene therapy, and as those companies have expanded, more recently, medical device manufacturing. As a result, the solution has comprehensive functionality and is focused entirely on the needs of these regulated industries. POMSnet Aquila has end-to-end GMP manufacturing capabilities that include quality, scheduling, equipment, and production. (The full ISA95 model.)
Automatic recipe generation with a single click is a stunning example of deep functionality. If you manage specifications outside of MES, an integration layer can pull that data into a parameterized template. Attach the master data to the template, and it auto-generates a recipe. The manufacturer can choose to add a review, but this S88-compliant recipe is basically ready to go. One POMS customer with personalized products has one single recipe that’s transformed through the levels from general to site to master to control recipes per batch or patient.
Configurability is increasingly common, but the POMSnet approach is a bit different. Deeply composable, the company has building blocks for recipes and workflows. The company offers 102 pre-built, pre-validated phases or process steps available. It also integrates with these industries’ most common applications and equipment types. Configuring within pre-determined limits helps regulated companies with validation and rapid time to value.
POMSnet Aquila is designed for customers to self-deploy and self-install, for independent customers to expand as needed. The software’s visual nature and pre-built library of over 100 validated manufacturing steps mean you can understand what the software is doing without having to build or model common life sciences processes yourself, such as calculations, weigh and dispense, assays, etc.
POMS was a brand in the early days of MES, and now the product is available as cloud-based or on-premise. The UI is any browser with HTML5. The products are on a 2X/year agile release schedule, spring and fall. Each release typically has 80 new features, functions, and UI improvements, most of which come from customer innovation to update the product.
In addition to the core POMSnet Aquila MES, the product suite includes POMSnet Volare for mobile, POMSnet Falcon for batch record dashboards, and POMSnet Archeo for archiving and data retention. POMS also offers a product validation kit for OQ validating all POMS features. Customers are responsible for PQ, and if it’s on prem IQ; POMS provides IQ for cloud implementations. POMS also offers audit defense, where their quality manager speaks on-site to regulatory offices on behalf of customers.
POMS also partners with Nymi biometrics to provide on-body automatic authentication. This proven device can streamline operators’ interactions with software and create higher levels of confidence in processes, employees’ credentials, and productivity with always-on biometric-based tracking.
POMS takes a fast rollout approach with incremental expansion. Since the solution is comprehensive, each customer can start small and expand as they are ready. This enables the validation of smaller processes and data flows to support them. The result is a lower-risk, faster path toward process and system validation.
The POMSnet Falcon Electronic Batch Record Dashboard is not just another PDF or digitized paper. It delivers that and all of the curated GMP data to support review by exception. With a real-time interface, people can see all exceptions, review, approve (or not), and comment across one or multiple production sites. This data-rich environment means backward genealogy is in the system, 1-click away – in a list or chart form. Of course, you can export that to Excel, but it’s data, not a document.
With a strong product, happy customers, and an excellent team, we expect to see POMS continue its market growth. As part of Constellation Software Inc., it has had a solid financial footing and framework for vertical market growth.
Thank you, Patrick Nazzaro, President and GM; Roland Esquivel, VP Global Sales & Marketing; and Prashant Jagarlapudi, VP Product and Engineering, for taking the time to get us back up to speed on POMS. We look forward to watching more life sciences companies benefit from this flexible and rapid approach to MES.
[post_title] => POMSnet Aquila MES Still Making Life Sciences Easier [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => gmp-ready-mes [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-09-10 10:08:29 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-09-10 14:08:29 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://tech-clarity.com/?p=20646 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [5] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 20571 [post_author] => 2574 [post_date] => 2024-08-15 10:27:17 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-08-15 14:27:17 [post_content] =>
Value from DataCreating value from the varied data in manufacturing facilities can be an elusive goal. In our recent briefing with Arch Systems, we got an idea of how they convert massive quantities of data into intelligent actions for manufacturers. They do this for frontline workers, top-floor executives, and many in between.
The premise is that quite a bit of data is available in a manufacturing organization that is drastically underutilized or unused today. Examples are machine data that exists but is not fully utilized, disconnected or less-automated machines and lines, and even companies that have invested in BI but not for all their data. As manufacturing demand for scarce talent continues, Arch Systems provides manufacturing and data expertise in its products and services to fill the gap. Beyond storing, standardizing, and pushing data out, they use AI and GenAI to drive actions for improvements on the floor.
The product suite includes the ArchFX platform with connectors to gather, structure, and manage data, an analysis engine to generate insights, and an action manager or copilot for root cause identification, assigning actions, reporting up, and sometimes taking action. On top of the platform sits GLO (Global and Local Operations intelligence) for guided action based on complex production data with real-time monitoring, analytics, and diagnostics on machine data.
A no-code platform at the core enables analysis of the areas that matter most to each customer. The platform data infrastructure is the secret sauce behind this approach to intelligent action. While Arch Systems is an IIoT platform, it doesn't align with just one software category. Instead, it spans analytics, data management, manufacturing operations, and artificial intelligence. Arch’s products work with many types of manufacturing software like MES, PLM, and ERP.
Pick your pain point, address it with the platform and intelligence applications supported by Arch’s experienced staff, and value can ensue quickly. Data from MES, SCADA, machines, and other sources are inputs for the ArchFX platform and applications. As a result, Arch can deliver value with minimal disruption, layering actionable intelligence onto the current environment. Customers have gotten value in weeks, eliminating the need to embark on other IT projects to enable digital transformation.
Arch shows that software can grow seamlessly from one problem area to others and from one plant to many. Depending on company needs, Arch can support a unified data model for an entire global enterprise or focus on just a few products/lines/factories. The company delivers value by focusing on gathering and brokering the data needed to take action on a specific issue for a wide array of people in manufacturing.
The company has had great success with electronics contract manufacturers such as Flex, Jabil, and Plexus. They began with a strong focus on high tech manufacturing lines such as surface-mount technology (SMT). The more automated, the more data, and the easier Arch’s AI-based software can get started. Today, Arch Systems supports various discrete manufacturing processes including semiconductor packaging, injection molding, and assembly and test. Other notable public customers include BAE Systems and Harman.
