open_source_mes

Open Source Production Scheduling Software: How Does That Work?

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:04:07 GMT

One of the questions some IT managers and shop floor managers ask is, how can production scheduling software be open source? A lot of applications which provide production scheduling capability are far from open source. Ask for access to the inner workings of the software and you'll only receive funny looks or maybe even a sarcastic, "Yeah, right!"

What's even more interesting is when the company developing the software not only opens the software up to you, but also provides training (for a fee) on the inner workings of the software itself, aka the "framework". Some companies not only provide this option but a few, very few indeed, will provide that framework and any necessary modules to your IT people, provide the training, and then allow those new trainees to develop your software themselves.

This is really the best kind of open source production scheduling software.

If you have someone in your organization who is really itching to program something for you and has the maturity level necessary for a major programming project, you may want to consider this kind of professional-grade open source software for them to work with. They'll be happy, your company will have developed something unique to your facility, your IT folks can take care of any bugs or maintenance issues themselves ... what more could you ask for/

Becoming a lean manufacture ... or trying to in this economy.

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:41:41 GMT

What exactly does it mean for a company to become lean? I suppose a better question is how can a company stay lean during a time in which economic turmoil is wrecking havoc on majority of the world’s industries. To stay lean a company must use less input such as man hours, materials, have a reduction of investment in equipment and utilize less warehouse or production space. When companies are able to reduce the amount of labor and spending with out sacrificing their product or charging their customers more, the benefits become obvious. Easier said than done, right?

Some companies are deciding to utilize lean manufacturing software and are noticing an increase in the overall quality of their product because the software is helping them increase their productivity. Some software systems are aiding in the amount of waste that is produced. Let’s take JIT (Just-In-Time) software and use that as an example. This inventory software system can help to eliminate any unnecessary warehouse space that was possibly used to store finished goods or even raw materials.

Of course the benefits of implementing a system will help a company stay consistent and will aid the overall effectiveness of the operations taking place. Because of the use of data collection and analysis, product tracking and production reporting that is available in systems that can be implemented companies have the ability to collect a higher profit.

Here is a list of some of the other software systems that may be beneficial for companies looking to become lean:

-Preventative Maintenance (PM or CMMS): Stay’s on top of machine maintenance to be sure routine tasks are being completed to help reduce equipment break downs.

-Downtime: Combined with preventative maintenance will help any manufacture know which equipment needs attention and will help companies decide whether the machine or one of its mechanisms needs replaced.

I found a few web sites that will help companies who are looking to become lean. The lean manufacturing software portal is a great one with more ideas on how to implement lean practices and it describes how Six Sigma defect tracking can help an organization. Additionally, take a look at the links added in throughout this post, I know you will find them beneficial.

Production Scheduling Software

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:15:25 GMT

Is your organization trying to find something new with production scheduling? In the declining economy many manufactures are starting to use production scheduling software to save them money and time. These systems help manufactures run more productively and efficiently. I came across a few articles a little while ago that were about production and constraint based scheduling. Take a look at www.production-scheduling-systems.com to find some really good articles. Take a look at this page which will take you to a directory for production scheduling. It also includes links to articles and vendors who specialize in this type of software.

Many manufactures are still using excel spreadsheets and other manual forms to schedule their manufacturing process. Some companies simply are not switching to production software because they are not familiar with the systems and what they can do for them.

In general production scheduling software is designed to help reduce and minimize the amount of time lost due to inefficiencies during production. In addition many have the capability of generating realistic and executable production schedules. Costs and time are minimized by assigning production to specific machines and facilities.

Schedules can be designed for employees by directing them to best execute production activities. These activities include production that is assigned to specific machines, the amount of labor used and any additional resources. Additionally, this software gives companies the capability to conduct predictive "what if?" analysis to view what could happen to the system if certain changes were made to the overall schedule.

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:39:14 GMT

Implementing artificial intelligence into a computer system can be a difficult task for many programmers to grasp. Of course then there are those of us who don’t understand artificial intelligence (AI) at all. In a condensed version AI is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science which aims to create it. I would highly recommend doing some research before making any decisions. This article on practical artificial intelligence is very useful in describes in detail how the AI works and the relationship it has with the human mind.

