Thursday, November 17, 2011

MESA North America Metrics Makeover Success!

The MESA North America Metrics Make-over was a success! The team presented the accomplishments at the North America MESA Conference, followed by an active question and answer session. Real-time Production KPIs were shown to provide tangible value, and the linkage between these metrics and Financial metrics was demonstrated. Key learning’s included:
  • Maximize MES or shop floor systems to track key manufacturing KPIs and improve operational performance

  • Use ERP (or other financial systems) to track and report financial data by operation in as much detail as possible

  • Analyze and determine correlation between operations and financial performance to find key manufacturing KPI linkage to business drivers

  • Start small in one operation or area and grow from there

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

New MESA Bookstore on Amazon

New MESA Bookstore on Amazon: http://astore.amazon.com/m04ab-20. Purchase MESA-recommended books. Contact books@mesa.org or post here to recommend additional books!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

North American Makeover team overcomes hurdle

As with most projects, unforeseen issues arise during project startup and our makeover was no exception. Determining the initial scope was the first hurdle we encountered. After reviewing the entire process, we decided to focus the scope onto a single high impact process step. By doing this we will be able to focus on a set of Critical Process Parameters (CPP's) that can indeed drive business improvement and success.

We have assembled a strong cross functional team with operations, finance and management (for oversight) and this is a key to project success. Our makeover mission is to ensure that operators know the impact of CPP’s on the process and more importantly that management has the tools to tie the right CPP’s to financial results.

Next up is an example of cross functional analysis and how it can help the business as a whole.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Metrics Make-over Contest Winner Moving Forward After Initial Success

Cormetech, Inc. of Durham, North Carolina, the winner of the Metrics Make-over Contest, has hosted their kick off meeting with Alta Via Consulting and Rockwell Automation. With an MES system already in place and initial success realized, there is now an on-going effort of continuous improvement and decision support. This next phase is focusing on linking Cormetech operations and financial metrics to create accurate and timely cost and management information. Learn more at www.MESA.org, at the North American MESA Conference in Florida, the European MESA Conference in Jaarbeurs, Utrcht, The Netherlands and from upcoming MESA white papers.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

The MESA International Board of Directors has approved a major expansion of the MESA Global Education Program. We are now in the process of planning new dates in Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Singapore in the second half of 2011,– in addition to our existing countries. While we plan the next set of program dates, you can still earn your own MESA Certificate of Awareness or Certificate of Competency and join this exclusive group. The program instructs Manufacturers, Producers and Solution Providers on how to marry the power of modern Information Technologies (IT) and the process / project rigor to implement them with your operational expertise to unlock the potential within your Operations.

Why Attend?
The MESA Global Education Program aggressively addresses the knowledge gap around practically applying modern IT solutions in your plants and across your enterprise. This knowledge gap is the primary barrier to growth of the Operations Management (MES/MOM) arena. Slowing that growth inhibits the realization of the significant gains available to end users who successfully embrace MES/MOM. So, End User Manufacturers/Producers and Solution Providers alike have reason to attend these programs. Which Program? MESA’s Certificate of Competency (CoC) and Certificate of Awareness (CoA) educational programs combine training materials from a broad spectrum of relevant subject matters and courses into a single learning event. Events vary in length of class time and depth of knowledge sharing of each course, as programs are tailored to their intended audience.

Certificate of Competency (CoC) Programs are geared toward Systems Analysts, Architects, Programmers, Project Managers and Consultants

Certificate of Awareness (CoA) Programs cater to executives, manufacturing/operations and IT personnel and sales professionals.

Program overviews, detailed abstracts, and schedules with registration information are online at: www.mesa.org/educationprogram

Friday, February 11, 2011

MESA Explains MES Training and Certification Program

MESA International, the association of practitioners and suppliers of manufacturing enterprise solutions, has begun a training and certification program. To learn more, the association has scheduled live training on the Web in an open forum manner.