Thank you, Sumana Padmanabhan, for setting up the briefing, and Laura Horvath, for explaining Arch Systems’ current state to me.
[post_title] => Arch Systems Expands Intelligent Actions for Manufacturing [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => arch-systems-intelligent-actions [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-12-20 18:06:52 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-12-20 23:06:52 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://tech-clarity.com/?p=20571 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [6] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 20524 [post_author] => 2 [post_date] => 2024-08-13 10:00:32 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-08-13 14:00:32 [post_content] =>
How can manufacturers get more value from PLM? Our research and experience show there are six ways for companies to grow PLM to enterprise level business value.
Please enjoy the summary* below. For the full research, please visit our sponsor PTC (registration required).
Executive Summary
Better Software
What would make ERP and lab software better? Perhaps software that’s lean, flexible, cloud-based, low cost, easy to deploy… and yet highly capable with deep and configurable workflows between modules. Thruline’s founders have implemented and used software on either side of that ellipsis (…) and set out to create software that’s all of the above.
This venture-funded startup is out to improve the lives of those in manufacturing companies, including labs. They talk about building software that’s faster, cheaper, and ultra-flexible. It has a clean user interface, too. ERP was the original target, and they are building that out now. Thruline has modules for inventory (with units of measure), manufacturing, parts and BOM integration, procedures, runs, redlines, purchasing, and parts. Accounting is in the works, and integration to Quickbooks is already available.
LIMS and ELN are also available. These modules are designed for production company research and development staff, not academics. ELN ties in with ERP modules such as inventory management and manufacturing orders. This integration allows the company to track a BOM or recipe in the lab through manufacturing.
Integration at Core
They know companies have other software, so Thruline integrates with Odoo, NetSuite, MS Dynamics, and other ERPs. Other integrations include Calendly for scheduling, CRM, PLM, and Onshape for CAD. In addition, integration to Slack and several apps for eCommerce and Plaid for bank info, Stripe for payment processing. In the lab, Thruline has integrated with Quartzy for checkout and purchasing. Other integrations are in the works.
Modern Technology
Thruline does not have versions. Rather, they offer constant upgrades in a continuous deployment model. When something new comes out, they ask each customer if they want that. If they do, Thruline acts as admin and adds it into the customer’s version on their private instance of the SaaS software.
It is based on a low-code platform, but they don’t expect the small manufacturer to do the configuration and administration. They take the data analyst and software developer out of the equation by doing the admin for them. Support, configuration, and upgrades are part of the monthly subscription, not an add-ons.
Frustration Leads to Innovation
I won’t tell the entire backstory of Thruline, but suffice it to say the founders had some frustrating experiences working with software. Some lightweight ERPs do not support multi-module processes like costing and track and trace, and they cannot easily upgrade customized software. In small companies, they discovered how many things people do on spreadsheets that really should not be, as they need more coordination and assurance for multiple users.
Smaller companies are often surprised by what the software they buy does not do. Consultants often make money getting companies to basic functionality, but Thruline aims to eliminate that consulting time. However, they are having success working with consultants. In a single day on-site with a set of questions, a consulting partner assembled the workflow diagrams for a customer. The software was then up and running quickly with minimal additional consulting hours.
I can see how learning from challenges can lead people to create high-value, innovative software. Thank you, Derek Lam, for reaching out and to Alex Lazich, CEO, for taking the time to brief me about Thruline’s vision and new approach to getting growing companies there. I look forward to following your progress in the market!
[post_title] => Thruline Reimagines Manufacturing and Lab Software for Small Growing Companies
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => software-for-small-growing-manufacturers
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2024-08-13 22:33:11
[post_modified_gmt] => 2024-08-14 02:33:11
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://tech-clarity.com/?p=20544
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[8] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 20547
[post_author] => 2
[post_date] => 2024-08-06 10:00:55
[post_date_gmt] => 2024-08-06 14:00:55
[post_content] => I always look forward to briefings with the CoLab Software team. That’s partially because I think they’re doing something interesting and because I’m following a trend toward systems of engagementto see where it goes. It’s also because they have a dynamic team that is passionate about what they’re doing and has good perspectives to share on the industry.
Here are some of the basics to the set the context from our recent briefing. You can also read our short writeup from last year if you’re interested. CoLab is a seven-year-old company, they are VC funded, and they are growing nicely. According to a press release from Insight Partners in May, CoLab has grown revenue nearly 10x in the last two years. We’ve been impressed that they are working with some very large companies including Ford, Komatsu, Polaris, Johnson Controls, and Schaeffler as well as government institutions.
The System of Engagement TrendCoLab delivers a system of engagement (SOE) primarily focused on the tangible challenges engineering teams face with design review. I’m going to step back and talk about systems of engagement, feel free to skip ahead if you are on board. SOEs are becoming more popular as a way to differentiate a style of application and user experience that are typically more lightweight and agile than existing systems of record (SOR) that manage data. SOEs are filling an important systems ecosystem gap by enabling collaboration across one or more SORs such as PLM, ERP, or others.
The system of engagement concept is important given the fragmented nature of today’s systems, for example the variety of systems that contain a part of the product digital thread. Our research, in fact, shows that most manufacturers have more than one PLM system. The idea is to integrate across these systems to deliver processes / workflows that enable collaboration and allow people to take action based on contextual data about their current. It’s what I called “the potential second half of the PLM promise” in a previous post, if for no other reason because it acts beyond a single system.
As an aside, I’m starting to think of the need to differentiate “Industrial” SOEs that are based on the product / manufacturing data context, the digital thread, as opposed to general SOE platform without any industry specialization. But that’s for another time. I realize this is a lot to digest but I think the background is important and I tried to keep it short and simple.
CoLab offers a very specialized SOE focused on design and engineering, the design engagement system (DES). In particular, they have drilled in very specifically on solving the inefficiencies manufacturers face with design review. This is an example of a company really focusing and going deep to solve a challenging problem. CoLab gives engineering teams the ability to share designs so others can review and leave detailed, contextual feedback on them. For example someone in manufacturing could add a comment or markup to a specific feature in a specific version of a CAD model. Their review provides contextual feedback to the design team so they can analyze and act on it. But differently than most third party collaboration or viewing tools, that feedback persists over time and stays associated with that particular revision. In this way, design review feedback is not a lost moment in time, it becomes a part of the product history and company knowledge.
