Quick start use cases: Reduce variation in work processes for equipment set up, repair, more
By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff -- Manufacturing Business Technology, 5/4/2009 12:00:00 AM
New QuickStart use cases for Proficy Workflow from GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms can help users understand the benefits of digitizing and standardizing work processes. Proficy Workflow software can help companies quickly decrease production costs through lean work processes and exception management. QuickStart guides show users how to capture manual and automated data related to electronic work instructions, equipment set up, quality control routines, equipment repair procedures, and more.
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| Use cases for Proficy Workflow software from GE Intelligent Platforms include work instructions and production set up. |
“At GE, we have a long heritage of lean and digitization,” says Greg Millinger, product general manager for GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms. “Proficy Workflow packages this experience to help companies react to change and leverage their best practices in a repeatable way across their enterprise. When every worker is your best worker, then you truly have a sustainable advantage.”
Known as a work process management software system, Proficy Workflow enables users to digitize both manual and automated processes with one tool, capturing process, traceability, and quality data across systems. Because it’s built on GE Fanuc Intelligent Platform’s Proficy services oriented architecture (SOA) platform, Proficy Workflow also is third-party extensible. That means it can enhance the value of MES, HMI and ERP systems as well.
Some of the QuickStart use cases cover work instructions. For example, “Electronic Work Instructions and SOPs” guides operators through step-by-step instructions to ensure production complies with defined processes through validated entry. Users can capture both automated and manual data entry, and can digitize and enforce compliance with policy manuals and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
“Production Set Up” walks operators through the steps to set up a machine or recipe, and lets companies verify proper machine set up prior to raw materials usage. Companies can control set up processes regardless of the level of traditional automation and independent of automation. Teams can record operator input, validated equipment calibrations, batches/lots, and more. In this situation, Proficy Workflow decreases costs of machine changeover and errors, downtime associated with equipment set up, and inventory through less waste. Companies increase efficiency and quality, through faster and better production set up, agility for changing production, and sustainability of production processes.
Other use cases show how to digitize the expertise of the best operators in a form that all operators can use, facilitating training; how to handle non-conformance workflows and take steps to prevent and minimize product quarantines and recalls; and how to react to alarms and process exceptions with best-practice corrective action and exception management.
Even maintenance workers can benefit from Proficy Workflow. The “Troubleshooting Trees: Equipment Repair & In-Process Product Repair” use case describes how troubleshooting trees can be built and used to walk teams through production problems to determine root causes and solutions. This use enables companies to capture the knowledge base of experts in equipment repair and in-process product and materials, reducing the effects of attrition on the plant.
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| Proficy HMI/SCADA – iFIX WebSpace from GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms |
Separately, GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms announced Proficy HMI/SCADA – iFIX WebSpace, a new Web client for the company’s iFIX visualization software that enables full control and visualization capabilities over a company’s intranet or Internet system without the need to change or alter the iFIX application. iFIX screens and functionality are delivered into a Web browser, enabling users to run multiple iFIX WebSpace clients from one point and launch multiple sessions from one iFIX system (to view different aspects of a single application from one point). “iFIX WebSpace provides a full-featured SCADA client delivered over the web,” concluded Cerrato. “Users don’t have to compromise on functionality and they don’t have to re-write any of their current applications to get that accessibility. GE Fanuc is continuously looking for ways to add value to real-time data and increase the agility of our customers. iFIX WebSpace provides a significant tool for customers to achieve greater consistency and efficiency in their operations.”
– Edited by Renee Robbins, Reed Business Information
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