Page 18 - MetalForming-Apr-2018-issue

Software for Manufacturing
Digital Transformation Is Objective of Lantek-Balliu Collaboration
Lantek, a Spain-based sheetmetal software solutions provider, has announced a collaboration with Balliu, a Belgian manufacturer of laser-cutting machines, to help metalformers achieve digital transformation (Industry 4.0).
The anticipated high level of connectivity and integration from the effort reportedly will provide a large amount of data while allowing manufacturers to see production needs in real time, anticipate possible errors and carry out more efficient maintenance. The tangible benefits of having connected factories include cost reductions and productivity and efficiency gains.
supply of orders is provided for each resource—employee or machine—for processing in the specified sequence.
“The rapid changes we are experiencing make it necessary to carry out this digital transition in collaboration with firms that have the necessary knowledge to develop and implement the appropriate technology,” says Francisco Pérez, director of Lantek’s OEM channel.
Purchasing agents can order material and outsource in ProLeis, and integrate suppliers in data management via the vendor interface. All parts are ready on time at the machine and in the assembly area before manufacturing begins.
“The digital transformation of our customers is the challenge that will keep us occupied in the coming years,” says Alberto Martínez, CEO of Lantek. “Our commitment to growth and to supporting our customers in the process of digitalization has led us to invest an additional 1.6 million euros (nearly $2 million) during 2017 in research and development, as well as in our implementation and project-development teams.”
Lantek: www.lanteksms.com; Balliu: www.balliu.be
Employees in design, manufacturing and programming can use the MES to manage all data and approvals. The system’s flexibility enables changes such as rush orders or modifications to be included at any time.
Tebis America: www.tebis.com
Manufacturing Execution System for Single-Part Manufacturing
The implementation of Global Shop Solutions’ (GSS) ERP software by Load King, a builder of store fixtures, enables the company to function as a manufacturer of the future. The software enables Load King to interface with nearly 20 different software packages while eliminating the need for almost 50 spread sheets. Once a recurring struggle, the company no longer struggles with job-costing capabilities.
Tebis America, Troy, MI, has announced that the ProLeis manufacturing execution system (MES) now is available as a Tebis product, with ProLeis acting as a new business unit under the name Tebis ProLeis GmbH.
“Before implementation of this software, Load King was only able to cost out projects three months after the fact,” explains Daniel Carranco, project manager for The Woodlands, TX–based GSS. “Now it goes down to the component level and can launch lean initiatives all over the shop floor to improve processes in a matter of hours. This was made possible because of the integration with SolidWorks CAD software by Dassault Systèmes and the use of Global Shop Solutions BOM Compare software.”
ProLeis provides comprehensive data-management, manu- facturing-planning and manufacturing-control functions that enable effective control of all individual parts for dies and injection molds, from quotation to the finished product. This is important as the complexity of single-part manufacturing in die manufacturing requires end-to-end production solutions that connect all participants, from project managers all the way to external suppliers. With this MES, project managers quickly can check during pre-planning to determine whether proposed projects can be processed and required delivery dates met. The MES also provides users with a clear understanding of all processes, provided by overviews of milestones, degrees of completion for dies and resource assignment.
Another issue experienced by Load King before the imple- mentation had been its “accountability through the entire parts process when assembling a kiosk,” says Ken Carella, director of manufacturing and supply for Load King. He says that the company would repeatedly have one part, or multiple parts, not make it to final assembly, causing chaos on the floor and the need for the numerous spreadsheets mentioned earlier. That’s in the past. In fact, the switch to the GSS Shop Floor Display and Document Control software has enabled Load King to reduce the time it spends on assembling kiosks from a few days to only 1 hr., says Carella.
Once planners, project schedulers and those responsible for manufacturing create more detailed project plans, ProLeis offers tools to organize and control capacity. All manufacturing steps for the individual parts are defined and scheduled using standardized planning templates. Once planning completes, a
Global Shop Solutions: www.globalshopsolutions.com
16 MetalForming/April 2018
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ERP Software Streamlines Functions for Store-Fixture Manufacturer