There are other solutions that support design review, including those from PLM vendors themselves. But CoLab is going deep and creating an experience tailored specifically to the design review process. They have really focused on the user experience to make it efficient and effective, going so far as to make it “self-documenting” to prevent additional non-value-added work to capture feedback.
Their portals are a great example of how tailored their solution is. CoLab creates a workspace for the internal team and then allows them to create multiple, linked portals to securely share designs selectively with suppliers to gather feedback. What’s really interesting about the portals is that each one is not just a separate disconnected copy. Suppliers can’t see other’s feedback, but the design team can see consolidated feedback from all of the additional portals in their internal workspace. To me, this is a great example of building a tailored solution works in the real world instead of an idealized environment.
Part of what makes CoLab effective is what they call “replacing the messy middle” between existing CAD, Project Management, and PLM systems. This is a big factor in allowing them to help design teams move away from informal, ad-hoc (and ineffective) tools like spreadsheets that are far too common in these processes. One of the key ways to support this effectively is by providing the reviewer the right context, the underlying CAD model for example, so they can act effectively. I like the way CoLab calls this “cutting down on the context gap” as they manage the relationships between visualization, markup, issue lists, and the tasks engineers and others are executing.
CoLab’s system of engagement, or even more specifically their design engagement system, will not stop at design review. The collaborative capabilities are already being applied to help manufacturers with design review, supplier collaboration, and cost reduction programs. But they have lots of room to grow and some exciting plans for the future.
One example that caught my attention is that they have meaningful plans to incorporate AI. Everyone is talking about AI, but I believe CoLab is on to something important. If you think about the design review feedback they capture as company knowledge, the potential value of mining and learning from that information to improve future design review, or design in the first place, is intriguing. There will be more to come on that, we are following it closely.
CoLab is taking their DES / SOE role seriously. They are happy to sit outside of PLM and not get directly involved in managing CAD data. Instead, they access it from PLM and supply it in an accessible form to design review participants. They are partnering with PTC and have integrated with Windchill, a PTC Technology, and they are working toward other PLM systems including Siemens Teamcenter and Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE platform. They will integrate beyond PLM as well.
We’re still watching to see how the system of engagement model as a separate platform plays out. You can clearly make an argument that a design execution system should be part of a broader product innovation platform. But CoLab is filling an important gap, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that there will not be one home to the product digital thread inside the enterprise let alone in the supply chain where design review must excel.
Thank you Adam Keating and MJ Smith for the update!
[post_title] => CoLab Continues to Deliver on Design Engagement System Promise [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => design-engagement-system [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-08-13 22:03:06 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-08-14 02:03:06 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://tech-clarity.com/?p=20547 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [9] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 20514 [post_author] => 2574 [post_date] => 2024-07-25 10:00:06 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-07-25 14:00:06 [post_content] =>
In our update briefing with Canvas GFX, CEO Pat Hume said, “A lot has changed since a year ago.” Perhaps the most significant strategic shift is that they are now focusing Envision as a connected knowledge platform for midsize and larger enterprises. The concept is two-way knowledge sharing between product engineering and production frontline workers making and repairing those products.
Product information is central to what frontline workers need to do, and Canvas GFX has long played a role in the 2D and 3D product info-sharing business. Canvas Envision is a SaaS platform for creating, managing, and interacting with model-based work instructions. Outdated, unclear, or hard-to-understand work instructions are a common cause of quality issues for manufacturers. Canvas GFX is looking to solve this challenge.
The platform can convert text-based work and maintenance instructions to easy-to-follow visual information linked to the CAD model. Based on the company’s heritage, using 3D CAD models as the single source of truth is a given. What’s novel is the company’s view that the frontline workers in production, quality, maintenance, and sustainment can use the Canvas Envision platform to deliver feedback to the product teams and each other. The platform enables workers to ask for help or support. For example, If the instructions don't seem to match the parts referenced in the CAD model, a maintenance worker who may work for a different company, such as an airline, can connect with the engineering team at the OEM for guidance.
To gain a foothold in the midmarket and enterprise, Canvas GFX knows they must be minimally disruptive and complement or enhance existing workflows. APIs to PLM, PDM, ERP, QMS, and MES are table stakes. Canvas GFX works with digital twins, animations, images, video, audio, text, live data feeds, and AR/VR to extend the value of the core CAD model.
Another fascinating direction is that Canvas GFX has established Envision partnerships with companies such as Aras and Rockwell Plex to embed Envision in the partner’s user experience. So, an Aras PLM user can author in Canvas Envision, launching it from their Aras Innovator interface. Similarly, a production worker on Plex can interact with their work instructions in Envision but see the familiar Plex UI. Other partners include SAIC for DoD, SSI for shipbuilding, Autodesk with the Vault PDM, Zebra for connected workers, and Microsoft for AI. Partners will be an increasing channel to market for Canvas Envision.
The Canvas Envision SDK is intended to allow customers to automate content creation and customize user experiences. Depending on the current technology stack, each company may want the system to do more or less for authoring and frontline worker support. The company’s AI roadmap, with products due out later this year, will enable greater automation.
Per the example above, Canvas GFX’s vision for Envision goes even beyond enterprise, out to customers, customer’s customers, and suppliers. Many very complex products, for which model-based work instructions are most important, have a set of sub-assemblies where product information is needed. Many of these complex products also have long lives in the field, where service or maintenance, repair, and overhaul operations (MRO) might also need detailed product knowledge and have valuable knowledge to share from later in the product lifecycle.
We are excited by the opportunities Canvas Envision offers to manufacturers to move toward a model-based enterprise (MBE) using CAD data for frontline workers. As the workforce challenges continue, supporting frontline workers and improving collaboration across many disciplines should improve employee satisfaction and productivity rates.
Thank you, Patricia Hume and Becky Darsch, for taking the time to update us on Envision and your market strategy. We look forward to learning more and hearing about AI updates and additional partners and customers!
How do you know if your CAD tool will keep you competitive?
