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by Tom Cutler, Contributing Editor Posted on Friday, May 18, 2007 2:00:00 PM   | Abstract: | Managing a highly configurable product through the manufacturing process can be a daunting task, but an MES with advanced configuration capabilities can help. |
| Keywords: | ETO, engineer to order, product configuration, project-based manufacturing, MES, manufacturing execution systems, highly configured products |
Parametrics involves the ability to adjust based on parameters. The dictionary definition of a parametric equation implies that such parameters are based on coordinates. For a project-based manufacturer using a manufacturing execution system (MES), those coordinates take on great importance. "MES technology solutions should include parametrics which go far beyond using parameters only to represent coordinates," according to Randy Richel, CEO of TRAKware, an MES provider. "Coordinates should have the capacity to dynamically adjust bills of materials, bills of labor, routings, costs, selling prices, and sizes." Few MES solutions have an advanced parametric configurator that allows users to build parts and products that have full parametric capabilities. And yet, to increase lean productivity and profitability, complex parts and products with unlimited variations must be represented by a single item. [Click to continue] |