Manufacturing Business Technology

• The future of business applications: SAP takes two roads to SOA 
  
  Kevin Parker, Editorial Director, December 17, 2007
    Henning Kagermann, chairman and CEO, SAP, says by moving users to service-oriented architecture in two ways, SAP is ensuring its continuing relevance within the software industry.
  
  
• Partner preview: WorkflowOne enhances brand communication for SAP users; Visual Numerics serves up advanced analytics
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, December 17, 2007
  SAP recently reported new parterships surrounding supply chain management, branded communications, and enhanced data processing.
  
• Taro Pharmaceuticals hastens product security
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, December 17, 2007
  Taro Pharmaceuticals will use SupplyScape's E-Pedigree data management solution to secure its prescription drug supply chain.
  
• Oct. U.S. trade gap inches up while deficits in manufacturing, high-tech soar
  
  Alan Tonelson, contributor, United States Business and Industry Council, December 17, 2007
  October trade figures illustrated dramatically the depth of the economy’s trade woes, and the towering obstacles to shrinking the trade gap simply by promoting exports.
  
• Yokogawa integrates plant resource manager with GE Energy System 1 platform
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, December 17, 2007
  Plant Resource Manager (PRM), version R3.02, a key component of Yokogawa’s Asset Excellence initiative, monitors online conditions, and records historical data of assets ranging from field devices to plant equipment.
  
  
• Make your opinion count: Help AMR Research identify the world’s best-performing supply chains
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, December 13, 2007
  AMR Research encourages any supply chain professional employed by a manufacturer or retailer to apply to be a peer voter in its annnual Supply Chain Top 25 ranking.
  
• The right approach: Manufacturers’ desire for unique business process is spawning more niche-oriented software
  
  Carolyn Heinze, contributing editor, December 13, 2007
  As manufacturers focus more on creating unique business processes as a way of separating themselves from the competition, software vendors are responding with solutions that address specific user needs. 
  
  
• Lean front-end: Sundyne streamlines sales process with BigMachines configurator
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, December 13, 2007
  Sundyne Corp., an Arvada, Colo.-based manufacturer of industrial pumps and compressors, needed to speed up the process of generating sales quotes for its products, and found the solution with BigMachines, a provider of Web-based configuration and quoting software.
  
• All systems go: Baldwin Filters ensures its computer systems run as smoothly as its production equipment
  
  Bruce Boyers, December 13, 2007
  Baldwin Filters, a Kearny, Neb.-based manufacturer of air, oil, fuel, and hydraulic filters primarily for industrial vehicles, is ramping up an OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) program. It also is taking steps to ensure that the computer systems that support its plant operations are as finely tuned as its production equipment. 
  
  
• A family affair: SYSPRO unveils another “pragmatic” inventory optimization solution
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, December 12, 2007
  Midmarket ERP software supplier SYSPRO is continuing its campaign to offer what it terms “pragmatic” solutions with the release of a new inventory optimization module. The company says the newly unveiled Families and Groupings module is the second in a series of three solutions that will be known as the SYSPRO Inventory Optimization Suite.
  
  
• Quick benefits: Lawson says pre-configured, industry-specific software is driving fast ROI
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, December 12, 2007
  Lawson Software says two candy manufacturers are among the companies that have realized a fast return-on-investment by adopting the year-old QuickStep versions of the Lawson ERP system. Lawson introduced its first QuickStep offering in November 2006. The company now has five such solutions catering to food & beverage producers, apparel manufacturers, distribution companies, hospitals, and asset-reliant companies.
  
  
  
• Plant security: Invensys and Integralis protecting process manufacturers from cyber threats
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, December 12, 2007
  Invensys Process Systems, a provider of process control technology, will offer 24/7 global network security monitoring and management through a partnership with Integralis, a global supplier of managed security services.
  
  
• IBM delivers on RFID focus with global study; solutions rollouts
  
  Frank O Smith, senior contributing editor, December 12, 2007
  IBM centered its RFID efforts in automotive and aerospace closely in 2007 on advancing three global customer cases selected from a list of more than a dozen scenarios involving users worldwide. The three areas deemed to have the greatest opportunity and value include reusable container management, yard management, and work-in-process (WIP) tracking.
  
  
• Belgian manufacturer achieves rapid post-merger BI integration
  
  Malcolm Wheatley, senior contributing editor, Brussels, Belgium, December 12, 2007
  Bart Cousin, business intelligence solutions executive at British American Tobacco Belgium, has overseen implementation of an enterprise data management solution from Kalido that essentially yielded a futureproof, flexible data warehouse that accommodates numerous systems data feeds to generate consolidated post-merger reports. Kalido is ensuring compatibility during an ongoing SAP convergence program.
  
• Keystone Dental picks up IFS ERP for business growth
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, December 12, 2007
  Keystone anticipates gaining the ability to work more closely with its suppliers through personalized e-commerce portals, efficiently control its inventory, and confidently meet FDA requirements.
  
  
• Digital manufacturing alliance: Rockwell and Dassault teaming on virtual design and production solutions 
  
  Kevin Parker, Editorial Director, December 11, 2007
  Industrial automation, controls, and plant information solution provider Rockwell Automation and CAD/PLM vendor Dassault Systemes announced a strategic alliance to drive convergence of virtual design and production.
  
• Fitch Ratings: Steel could see margin compression, consolidation in '08
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, December 10, 2007
  While growth in global steel demand is expected to run about 6 percent to 7 percent annually over the next 12 to 18 months, excess production could drag on pricing and further pressure tight raw material markets. Regional variations in pricing and profitability will reemerge given high freight rates and protectionism.
  
• China peaks as largest RFID market
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, December 10, 2007
  RFID vendors had a banner year in China in 2007 due to huge government spending on China’s national ID card program.
  
• Green goal: Johnson Controls sets aggressive GHG reduction target
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, December 10, 2007
  The company plans to achieve this reduction goal through a comprehensive action plan that institutes energy-efficiency solutions in the company's U.S. plants and facilities, processes, and fleet.
  
• ILS links up OPC-UA and native connectivity from industry-standard servers
  
  By Manufacturing Business Technology Staff, December 10, 2007
  deviceWISE Enterprise Edition enables real-time, intelligent data transfers between production controls and the enterprise.