CAD is a critical engineering tool, but if your CAD tool has not kept up with the latest technologies, your engineers could be at a disadvantage. As companies enjoy efficiencies gained through digital transformation, CAD tools have also evolved to support digital processes that can help you develop more competitive products in less time. Has yours?
This eBook reveals the results of a survey of product development professionals that examined what they look for in a CAD tool and the results they saw when they switched CAD tools. Further, the analysis of the survey results and practices of Top Performing companies, seven questions were identified to help you determine if you should consider evaluating other CAD tools.
Please enjoy the summary* below. For the full research, please visit our sponsor SOLIDWORKS (registration required).
Engineers face a lot of pressure to develop competitive products as quickly as possible. The best CAD tools can help engineers work smarter and focus on innovation. However, achieving the desired efficiencies to remain competitive may require a change in CAD tools. In fact, over the last three years, digital transformation - a key enabler for greater efficiency - has been the top driver for making a switch.
You can extend a CAD model’s value with digital processes and new technologies, including complementary design portfolio offerings. Overall, 99% of study respondents believe using innovation-enabling technology with CAD will help them achieve their goals for more competitive products. These technologies include simulation, digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), generative design, and the cloud. As companies look at new technology, 95% believe that AI will improve product development; AI opportunities for improvement range from automating tedious repetitive work to detecting errors.
Impact of Changing CAD
When companies make a CAD change, the productivity improvements are quite significant: 85% are satisfied with the ROI of the switch, with an even higher percentage (96%) of Top Performers satisfied. Top Performers’ higher level of satisfaction can be partly attributed to what they look for in a CAD solution.
Seven Questions
This research identified what Top Performing companies look for in a CAD tool. The findings revealed seven questions to help determine if you may benefit from switching CAD tools. Consider if a new solution may offer technological advancements that will support better engineering decisions and accelerate product development processes by asking these questions:
1. Can your CAD tool support good collaboration?
2. Does your CAD tool support the latest technology?
3. Is there a vision and current support for AI?
4. Is Engineering’s personal productivity optimized?
5. Does a complementary portfolio extend value beyond design?
6. Does your CAD tool overcome process bottlenecks?
7. Does your CAD vendor meet your needs?
Top Performers’ Advantage
Top Performers enjoy even more benefits when they make a change. Some of this is due to what they look for in a CAD tool. Overall, they look for a tool that improves engineering efficiency while also benefiting the larger enterprise beyond engineering.
*This summary is an abbreviated version of the research and does not contain the full content. For the full research, please visit our sponsor SOLIDWORKS (registration required).
If you have difficulty obtaining a copy of the report, please contact us.
[post_title] => Are You Using the Best CAD Tool?
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => best-cad
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2024-07-17 11:52:49
[post_modified_gmt] => 2024-07-17 15:52:49
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://tech-clarity.com/?p=20466
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[11] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 20454
[post_author] => 2574
[post_date] => 2024-07-11 10:00:51
[post_date_gmt] => 2024-07-11 14:00:51
[post_content] => 
“Can an executive scientifically grow the value their company delivers to customers and thus company value?” It’s not often we encounter a solution provider aiming to answer a totally different question than others, but we just did. Pivotal Innovation has developed the Value Growth System, a combined SaaS software and services offering, to systemize value growth.
We are excited about the potential for this because business transformation has not been straightforward or reliably successful, and this begins to explain why. Also, the Value Growth System is both comprehensive and comprehensible. We believe visionary executives can benefit from even the fundamental concepts we learned in one call.
Pivotal Innovation, founded by serial entrepreneurs Kevin Fallon and Justin Griep, focuses on helping manufacturers go beyond a customer focus to grow customer value systematically. The company aims to help organizations make this transformation less costly and stressful. They call it “Growth as a Service.”
One big ‘aha’ here is that two connected but distinct systems make up a company. There is an operating system for delivering current value, which most companies have systematized well. There is also a value growth system for transformation that typically runs ad hoc (to the detriment of growth). Integrating these is crucial. Another big aha is that strategy is directional, not transformational. Transformation needs to incorporate execution and innovation as well as strategy.
The Pivotal Innovator SaaS platform systematically ensures strategy, execution, and innovation work together. Most solution providers focus on just one element of this overall value growth system. Execution of current value is the most common focus for transactional and process software applications. Software such as ERP, PLM, SCM, and CRM aim to ensure things happen reliably in the current state. The Pivotal Innovator focuses on transforming to a desired future state, with closed-loop feedback among strategy, execution, and innovation.
Fallon claims they can change a company's culture in 30 days. The focus is on balancing transformation with current performance. The approach creates a common growth language across disciplines to help everyone focus on the growth gap, not just the current state. Because this is an enterprise-level transformation, no single discipline can “own” or manage growth.
Senior executives may relate to the consulting aspects of the offering and champion the software. They may also join mastermind groups to learn from each other. Pivotal Innovation is partnering with the Advanced Manufacturing Sciences Institute at Metropolitan State University of Denver to offer a 12-week educational program. By the third week, executives will have an executable strategy for the company based on priorities and will be accelerating growth and transforming culture.
The concepts of integrating and automating value growth came from Fallon’s years of research after a significant career in manufacturing automation and Lean supply chain solutions. They are not currently taught in most business schools. Yet, it appears this offering addresses the main stumbling blocks to value growth:
We’re excited to kick off Propel Software's new “Office Hours” series of educational webinars. Our President, Jim Brown, will lead an interactive conversation with Zoetis Director of R&D, Greg Yow, and Propel VP, Tom Shoemaker. Together, they’ll discuss the state of the PLM market and the landscape for modern PLM solutions.
The webinar will look at the current state of the PLM market and then explore what companies should look for in a modern solution. Jim will share his research on the state of PLM including the benefits manufacturers can expect from PLM, what the current PLM implementation landscape looks like, the transition to the cloud, and requirements for supporting PLM processes well into the future. Greg will share his experience with global animal health company Zoetis and his broad design and PLM background. Tom will share his perspectives from his deep experience in the PLM industry and conversations with Propel customers.
Join this Propel-sponsored educational webinar on July 16 to join in the conversation and get your questions about the PLM market answered.