Computers have yet to be designed to perform as specifically as the human mind. However, thinking strategically, in many ways computer systems already exceed some of the capabilities of human thinking can not comprehend. For example, computers have the capability to produce multiple outcomes and different scenarios within minutes or even seconds. The artificial intelligence takes into account multiple different constraints and then searches for the best possible outcome.

AI has begun to move into the manufacturing field and combine with scheduling software. For programmers to combine a scheduling system and AI the AI has to be written for a specific function. Be cautious of the vendors you choose when buying artificial intelligence. Because AI must be tailored for each company, mass producing one system will not help resolve the detailed concerns.

Utilizing AI in your system will help meet customer delivery deadlines, changeover optimization, labor load leveling, overtime reductions, raw materials availability and inventory management. Combining all of these constraints allow AI to have the highest amount of potential for the customer.

Options For Purchasing Software

Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:39:44 GMT

So often when deciding to purchase a new item from something small like a box of cereal to a new vehicle there are multiple options to sort through and see which will be most beneficial for your needs. These same principles apply when looking into purchasing a new software system. Here’s some help.

There are three different types of software that I will explain – canned, customized and tailored. First let’s start with the canned or out-of-the-box systems. Generally there is only one option to choose from with canned systems. These systems have a few benefits starting with implementation. They are purchased for much less than any other type of software system and can be implemented quickly. Unfortunately there is limited ability to change or customize the software for the client. Additionally there are multiple extra screens which employees must work around which will cause wasted time and cause easy procedures to become complicated.

Secondly is the option of purchasing customized software. This software is sometimes known as homemade and is built from the ground up for the client. The company benefits greatly from these systems because they offer the exact functions required of each company for maximum efficiency. However, these systems can take a year or longer to create and can not be easily upgraded. I would also keep in mind these systems cost a significant amount more in terms of development and maintenance.

Last are tailored software systems which are fast track and customized. This type of software can grow as the company grows and will save a substantial amount of time and money. Tailored software takes between 6-8 weeks to manufacture and can grow as a company grows. It can be easily upgraded and modified with out interrupting daily business. Additionally, training is available for IT personnel to learn how to upgrade and change the system.

Tailored systems are designed from a base module and changed to meet the specific requirements of the client. These systems have proven to be more cost and time effective by helping out the company’s bottom line. Tuppas Software offers over 50 different tailored software modules and I would definitely suggest taking a look at them.

Open Source: Is It Right?

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:42:46 GMT

A lot of people have fears about open source software. They're afreaid of security issues, afraid a developer has left a "back door" to get in through later, afraid the software isn't of a good-enough quality for production and mission-critical applications, afraid it will cheapen their environment.

Meanwhile, Apple built its OS X as a variation of the open source operating called BSD, a fork of the UNIX operating system.

As failures mount up against electronic voting machines and the demand for a paper trail increases, proponents of open-source software are suggesting, rather loudly in some cases, that electronic voting machines become open sourse. Security fears immediately mount against such suggestions. But with the right security algorithms, which open-source developers are well aware of, this really isn't an issue ... particularly if others in the open source community are able and willing to double-check these algorithms. These are generally HASH algorithms developed at NIST and are more than robust.

Open source software solutions can certainly be more flexible than boxed or canned solutions because they're constantly under development. They're also easier to upgrade since even a user may have access to the source code. And debugging of problems can be a lot shorter than a closed system from a closed company.

Software from Tuppas Software offers a flexibility that greatly complements its custom tailoring and realtively short development time. And upgrading and problem-solving are also just a phone call or email away.

More internet browsing...

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:13:42 GMT

I had really wanted to add these other links into my blog yesterday, but unfortunately I was short on time. So I'm going to pick up today where I left off.

There is an ASP blog that originally started out as a blog discussing what ASP means. It basically covers just about everything from Production Scheduling software to ERP as well as talking about ASP and the benefits of using SaaS.

Production Scheduling has articles about why Production Scheduling software is important in manufacturing, why web based software is beneficial, SaaS within Production Scheduling and Lean manufacturing.

