Ask the Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) Expert: Scheduling Assistance
 Asked on May 11 2007 8:56:10:000AM | Q | We are evaluating an MI product called MVI (owned by CDC Software). We are process manufacturers in the food industry. What is your opinion of the product? What other solutions should we consider? Jim Ruch, Rome, GA |
| A | We've recently had the opportunity to see MVI in action, as well as check in with a number of MVI users as part of our diligence process. My biggest concern when your question originally came in was the CDC sales model, as it wasn't clear that CDC was selling and supporting the product as a separate offering from their ERP. But, we have had a chance to meet with them and understand the strategy, and they are selling and supporting it as its own entity — and, frankly, their clients seem to be quite happy with it.
Other applications you could look into include Rockwell's OEE solution (you may be able to turn your pre-existing relationship with that vendor to your advantage from a pricing perspective); Invensys has an OEE application; Parsec (who used to OEM DT Analyst to Invensys) has a performance management application that includes OEE; Informance and Incuity both have performance management applications. Zarpac is another company you should take a look at — they've made a name for themselves in the packaging industry, but there's no reason why they couldn't be used in your environment as well.
Frankly, there are many apps on the market today that offer line efficiency/performance analytics. If I were trying to make a decision on a product, I'd focus on: - 1) How well the application embeds best practices (i.e., you get the benefit of industry learnings rather than starting from scratch)
- 2) How easy the app is to configure and how quickly it starts delivering value to the organization
- 3) Even more important, how easy the app is to change (because change is the rule)
- 4) How well the product and usage paradigm match up with the skill sets of the primary users.
Ideally, you want the vendor to get your organization spun up on the product, but you ultimately need your users to have responsibility and ownership, as they are the real experts on the manufacturing environment, and, hence, are the people who can make the inevitable improvements sustainable.
Have fun shopping. Alison |
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