[post_title] => Evaluating Modern PLM Systems
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => modern-plm
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2024-07-10 11:25:28
[post_modified_gmt] => 2024-07-10 15:25:28
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://tech-clarity.com/?p=20439
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[13] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 20428
[post_author] => 2574
[post_date] => 2024-06-28 10:00:52
[post_date_gmt] => 2024-06-28 14:00:52
[post_content] => 
Can you shorten the time to value (T2V) for MES? In a recent briefing, Julie Fraser came to an understanding that Infor is working to do that with its no-code configuration approach. Infor MES comes from a heritage of encouraging customers to use the solution completely out of the box with no custom code. It may sound far-fetched, but they claim customers are doing that.
Infor MES’s approach is different, with many examples of “last mile” functionality plus built-in options that the manufacturer can select, rather than create. Newer examples of special functions using no-code include reel production including defect tracking and co-production variations for ovens, stamping, grading, reel slitting, and painting. Integrations and connections are also largely based on field- and expression-based mappings.
Infor’s MES covers all factory operations for a relatively wide variety of industries and production modes. Broad areas include production, quality, inventory, logistics, maintenance, tooling, and energy. This enables their ERP products to focus on their core functions and strengths, removing complexity from ERP and allowing MES to simplify operations.
The all-organically developed MES also supports frontline workers with a consistent look, feel, and view of everything in their production environment. The operator’s dashboard is built from pre-defined or user-configured “cards” with saved reports behind each. These reports can be combined for valuable views for each process, area, and role in the facility. Screens are built simply, knowing gloves and goggles are common for these users.
MES is integrated to many of the Infor ERP CloudSuites, but not tightly coupled. Standalone MES sales are still a substantial portion of the base. Yet, more complete integration is also boosting cross-selling to existing Infor ERP customers. Investment continues in Infor MES to solve more customer challenges.
MES is a differentiator for the Infor ERP suites. The ability to leverage the Infor OS Platform, which includes data lake, data fabric, robotic process automation, and Generative AI is a huge boost to the enterprise’s ability to make full use of MES data.
Infor MES is available with a choice of hosting options:
Infor’s twice-a-year spring and fall product release cycle works for MES. The roadmap includes more configurability, extended mobility, and making the most of Infor innovations. The next release is scheduled to include integrations with Infor Document Management and new GenAI functionalities, for example.
Sometimes, a robust small software company’s acquisition by a much larger company works well for customers and employees. That appears to be the case with Infor’s MES, which was Lighthouse Systems (Shopfloor-Online) until late 2021. Infor has taken this product seriously. The company sees Infor MES adding substantial value to customers looking to achieve complete digital transformation of manufacturing operations.
Thank you, Jennifer Marzolf for arranging this briefing with MES mavens Matt Barber and Brandon Billingham. We look forward to following the MES and other Infor products' developments and successes in the market.
[post_title] => Infor Keeps Investing in Configurable Multi-Mode MES [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => infor-keeps-investing-in-mes [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-07-01 15:31:36 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-07-01 19:31:36 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://tech-clarity.com/?p=20428 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [14] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 20388 [post_author] => 2574 [post_date] => 2024-06-20 10:00:44 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-06-20 14:00:44 [post_content] =>
How can smaller manufacturers chart effective automation strategies with their limited resources? That’s the topic of this Automation World article. In it, Tech-Clarity’s Julie Fraser and three other industry professionals offer suggestions for small manufacturers' automation approach to plan for and execute successful and cost-effective automation programs.
Automation World spoke with four industry experts: Jeff Payne, director of business development at AutomationDirect; Steve Bieszczat, CMO at DelmiaWorks; Caleb Funk, engagement engineer with ImaginIt Technologies; and Julie Fraser, vice president of research for operations and manufacturing at Tech-Clarity.
AW: How can smaller manufacturers identify specific challenges in their manufacturing processes to set achievable objectives for automation technology adoption?
Fraser: Most manufacturers have process experts who can identify the issues that are creating waste if you ask them the right questions. Asking the right questions often means challenging how things work. Typically, your most experienced people have created workarounds that enable the product to go through processes relatively smoothly and reliably, and they may no longer recognize the original issue. Once the issues to improve are identified, setting achievable objectives for automation may be obvious or may require an experienced automation engineer or system integrator to determine achievable objectives.
The article also covers how to:
Tech-Clarity’s Julie Fraser was on the analyst panel of the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s (MLC’s) 20th anniversary Rethink conference. The panel looked back 20 years and forward 20 years in the journey to digital manufacturing. Julie’s perspective is that some things that seem new are not – like AI, which she wrote a report about in about 1990. That shows how many things must be in place technologically and in our mindset and culture.
The digital transformation will also require a personal transformation. The key is to go after Smart with Heart. She also believes there is a “pot of gold” at the end of this journey. Like a leprechaun, rather than only seeing the material wealth there, we’ll want to ensure we do the manufacturing dance to celebrate.
The panel – and the entire conference - touched on technology, including networking, materials handling, enterprise and plant software, AI, and Generative AI. Every presentation also emphasized innovation, processes, workforce engagement, and leadership skills. The more new technologies we employ in manufacturing, the more conversation it generates around human beings. People are, and it seems will continue to be, at the center of manufacturing – even as it is increasingly automated and autonomous.
One of the notable features of this conference was the level of engagement in the MLC community. These leaders and their teams eagerly and openly engaged with each other and with the technology and services providers. It was rare to find someone standing alone for even a short time—we were all sharing and learning with each other.
The MLC is part of the National Association of Manufacturers - NAM (NAM), but people from around the world were there, sharing their stories and competing for awards. This conference has cleverly incorporated an awards gala to ensure that leaders and their teams who are nominated come, share their stories, and learn from one another. When one company shared information, you could see groups from other companies discussing it with each other.
Some award nominees and speakers, like Matthew Herman of Whirlpool, are turning the corner in understanding how to gain benefits while building toward scalability and enterprise-wide rollout. This scaling seems to often involve changes to the organizational structure and staffing.
Becky Sidelinger of Flex shared the journey to extreme contract manufacturing flexibility in their production operations to match product innovation. They use digital twins of their end-to-end manufacturing lines, machine learning, and AR/VR goggles to guide work. Beyond that, she discussed effectively bringing suppliers into the sustainability frame. A key takeaway was to “be generous with your time” as a leader.
