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by Jeff Moad, MA Editorial Staff   | Abstract: | Despite the difficulties of integrating plant floor systems with enterprise business systems, Celestica, Dairy Crest, and Portucel Viana are making significant headway. |
Every year for the past seven years, Managing Automation has surveyed manufacturing executives about their plans for integrating plant floor systems and enterprise applications. And, every year, the responses have shown two consistent themes. First, manufacturers place a high strategic priority on shop floor-to-top floor integration, and most say they have at least started down that integration path. And second, each year manufacturers say they expect to complete plant-to-enterprise integration within two to three years. When it comes to delivering on shop floor- to-top floor integration, many manufacturers must feel a bit like Sisyphus, the character from Greek mythology who, as punishment, was condemned to push a heavy rock up a steep hill. Why has plant-to-enterprise integration proved so challenging? Several reasons, experts say. First, the environment is highly fragmented, with many different legacy systems in place. And that makes the task of developing and maintaining integrations complex and expensive. [Click to continue] |