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New Product: Brooks Software enhances FACTORYworks to interoperate at enterprise-level on Windows |
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Sep 18, 2006 at 04:04 PM |
 Product Briefing Outline: Brooks Software, a division of Brooks Automation, has added a wide range of new functionality to its manufacturing execution system (MES) applications. ‘FACTORYworks', its core MES offering, has been enhanced significantly and is now available on the Microsoft Windows platform. ‘300works', an MES offering for highly-automated fabs has also been enhanced. The new functionality will, according to the company, improve productivity and make it easier to interoperate with enterprise-level applications.
Problem: Intelligent and interoperable plant floor
applications are a requirement for today's manufacturers. Discrete
manufacturers are looking for competitive advantage through improved
performance across their global supply networks. The semiconductor
industry has proven that full-featured MES solutions are critical to
achieving the level of productivity required to effectively manage
complex plant floor operations and drive bottom-line profitability.
Solution:
Brooks has been working with Microsoft to extend the key FACTORYworks
functionality to the ‘Windows' technology platform to help customers
lower their total cost of ownership and integrate more easily - without
compromising on performance, security and reliability. Using the
Microsoft ‘Windows' platform helps manufacturers to gain significant
real-time visibility into their plant floor operations, while
maintaining operational performance. The new Work Order Management
module allows manufacturers to create a production work order directly
from customer order information contained in the ERP system. When used
in conjunction with the EI Hub, the Work Order Management module
maintains real time connectivity to the ERP system. The MBOM module
defines where the parts will be consumed in the manufacturing process
(the build profile), stores as-built configurations (ABC) and tracks
the entire component genealogy through the manufacturing process. The
Inventory Management module allows the ERP system to pass
bills-of-material to the MES, thereby eliminating duplicate manual
entry. The inventory module tracks consumable material on the shop
floor. Nonconformance for Manufacturing module creates issues and
tracks all nonconforming work in process (WIP), inventory and MBOM
throughout the manufacturing process. A web-based client with a
powerful workflow engine allows operators to place material on hold
until a disposition is issued. The integration of ‘Business Objects'
reporting tool technology allows users to create detailed, drill-down
reports based on their top key performance indicators (KPIs).
Applications: 200mm and 300mm fabs.
Platform:
FACTORYworks now incorporates an industry standard message bus based on
JMS. JMS reduces the costs of integrating disparate systems through its
open standard interface and supports existing IT systems and new
technologies such as J2EE and .NET.
Availability: July 2006 onwards.
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Product Briefings 