J. Kirby Best of Bespoke talked about his startup custom clothing company, Bespoke. Here, autonomous robots work with people, and real-time location tracking and AI are used to gain productivity at the point of activity. This truly innovative approach to garment manufacturing is based on “getting out of your mind how anything was done before.” The result is essentially infinite selection in zero time.
Craig Stephen Slavtcheff of Campbell’s focused on their agile approach. It is not just meeting hygiene, and not just in R&D, but a deep approach to agile in food and its supply chain. Modifying existing unit operations to live up to the design brief has been crucial. Deep change management plays into ensuring data is considered an essential part of every job.
Prasad Rajiv of forklift maker Hyster-Yale talked about making great strides toward smart and autonomous products. The ability to use 5G communications and interact effectively with WMS, MES, people, and manual operations such as picking. Bringing decisions closer to the action was part of it, zero emissions another.
Chris Platz of Woodward talked about their journey to transform supplier collaboration, even with their many small suppliers. They have built a digital twin of suppliers’ capability and capacity to show what to send where and when. In about a week, they can set up a digital twin of a supplier factory and begin working with the simulation-selected best partner on a 1:1 basis based on pre-negotiated pricing.
The next-generation leaders panel dispelled misunderstandings. Megan McCarthy of General Motors discussed two-way feedback and GM’s commitment to electric vehicles. Jonathan Miller from St. Gobain Life Sciences saw that machine connectivity foundations were a tough sell, but they delivered benefits and removed drudge work once in place. His advice was, “Make everyone comfortable failing.” Angela Accurso, MPA of MdX talked about mentorship and sponsorship, and Marlon Alberto Gonzalez Martinez of IBM pushed for “giving a voice to young people and their ideas.”
TakeawaysHere are some of Julie’s takeaways and highlights from the two days she attended the conference.
It is truly an exciting time to be in manufacturing. The transformation is underway, and while there are some challenges, the gains are tremendous. Thank you, Manufacturing Leadership Council and David R. Brousell, for hosting us there!
[post_title] => New Thinking from MLC Rethink 2024 [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => new-mlc-rethink-2024 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-09-20 13:05:33 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-09-20 17:05:33 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://tech-clarity.com/?p=20402 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [16] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 20327 [post_author] => 2 [post_date] => 2024-06-11 09:00:24 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-06-11 13:00:24 [post_content] =>
How can manufacturers leverage search-powered GenAI to connect their digital thread to improve engineering and service performance? Join our webinar on as we discuss how to get more value from enterprise systems like PLM by tapping into the data that already exists.
Rapid product development and fast service response are critical to profitability in the manufacturing industry. Engineers, product developers, and technicians need fast access to accurate information to develop and support today’s complex products. But today’s product digital thread data is hard to access, creating inefficiencies, rework, and errors across the product lifecycle.
The systems that make up the product digital thread, which often include one or more PLM systems, are complex and typically disconnected. How can advanced technologies like Search-powered GenAI help manufacturers tap into the product and service intelligence they need to get products to market fast and support them efficiently?
Join Jim Brown, President of Digital Innovation Research at Tech-Clarity, and Jeff Evernham, Chief Technology Evangelist at Sinequa, to learn:
Will connected medical devices make the Star Trek medical tricorders a reality in healthcare?
A few decades ago, Star Trek’s tricorders were complete science fiction – only in the imagination could a device perform a simple scan and offer a full medical diagnosis of any ailment. While we may not be quite there yet, today’s connected medical devices are getting close to making that a reality and, in some cases, have already delivered. In fact, connected medical devices have come so far, they can provide medical treatments, diagnostics, and real-time monitoring that would have been considered science fiction not too long ago. Connected medical devices will revolutionize healthcare by advancing the quality of patient care, lowering healthcare costs, and improving people's lives.
To learn more, read our guest post that:
[post_title] => How Connected Medical Devices Will Revolutionize Healthcare
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => connected-medical-devices
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2024-06-12 15:09:21
[post_modified_gmt] => 2024-06-12 19:09:21
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://tech-clarity.com/?p=20351
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[18] => WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 20325
[post_author] => 2574
[post_date] => 2024-06-07 10:00:24
[post_date_gmt] => 2024-06-07 14:00:24
[post_content] => 
What steps is your company taking to make your supply chain more sustainable? Join our community discussion on Wednesday, June 12 from 11AM-12PM EST hear Julie Fraser facilitate this conversation and learn from each other.
Nearly every company has sustainability initiatives now. The era of greenwashing is fading away. So what can you do, and how will it impact your business? The pressures and expectations vary by industry and company. Please come to share; what you’ve done already may help to inform others and accelerate our entire manufacturing economy toward greater sustainability success.
The World Economic Forum claims that the circular economy will be good for your supply chain, and lower the risk. Are you finding that? Are you seeing benefits? Are your suppliers ready to step into this arena with you? How do you measure environmental impact, and where do you start?
Consumers and customers are seeking suppliers who support their environmental sustainability policies. Yet, as a manufacturer, that means taking both internal and partner measures. In emissions terms, we can consider 1 (direct), 2 (directly used such as from the local power plants fueling factories and distribution centers), and 3 (in our value network).
Join us to discuss your experiences and questions such as:
Based on our recent update briefing with iTAC board member Martin Heinz, we have an exhilarating view of how high and low an MES player can reach. With an offering that includes strong integration to sensors and IIoT, controls, SCADA, and ISA 95 Level 3 MES/MOM, iTAC shares this depth with only a few other players in the market. They talk about an end-to-end approach for the digital factory.
iTAC has long been a leading MES/MOM provider, and they continue to upgrade the MOM Suite, with Version 11 due out in the 2nd Quarter 2024. Beyond the original product, this release adds to both the platform and the application suite. It moves analytics forward and allows customers to choose from hosting options: on-premise, cloud, or hybrid.
iTAC built in low code for extensions a few years ago. Now, beyond the standard client and customer-specific clients, they offer a client framework. With the framework, the standard client can get a customer-dedicated plug-in. This becomes a single client for customization that can also upgrade with new releases. The company has also added a ChatGPT-based product, Ask Our Doc, to make their technical documentation easier to use.
