What Is MES (Manufacturing Execution System)? MES (Manufacturing Execution System) is a software system that executes the production plan coming from the ERP on the factory floor, collects real-time data from machines and operators, and shows the current state of production at any moment. It fills the gap between planning and the machine; it brings […]
What Is 3D Factory Visualization? 3D factory visualization is the creation of a production plant’s layout as a three-dimensional model on which live data such as machine status, downtime and production quantity are shown with colours and labels. The goal is to take production data out of tables and lists and make it readable together
What Is 5S? 5S is a lean manufacturing method named after the initials of five Japanese words, aimed at making the workplace orderly, clean, safe and standardised. Its steps are Seiri (sort), Seiton (set in order), Seiso (shine), Seiketsu (standardise) and Shitsuke (sustain); the goal is to reduce waste and make abnormalities visible. In brief
What Are the 7 Wastes (Muda)? The 7 wastes (Muda) are a classification in lean manufacturing that defines seven basic types of loss that consume resources without creating value for the customer: overproduction, waiting, transport, overprocessing, inventory, unnecessary motion and defects. Muda means “waste” in Japanese; this set of seven was defined in the Toyota
What Is 8D Problem Solving? 8D (Eight Disciplines) is an eight-step structured problem-solving method that aims to solve recurring or customer-facing quality problems permanently, through teamwork and by getting to the root cause. Each step has a defined output, and the process ends when the solution is verified with data to have actually worked. In
What Is a Smart Factory? A smart factory is a production plant where machines, sensors, software systems and people are connected, production data is collected and analysed in real time, and decisions are supported by that data or made automatically. It is the concrete, factory-scale form of the Industry 4.0 vision; what sets it apart
What Are the Six Big Losses? The Six Big Losses is a classification model from Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) that divides the losses lowering a machine’s OEE into six categories: breakdowns, setup and adjustment, minor stops, reduced speed, scrap during production and startup losses. Every two losses correspond to one OEE component, so a drop
How Is MES Used in Packaging Manufacturing? In packaging manufacturing, MES is the manufacturing execution system that tracks production by reel or pack across successive lines such as printing, lamination, cutting, slitting and forming, measures setup and startup scrap separately, and keeps every job traceable to its customer order. The defining traits of the sector
What Is Andon? Andon, Japanese for “lantern”, is a lean manufacturing and visual management system that makes a problem on the production line (breakdown, quality defect, missing material) instantly visible through lights, sound or a screen and calls the right people for help. Its purpose is to ensure the problem is noticed the moment it
What Is APS (Advanced Planning and Scheduling)? APS (Advanced Planning and Scheduling) is a planning approach that places production orders on a timeline while considering machine, mould, personnel and material constraints at the same time. What sets it apart from classic planning is that it works with finite capacity and produces a schedule that can