This open forum Webinar will explain the program highlights and answer your questions, such as:

- What is the difference between the Certificate of Awareness and Certificate of Competency?
- Who should attend and why?
- What is the value of the Certificates to me?
- How much will it cost and where are the programs held?
- Do you have a brief overview of the contents?
- Will there be an e-learning program?
- Who is MESA?

Title: What is the MESA Global Education Program all about?
Date: Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
Register here.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

MESA 2011 Conferences Announced

MESA International today announced the dates for its 2011 Conferences. The North American Conference will be held Sept. 19 to 21 at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld in Orlando, Fla., and the European Conference will be held Nov. 8 to 10 at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, Netherlands. With the theme, “Cloudy with a Chance for Profits,” both conferences will provide attendees with a forum to network with peers and exchange strategies to drive real-time operations excellence.

Today’s fast-paced global economy significantly reduces the predictability of the supply chain environment, said John Southcott, chair, MESA International. “By increasing real-time visibility, companies can gain better control of production and more aggressively influence the cost, quality and profitability of their operations. The 2011 Conferences will address these challenges and showcase best practices for how companies are applying technology and processes to help them improve operations and drive profitability.”

MESA has also opened the call for presenters for both conferences. The call for presenters submission form for both events is available here. Interested presenters are encouraged to submit a proposed presentation title and a 250- to 300-word abstract for consideration by February 18. Speakers will be selected and notified by March 1.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

More Info on MESA Training on manufacturing operations management

MESA International, an international organization promoting best practices in manufacturing execution systems (MES) and manufacturing operations management (MOM), is launching two programs this year in a series of forums that are offering MES/MOM Methodology Certificate of Competency (CoC) and MES/MOM Methodology Certificate of Awareness (CoA).

Much of the training materials are derived from the ISA-95 Best Practices Working Group’s 20 Methodology Papers and the MESA Guidebooks. This new book published by the International Society of Automation (ISA), "When Worlds Collide in Manufacturing Operations: ISA-95 Best Practices Book 2.0," is derived from the papers. The book's outline is:

Chapter 1: Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) for Manufacturing Overview
Chapter 2: Data Architecture for MOM: The Manufacturing Master Data Approach
Chapter 3: Building a Manufacturing Transformation Strategy with ISA-95 Methods
Chapter 4: Work Process Management for Adaptive Manufacturing
Chapter 5: B2MML, Integration Patterns, and Data Mapping
Chapter 6: Integration of Manufacturing Intelligence with MOM
Chapter 7: Lifecycle of Service Creation using the ISA-95 MOM
MESA MES/MOM Methodologies Program: MESA Certificate of Competency (CoC, 4 Days)

This MESA CoC Program is a comprehensive program of MES/MOM Methodologies courses in a 4 Day Curriculum for MES/MOM Consultants, System Analysts, Architects, Programmers, and Project Managers.

CoC Program Courses Overview:
1. Manufacturing Operations Models and Integration Standards (3 hours)
2. The Role of MES/MOM System in Continuous Improvement and the Collaborative Pull Supply Chain (2 hours)
3. Manufacturing Transformation Strategy: Maturity and Roadmap Modeling(3 hour)
4. Metric Framework for Enterprise Manufacturing Intelligence (EMI): Aligning Financial and Operations Metrics (4 hours)
5. MES/MOM System Justification and ROI Assessment (4 hours)
6. MES/MOM SOW, RFP and Product Evaluation Method (4 hours)
7. Manufacturing 2.0 Architecture Overview (SOA for Manufacturing) (4 hours)
8. MES/MOM Implementation and Governance: MES/MOM System Requirement Specifications, GAMP and Industrial System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Methods (4 hours)
9. MES/MOM Project Management Techniques (4 hours)
MESA MES/MOM Business Function Program: MESA Certificate of Awareness (CoA, 2 Days)