And so much more. iTAC can now claim it goes from level 0 to level 3 of the ISA 95 model. This claim holds water even beyond Cogiscan factory connectivity to nearly anything. Newer integration with DXQ SCADA from Dürr deepen the level 1 and 0 story. They can also begin to address process industries through new Dürr acquisition ANT Solution. While some companies get buried or neglected in larger organizations, iTAC has gained significant advantages from being part of Dürr.
Machine integration and bi-directional communication is through an API layer. The combination of these features and Dürr-family products enables iTAC customers to integrate to machines, IIoT, and other enterprise software as well as define workflows and create custom-specific clients. With Dürr, MANZ and GROB, iTAC also supports closed loop continuous improvement (CI) processes for battery production.
Despite the richness and equipment connectivity, iTAC fosters customer enablement for independence. For example, one major customer who started over 20 years ago now implements the systems by themselves, which for many MES customers with automation has been a difficult dream to fulfill. At the same time, iTAC has expanded its professional services, enabling it to better serve customers globally.
We’re looking forward to following iTAC’s progress in the market, bolstered by the entire iTAC Software AG and Dürr Group portfolio. Thank you, Martin Heinz, for keeping us updated even though we could not be at Hannover Messe to see it all.
[post_title] => iTAC Reaches to New Heights and Depths [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => open [ping_status] => open [post_password] => [post_name] => itac-reaches-new-heights [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2024-06-06 19:30:16 [post_modified_gmt] => 2024-06-06 23:30:16 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://tech-clarity.com/?p=20312 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 20 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => 1 [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 20650 [post_author] => 2 [post_date] => 2024-09-12 10:00:54 [post_date_gmt] => 2024-09-12 14:00:54 [post_content] =>
How can process manufacturers, who are traditionally undersupported by PLM offerings, manage their digital threads and bridge the gaps from formulas, to process, to plant, to the supply chain? Where can recipe-driven companies, including those in chemicals, food & beverage, cosmetics, oil & gas, and other related “process industry” companies, turn for PLM?
The answer is not simple. Let’s look at the scenario. PLM for the process industries shares a lot of similar concepts with traditional PLM systems. But there are fundamental differences in the data model, processes, and reporting / analytics that make PLM solutions built for discrete manufacturing a poor fit. Over the last two decades, there have been a number of process industry PLM offerings developed and brought to market. But the number of options for PLM for the process industries is small, and the market has changed dramatically.
This eBook explores the idea of whether traditional PLM can fill the gaps needed to support PLM for the process industries. One way to approach leveraging discrete PLM systems for process industry needs is to take advantage of the flexibility and adaptability of low-code solutions. The eBook explores how a process company could manage their digital thread and gain the significant business value of PLM by leveraging a PLM system built on a low-code architecture. We look forward to your thoughts.
Please enjoy the summary* below. For the full research, please visit our sponsor Aras (registration required).
System Fundamentals
These capabilities can add significant value to the process industry digital thread. There are other fundamental PLM capabilities that translate well to process industry PLM, such as user and role management, granular security models, workflow management, cloud deployment, and more. Ideally, these are created as services that can be adapted and reused to support and digitally transform the process industries.
Manufacturers of all kinds can gain significant business value from a trusted digital thread managed by PLM. However, traditional PLM systems were not designed to meet unique process industry needs, let alone specific needs for industries like chemicals or food and beverage.
Traditional PLM capabilities, on the other hand, can support packaging design and BOMs, which follow a discrete model. These systems can also manage the digital thread and digital twin of plants and plant assets.
Look for Flexibility and Adaptability
How do you expand a solution from an 80% fit to a fully capable solution without impacting maintainability and the ability to upgrade? Consider that it might be easier to get from a 60% fit with a solution built on a low-code architecture so you don't create technical debt.
One way to pursue PLM for the process industries is to adopt PLM basics and use low-code to replicate, modify, and augment it to fill the process industry disconnects. This approach offers the fundamentals of PLM for both recipe- and BOM-centric needs in a way that doesn't create unmanageable technical debt.
Get the Right Architecture
When looking at a system to support the process industries, it's essential to consider the architecture of the solution in addition to the capabilities. For example, is it open? Easily integrated? Available on the cloud? Does it offer low-code to make it flexible and maintainable? These are important considerations to get the right combination of capabilities for today and the ability to future-proof the system to support the business of the future.
Gain Business Value
Ultimately, the purpose of selecting and implementing a PLM system is growing business value through higher revenue, greater agility, lower cost, better quality, and increased compliance. PLM delivers proven value, but it's critical for PLM to support the uniqueness of the digital thread in the process industry.
*This summary is an abbreviated version of the ebook and does not contain the full content. For the full report, please visit our sponsor Aras.
If you have difficulty obtaining a copy of the research, please contact us.