Another very interesting blog is the Tuppas blog. This blog is very up to date with what manufacturers needs and wants are. The last two articles discuss TQM and KPI. I believe that KPI has been around for some time now, however I know that TQM is a fairly new acronym and is an up and coming collection of modules that manufacturers are going to require.

Just take a few minutes out of your day and read up on some of the latest blogs having to do with Manufacturing software.

Look at these other blogs I found for Manufacturing Software...

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:59:48 GMT

I have been doing a lot of internet browsing lately and have come across some very interesting blogs. They all have been extremely informational and helpful for me since I am fairly new at Manufacturing and Software. These have supplied me with much needed information. Please take some time to read them as I feel that they will be highly beneficial to you as well.

Manufacturing ERP discusses MRP and ERP. What is the purpose of having one of these systems? What to look for when purchasing an MRP or ERP. It also talks about the use of Thin Client software and why it is beneficial.

Agile Manufacturing Software discusses similar topics as the site above, only with a bit more of a personal twist. It is written by a programmer and it chronicles his working adventures with different projects that he is juggling. It talks about CRM, Scheduling, ERP, MRP, Bar Coding and of course Thin Client.

Total Quality Management (TQM) which is a fairly new acronym and not commonly used or understood, is discussed in this blog. It explains in detail why TQM is important in every area of a business, internally and externally.

Also, since we left off on the topic of TQM please look at this site for some more information on the subject.

Discrete Manufacturing MES

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 13:32:40 GMT

If you are looking for an MES (Manufacturing Execution System) for discrete manufacturing, look no further! Tuppas Software has just what you need! They have developed agile, web based systems with a wide variety of MES modules like production performance reporting with downtime, efficiency, scrap and production scheduling.

Aside from the vast flexibility that Tuppas offers on the MES level, they also have extensive configurability in their corporate systems. They also have a lot of experience implementing CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems into their integrated software systems.

If you are a smaller manufacturing company and are concerned with cost, Tuppas offers SaaS (Software as a Service). They charge a monthly fee, which is cost effective by not having to purchasing the software outright. A few advantages to using SaaS are free and easy upgrades, shorter development and implementation phases, as well as a reduced risk in budget planning. Tuppas also allows their customers to tailor their software to better suit their business needs!

Check out these other sites:

Agile Software
ERP Software
Manufacturing ERP
Manufacturing Solutions
Production Scheduling Solutions
TQM
Thin Client Software
SaaS
Open Source Software Solutions
Manufacturing Accounting Software
Manufacturing CIO
Manufacturing CEO
Manufacturing CFO
Advanced Manufacturing Technology

MES

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:17:07 GMT

MES (Manufacturing Execution System) solutions gather production related data from numerous sources. These can be PLC’s (Programmable Logic Controls), sensors, employee input, hand-held devices and other software systems. Manufacturing Execution Systems are designed to manage and oversee quality parameters, supply real time information to machines and personnel needed to perform daily production activities, establish effective communication between machines and personnel within the production facility, as well as improving communication with suppliers, customers, engineers, sales and management.

The goal of an MES is to boost quality, improve consistency and increase productivity. A few benefits to having an MES are:

• Reducing manufacturing cycle times
• Improved visibility and tracking of production
• Improved traceability and genealogy of produced goods
• Improved quality and reduced defects
• Improving gross margins, cash flow
• Improved turn-around times
• Integration with ERP and existing processes
• Reduced inventory levels
• Improved inventory turnover

Concerned about cost? Find a software company that offers SaaS (Software as a Service). Tuppas Software offers SaaS. They charge a monthly fee, which is cost effective by not purchasing the software outright. A few advantages to using SaaS are free and easy upgrades, shorter development and implementation phases, plus there is a reduced risk in budget planning. Tuppas also allows their customers to customize their software to better suit their business needs!

Open Source ERP Software

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 22:57:17 GMT

Open Source ERP Software provides the benefit of allowing IT personnel to tailor the structure, interfaces and reports. Such systems offer a basic system structure with an open source (this means the the programming is available for internal modifications) and tend to be inexpensive. The benefits include the ability for programmers to mold the ERP system to to their company's specifications.

