Production Control Functionalities

The SMARTMES Production module consists of eight separate modules, as described in the diagram below. Various interfaces connect the production control system to external information systems. There are two types of interfaces. The diagram shows four upward interfaces, typically handled in the company’s ERP system or production planning CAD/PDM systems, but other alternatives exist. In the downward direction, production control is connected to production systems.

INTERFACES

EXTERNAL INTERFACES

The SMARTMES production management system has five external interfaces that facilitate seamless integration with other systems. The top section of the diagram illustrates four interfaces that connect to office systems, which may not all be necessary for small-scale production control. However, it’s important to consider which interfaces are needed when selecting a system. If the company lacks an external ERP or CRM system to handle this information, but the interface is critical for production, the functionality can be implemented within the SMARTMES software.

The fifth external interface is located in the lower section of the diagram, connecting to the production line control equipment, machines, and workers.

Below are detailed descriptions of these interfaces:

1. Operations Definitions:

This interface compiles work instructions, training materials, and other essential information to guide employees on how to perform their tasks. Workers can retrieve this information through the production management system when needed. Additionally, product information from product design, product structures, part manufacturing parameters, and raw materials/supplies used in production can be accessed through this interface.

2. Operations Capability:

This interface provides real-time information on production capacity utilization and availability, which can be exported to sales systems for predicting realistic delivery times. It can also monitor non-machinery utilization, optimize production, and plan fleet renewal.

3. Operations Requests:

This is a crucial external interface that informs the production control system of the products that need to be manufactured. Typically, these requests are imported from the company’s ERP or CRM system.

4. Operations Response:

This interface relays information on completed actions. It may include notifications to the ERP system that a sales order is ready for delivery, as well as storage of production history data and other tracking information in a database, which can be exported to external systems as needed.

5. Interface to the Production Line:

Data is both exported from and imported into the production line through this interface. It includes information on tasks to be performed at each workstation and how they should be executed. The software communicates directly with intelligent machines or production line controls for automated production, while for more manual production, the data is exported and presented to workers through the user interface.

FUNCTIONAL MODULES

Smartmes consist of eight functional modules that work together to control, monitor, track, and analyze modern industrial production. While all modules are included in the system, not all of them may be needed at all times, so starting with the most important ones is recommended and adding modules as needed later on.

 

1. Definition Management:

This module manages information related to the products to be manufactured, including product structures, raw materials, manufacturing parameters, machinery used, and manufacturing instructions. It retrieves this information from an external information system and transfers it to the relevant workstation or machine at the appropriate time.

 

2. Resource Management:

This module manages the real-time availability of resources, such as production machines and workers, and matches them with the products to be produced. It is linked to production fine-tuning and performance and can provide information on future production capacity to sales or management systems.

 

3. Detailed Scheduling:

This module divides the products defined in the sales order into production phases to be carried out at different workstations and production machines in the factory and plans the production schedule accordingly.

 

4. Dispatching:

This module handles real-time control of production, serving requests from production workstations and machines. It informs them about what to do next and how to do it, based on information retrieved from fine load, configuration management, and resource management. It also exports information about job start to the monitoring module.

5. Execution Management:

This module manages the execution of jobs at each workstation in the plant. It exports information about the part to be produced and its manufacturing parameters directly to automated machines, while for manual production steps or machines without automatic information exchange, it provides an interface for workers to access job instructions and acknowledge product completion.

6. Data Collection:

This module collects information from workstations, such as the completion of parts or orders, and exports it to the Command module for further instructions. It can collect data automatically from workstation machines or through user interfaces.

7. Tracking:

The purpose of this module is to monitor the progress of parts of order in production and report their completion to the ERP system.

8. Analysis:

This module provides capabilities for analyzing production activities, such as studying the effects of product or production system changes on lead times or capacity. While it may not be necessary initially, it can be a valuable addition to an in-depth analysis of production processes.