[post_title] => The Role, Value, and Fit of PLM for the Process Industries
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => open
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => plm-for-the-process-industries
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] =>
[post_modified] => 2024-12-03 12:02:36
[post_modified_gmt] => 2024-12-03 17:02:36
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://tech-clarity.com/?p=20650
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
[comment_count] => 0
[current_comment] => -1
[found_posts] => 776
[max_num_pages] => 39
[max_num_comment_pages] => 0
[is_single] =>
[is_preview] =>
[is_page] =>
[is_archive] =>
[is_date] =>
[is_year] =>
[is_month] =>
[is_day] =>
[is_time] =>
[is_author] =>
[is_category] =>
[is_tag] =>
[is_tax] =>
[is_search] =>
[is_feed] =>
[is_comment_feed] =>
[is_trackback] =>
[is_home] => 1
[is_privacy_policy] =>
[is_404] =>
[is_embed] =>
[is_paged] =>
[is_admin] =>
[is_attachment] =>
[is_singular] =>
[is_robots] =>
[is_favicon] =>
[is_posts_page] =>
[is_post_type_archive] =>
[query_vars_hash:WP_Query:private] => 7d0a91edc01676696fc63a429f3820e4
[query_vars_changed:WP_Query:private] => 1
[thumbnails_cached] =>
[allow_query_attachment_by_filename:protected] =>
[stopwords:WP_Query:private] =>
[compat_fields:WP_Query:private] => Array
(
[0] => query_vars_hash
[1] => query_vars_changed
)
[compat_methods:WP_Query:private] => Array
(
[0] => init_query_flags
[1] => parse_tax_query
)
[query_cache_key:WP_Query:private] => wp_query:4d6a272a6eb39df24c4cc5c98da7eeae:0.26836200 17578863850.27731300 1757886385
)
How can process manufacturers, who are traditionally undersupported by PLM offerings, manage their digital threads and bridge the gaps from formulas, to process, to plant, to the supply chain? Where can recipe-driven companies, including those in chemicals, food & beverage, cosmetics, oil & gas, and other related “process industry” companies, turn for PLM? The answer…
How can manufacturers drive innovation and agility by digitalizing the factory lifecycle? Join this webinar as Tech-Clarity’s Jim Brown and Autodesk’s Bassanio Peters discuss the challenges manufacturers face in their factory lifecycle and the best practices they adopt to hit their critical program timelines, project costs, manufacturing quality, and performance targets. Jim will share his…
What are major manufacturers are learning about AI? What is their path toward greater value? To get answers to these questions, join MESA and watch the Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association’s Smart Manufacturing NOW virtual event. During the September 23-26, 2024 event, on Wednesday September 25, Tech-Clarity’s Julie Fraser and Dave Noller of Virginia Tech co-hosted…
Join this webinar as Jim Brown as speaks with Razorleaf’s Jonathan Scott and Derek Neiding to discuss the survey results from his survey of 138 manufacturers on how to integrate across the digital thread. Jim will share the research results and Jonathan and Derek will share real-world integration expertise and customer experiences. Topics they’ll cover…
Can pharmaceutical and life sciences manufacturers get simplified management by exception in production? Can they get a proven and full-function GMP-ready MES that’s also configurable yet valuable and out of the box? Decades into its existence, the POMS Corporation team says their POMSnet Aquila SaaS solution can do all that. Their satisfied and committed customer…
Value from Data Creating value from the varied data in manufacturing facilities can be an elusive goal. In our recent briefing with Arch Systems, we got an idea of how they convert massive quantities of data into intelligent actions for manufacturers. They do this for frontline workers, top-floor executives, and many in between. The premise…
How can manufacturers get more value from PLM? Our research and experience show there are six ways for companies to grow PLM to enterprise level business value. Please enjoy the summary* below. For the full research, please visit our sponsor PTC (registration required). Table of Contents Executive Summary Evaluate the Opportunity Six Ways to Increase…
Better Software What would make ERP and lab software better? Perhaps software that’s lean, flexible, cloud-based, low cost, easy to deploy… and yet highly capable with deep and configurable workflows between modules. Thruline’s founders have implemented and used software on either side of that ellipsis (…) and set out to create software that’s all of…
I always look forward to briefings with the CoLab Software team. That’s partially because I think they’re doing something interesting and because I’m following a trend toward systems of engagementto see where it goes. It’s also because they have a dynamic team that is passionate about what they’re doing and has good perspectives to share…
In our update briefing with Canvas GFX, CEO Pat Hume said, “A lot has changed since a year ago.” Perhaps the most significant strategic shift is that they are now focusing Envision as a connected knowledge platform for midsize and larger enterprises. The concept is two-way knowledge sharing between product engineering and production frontline workers…
How do you know if your CAD tool will keep you competitive? CAD is a critical engineering tool, but if your CAD tool has not kept up with the latest technologies, your engineers could be at a disadvantage. As companies enjoy efficiencies gained through digital transformation, CAD tools have also evolved to support digital processes…
“Can an executive scientifically grow the value their company delivers to customers and thus company value?” It’s not often we encounter a solution provider aiming to answer a totally different question than others, but we just did. Pivotal Innovation has developed the Value Growth System, a combined SaaS software and services offering, to systemize value…
We’re excited to kick off Propel Software’s new “Office Hours” series of educational webinars. Our President, Jim Brown, will lead an interactive conversation with Zoetis Director of R&D, Greg Yow, and Propel VP, Tom Shoemaker. Together, they’ll discuss the state of the PLM market and the landscape for modern PLM solutions. The webinar will look…
Can you shorten the time to value (T2V) for MES? In a recent briefing, Julie Fraser came to an understanding that Infor is working to do that with its no-code configuration approach. Infor MES comes from a heritage of encouraging customers to use the solution completely out of the box with no custom code. It…
How can smaller manufacturers chart effective automation strategies with their limited resources? That’s the topic of this Automation World article. In it, Tech-Clarity’s Julie Fraser and three other industry professionals offer suggestions for small manufacturers’ automation approach to plan for and execute successful and cost-effective automation programs. Automation World spoke with four industry experts: Jeff…
Tech-Clarity’s Julie Fraser was on the analyst panel of the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s (MLC’s) 20th anniversary Rethink conference. The panel looked back 20 years and forward 20 years in the journey to digital manufacturing. Julie’s perspective is that some things that seem new are not – like AI, which she wrote a report about in…
How can manufacturers leverage search-powered GenAI to connect their digital thread to improve engineering and service performance? Join our webinar on as we discuss how to get more value from enterprise systems like PLM by tapping into the data that already exists. Rapid product development and fast service response are critical to profitability in the…
Will connected medical devices make the Star Trek medical tricorders a reality in healthcare? A few decades ago, Star Trek’s tricorders were complete science fiction – only in the imagination could a device perform a simple scan and offer a full medical diagnosis of any ailment. While we may not be quite there yet, today’s…
What steps is your company taking to make your supply chain more sustainable? Join our community discussion on Wednesday, June 12 from 11AM-12PM EST hear Julie Fraser facilitate this conversation and learn from each other. Nearly every company has sustainability initiatives now. The era of greenwashing is fading away. So what can you do, and…
Based on our recent update briefing with iTAC board member Martin Heinz, we have an exhilarating view of how high and low an MES player can reach. With an offering that includes strong integration to sensors and IIoT, controls, SCADA, and ISA 95 Level 3 MES/MOM, iTAC shares this depth with only a few other…
Subscribe to Tech-Clarity to be notified about new research results and survey opportunities.