What are the advantages of an independent integrator? Are the required skills only limited to the knowledge of a MES solution?
As the concept of “Industry 4.0” is slowly integrated into the industrial world, companies are equipping themselves with MES solutions. However, the evolution in industrially-oriented Information Systems, notably by the advantages brought by the 4.0 concept in terms of business challenges, user experience, and technology, goes against the usual approach in terms of choice and integration of market solutions. A global view of the Information System appears as a necessity, excluding the sole need for a solution competence. In line with these advances, and as soon as he is able to step back and see the big picture, and also has a wide knowledge and range of skills, the independent integrator is successful whereas others would fail. As a result, he can set up in the heart of the project both to interpret the needs of the business and as an Information Systems architect and advisor accompanying the sometimes significant changes necessary. This means he has a total commitment to a successful integration!
Bringing added value and an optimized installation by the deadline: the key requirements influencing implementation strategies.
With the foreseeable investment, the company directors have specific requirements with respect to the value-added nature of the system, the respect of the integration deadline and consequently the ROI (return on investment).
These requirements naturally influence the solution selection approach and its implementation. But would a more economic solution be one suitably adapted to ever-changing needs? Would it necessarily be faster and more easily integrated in an Information System which is also in continuous evolution?
Above and beyond the certainly important choice of the solution, it is also clear as to the importance of the integration process. And for the latter point, wouldn’t an independent integrator be the best equipped to offer the necessary service and accompaniment?
The MES integrator: The role of “orchestra conductor” at the heart of the project.
With a central role in the heart of the project, the MES integrator must provide a refined methodology that fulfills the key objectives:
- Delivering an intuitive and user-friendly solution: moving on from the man-machine interface, now is the time for user experience through ergonomics and an adapted design which helps support the change by a better appropriation by the users/operators;
- Delivering a solution adapted to the objectives and needs: it is essential to privilege short and collaborative cycles. The incremental integration of packages (or « quick win ») hides the well-known perverse effects of the « big bang » (lack of visibility, little anticipation, requires all the effort and energy of the business actors, costly adaptations, etc.).
- Delivering the best standard solution possible: the maturity and wealth of MES solutions on the market today enable an approach which is more and more « zero specific development ». To this effect, the choice of the solution will be important. But beyond that, the organization of the Design phase will be decisive and will require a real savoir-faire by the Integrator, know-how that will not only lie in in-depth knowledge of the MES solution.
- Delivering a robust and long-lasting solution: administration, exploitation, maintenance and cyber-security are major preoccupations to be taken into account in the project phase
By combining all these conditions, the human and financial cost associated with the integration of an MES solution will remain sustainable without ever compromising the stakes of the project.
Putting the MES solution at the heart of an ambitious industrial project with an « Industry of the future » orientation and with objectives related to « Operational Excellence » gives to the integrator a role similar to that of an orchestra conductor. As project manager, he is engaged above and beyond the implementation of the MES solution by piloting and coordinating the project. Gifted with the necessary technical and functional expertise of the MES solution, he is the ideal coordinator between the different business teams and the IT representatives. He is a source of proposals to accompany the evolution of the business processes, and to bring the business teams together around the standard features of the solution. His global vision of the industrial Information System provides him with the necessary knowledge for the best integration of the MES solution in the Information System by the design of appropriate interfaces.
With his proven methods for running projects, the MES integrator knows how to bring flexibility and professionalism in order to efficiently pilot a project while constantly respecting the 3 founding pillars for integration: the quality of the deliverables – the respect of the planning – the respect of the budgets.
The SPC Group’s added value for your MES project
The MES expertise pole is firmly rooted in the SPC Group strategy which is itself centered on the issues involved in digital transformation. This historical activity has been concretized by the successful completion of numerous projects.
This significant experience makes SPC a major independent actor in the francophone MES market.
SPC has worked with various business domains : Life Sciences, food and beverage, chemistry, energy, discrete manufacturing, etc. and in integration contexts as diverse as:
- Interfacing ERP (SAP, JDE, MOVEX, ORACLE, MICROSOFT, etc.),
- Interfacing LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System)
- Interfacing QMS (Quality Management System)
- Interfacing EDMS (Electronic Document Management)
- Or interfacing Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) software for example.
- Etc.
With its expertise in accompanying digital transformation in Manufacturing, our Group knows how to bring a global approach aiming at completing the integration of the MES solution using « tools » that enrich the digital approach and mainly the concern of a successful digital continuity : analysis tools, equipement connectivity , etc. or through 4.0 technologies able to support this digital footprint including voice recognition, mobility, augmented reality, etc.
Our strong team of more than 30 consultants dedicated to production Information Systems, is composed of people with dual competence. This team has advanced skills in a large number of major market solutions such as Aspen InfoPlus21 (ASPENTECH), AVEVA MES (AVEVA – WONDERWARE), PI (AVEVA – OSIsoft), Werum PAS-X (KORBER), Shopfloor-Online (LIGHTHOUSE), Plateforme IoT Thingworx (PTC), FactoryTalk PharmaSuite (ROCKWELL Automation), SIMATIC IT – SIMATIC IT eBR (SIEMENS). These skills are recognized by most editors, a large number of whom have been our partners for many years.
Its know-how as an MES integrator, SPC knows how to apply it in compliance with relevant standards (ISA Standards) and in regulated business contexts: GxP in particular. Our references attest to this.
Our teams, trained in these standards and aware of the expectations of these different regulations, have proven methodologies at their disposal that meet their respective requirements.
BEYOND PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
Finally, because an MES project is not limited to the implementation of a software solution of this type, SPC knows how to enrich its integration offer :
- a savoir-faire in terms of converging business processes notably in a multi-site context;
- a savoir-faire in the rationalization and optimization of MBR (Master Batch Records) design;
- IT skills notably connected to the automation layer and equipment connectivity (OPC-UA, IoT, etc.);
- a savoir-faire in accompanying the changes from start to finish;
- an offer of third-party applications maintenance where you will find the competence, responsiveness, ability to listen, and the quality that we bring in the project phase.
Our team is ready to accompany you in your Production process digitalization project. Come and discover our competence in this domain!
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