The main problem with open source software is that any modifications are deleted upon upgrading the system to the newest version. This means that all the tailored screens need to be rewritten to merge with the new technology. Fortunately, innovative software companies have developed higher quality open source ERP software with the benefits of editable software without the negative consequences that often arise.

One company that offers an innovative solution is ShopFloorReporting (SFR) - www.ShopFloorReporting.com. SFR has developed a thin client system that runs through browsers and was designed to be configured by the SFR team or those trained to use the framework. SFR designed a proprietary model framework with model-driven architecture (MDA). MDA differentiates tailored interfaces and reports from the software's main files, so upgrades to the system do not override the modifications. The result is a agile system that allows progressive continuous improvement efforts to be enhanced by a company’s ERP solution.

Open Source CRM

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 22:50:02 GMT

Open source software offers many benefits by allowing programmers to modify the structure. Also many packages are generally rudimentary and therefore are sold at a lower price. Talented programmers can transform the base structure of an open software CRM system to fit their company’s needs.

One problem with open source software is that such modifications are erased when upgrades take place. Open source CRM is the most beneficial to companies that have a proactive IT department. Without support, open source software often fails upon implimentation. New generations of software provide the benefits of open source software without the negative qualities. Tailored software merges the gap between open source and canned software.

Tuppas Software - www.Tuppas.com - is a browser-based, thin client system that was designed to allow rapid modifications to it's structure. Click here to learn more about Tuppas's CRM systems. Tuppas utilizes a proprietary model driven architecture. Model driven architecture isolates tailored interfaces from the software's language, so one can upgrade the system without overriding the personalized modifications. This provides a solution that Tuppas or a client’s IT department can augment without the need to redesign when upgrades are needed.

Open Source Production Scheduling Software (Pros vs. Cons)

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:43:24 GMT

Open source software has many pros and cons. Based on your company’s requirements the scale can greatly differentiate whether or not you would benefit from an open source production scheduling system. The pros of an open source production scheduling system are very simple. Your ability to change and innovate your software provides better use of your time, which in turn helps you outperform your competition. By purchasing open source production scheduling software, you are avoiding many potential internal costs that would occur during the creation and implementation process.

Some downfalls of open source production scheduling software are as follows. The development cycle is longer than if you had purchased a canned software system however, you are able to make your production scheduling software work for you. Every few years if you have a canned software system you will be forced to upgrade your software. If you have open source software, when technology changes take occur, your software will need to be rewritten; unless you have an open source production scheduling system with a company like Tuppas Software, who uses MDA (Model Driven Architecture).

Tuppas Software offers the best of both worlds, cost effective yet configurable production scheduling software. With MDA, Tuppas offers separation of your custom business logic from the user interface. This allows you to upgrade every 7-10 years without rewriting custom business procedures. This can be a huge financial relief as well as preventing many hours of unnecessary work. Tuppas can create the software you want, the way you want it.

Open Source Software (Pros vs. Cons)

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:30:16 GMT

Open source software has many pros and cons. Depending on your company’s needs the scale can greatly differentiate whether or not you would benefit from an open source MES (Manufacturing Execution System) or ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system. The pros of an open source software system are very simple. Your ability to innovate and alter your software creates better utilization of your time, which in turn helps you outperform your competition. By purchasing open source software, you are eliminating many potential in-house costs that would occur during the creation and implementation stages.

Some slightly negative aspects of open source software is that the development cycle is longer than purchasing canned software. However, you are able to make your software work for you. Every few years if you have a canned software system you will be forced to upgrade. If you have open source software, when technology changes occur, your software will need to be rewritten. Unless of course you have an open source system with a company like Tuppas Software, who uses MDA (Model Driven Architechture).

Tuppas Software offers the best of both worlds. Cost efficient yet tailorable software. With MDA, Tuppas offers separation of your custom business logic from its user interface. This allows you to upgrade every 7-10 years without rewriting custom procedures. This can be a huge savings not only from a financial aspect, but also in human effort.