Demand-driven: IQMS forms automation group to advance Lean manufacturing
By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff -- Manufacturing Business Technology, 7/7/2008 2:07:00 PM
IQMS recently launched an Automation Group to expand the interface capabilities of its EnterpriseIQ ERP system with manufacturing equipment on the shop floor. The goal is to work with existing IQMS customers to create greater efficiency and automation between shop-floor hardware and ERP software, resulting in leaner manufacturing operations.
“As the economy continues to require higher levels of efficiency from every manufacturing sector, the link between the shop floor and the enterprise software is crucial. Many ERP solutions, however, ignore existing shop-floor capabilities,” says Randy Flamm, president and founder of IQMS.
“IQMS led the innovation between ERP software and shop-floor equipment with solutions like our wireless Real-Time Machine Monitoring, which automatically delivers critical production data to the ERP system," Flamm continues. "Having real-time shop-floor data from various pieces of equipment that works in tandem with the ERP system delivers such a great benefit that we saw a need to formalize a group dedicated to advancing this capability and driving even better, leaner results.”
The IQMS Automation Group launches with several custom developed projects at a number of customer beta sites, with capabilities for:
• Two-way communication with PLCs to control and initiate conveyors, vertical lifts, scanners, palletizers, photoeye sensors, and other pieces of equipment;
• Two-way communication with stretch-wrap machines via relay/digital input boards to automate final packaging of customer product;
• Automated FIFO pick/store warehouse applications for forklifts;
• Directly interfacing with work centers to automatically report scrap and production; and
• Other custom PLC interfacing projects developed with customer input.