A MESA CoA Program is a high-level program of the MES/MOM Business Function courses in a 2 Day Curriculum for Executives, IT Professionals, and Manufacturing Professionals are short courses. These short courses are high-level versions of the 4 hour courses in the MES/MEM Methodology CoC Program.
CoA Program Courses
1. Strategic Relationships between MES/MOM, ERP, PLM, Supply Chain, BPM and Automation Initiatives (2 hours)
2. Market Requirement for Adaptive MES/MOM Systems based on Industry Standards (2 hours)
3. Manufacturing Transformation Strategy: Maturity and Roadmap Modeling (1 hour)
4. Justifying Manufacturing Operations System to Business Leaders (3 hours)
5. The Role of MES/MOM Systems in Continuous Improvement and the Collaborative Pull Supply Chain (1 hour)
6. Metric Framework for Enterprise Manufacturing Intelligence (EMI): Aligning Financial and Operations Metrics (2 hours)
7. The Influence of Management Philosophy on MES/MOM Deployment and Governance (2 hours)
8. Choose the Right Solution: MES/MOM SOW, RFP and Product Evaluation Methods (2 hours)
9. MES/MOM Project Management Techniques (1 hours)

More information can be found on the Web here.

Course dates and locations are:
Chicago: CoC, March 7-11; CoA; March 14-15, 16-17
Sydney, Australia: CoC, April 5-8; CoA April 11-12.
Melbourne, Australia: CoA, April 14-15; CoC, April 18-21.
Philadelphia, PA: CoC, April 5-8; CoA, April 11-12
San Francisco, CA: CoA, May 5-6; CoC, May 9-12
Johannesburg, South Africa: CoC, May 4-7; CoA, May 11-12
Toronto/Mississauga, CN: CoC, May 31-June 3; 2 CoA. June 6-9
Copenhagen: COA, April 7-8
Haarlem, Netherlands: CoA, March 7 & 8
Nuneaton, UK: CoA, 28 Feb & Mar 1
Nuneaton, UK: CoC, 14-17 June

"When Worlds Collide in Manufacturing Operations: ISA-95 Best Practices Book 2.0," by Charlie Gifford, Editor and Contributing Author. ISA member price is $99.00, while non-members can purchase it for $109.00. Information can be found on the Web.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

MESA Global Education Program Launches

Important initiative addresses knowledge gap in Operations Management field globally

MESA International announced the launch of the MESA Global Education Program, delivering independent competency training in the MES/MOM (Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions/Manufacturing Operations Management) arena. The program aims to remove the recognized lack of wide-scale MES/MOM competency as a barrier to plant and supply chain optimization and global operations excellence.

With members in 78 countries, MESA is an independent, objective community of like-minded enterprises and people working to make Operations more reliable, capable and profitable. The MESA Global Education Program offers Certificate of Competency and Certificate of Awareness programs on different subjects and audiences. The initial programs offered focus on MES/MOM Methodologies and Business Awareness.

MESA Certificate of Competency (CoC): MES/MOM Methodologies – a 4-day, comprehensive program of MES/MOM Methodologies courses aimed at Systems Analysts, Architects, Programmers, Project Managers and Consultants.

MESA Certificate of Awareness (CoA): MES/MOM Business Awareness – a 2-day, high-level program of MES/MOM Business Functions courses geared for executives, manufacturing/operations and IT personnel and sales professionals.

Check here for course abstracts, schedules and registration information.

Locations MES/MOM Methodologies 4-day Certificate of Competency (CoC) MES/MOM Business Functions 2-day Certificate of Awareness (CoA)
Nuneaton United Kingdom June 14 – 17 February 28 – March 1
Haarlem The Netherlands March 7 – 8
Copenhagen Denmark April 7 – 8
Johannesburg South Africa May 4 – 7 May 11 – 12
Sydney Australia April 5 – 8 April 11 – 12
Melbourne Australia April 18 – 21 April 14 – 15
Chicago U.S.A. March 8 – 11 March 14 – 15, March 16 – 17
Philadelphia U.S.A. April 5 – 8 April 11 – 12, April 13 – 14
San Francisco U.S.A. May 9 – 12 May 3 – 4, May 5 – 6
Toronto/Mississauga Canada May 31 – June 3 June 6 – 7, June 8 – 9

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

MESA Best Practices Working Group Releases White Paper

In industrial batch/continuous production environments, production scheduling is concerned with allocating resources such as tanks, reactors and other processing equipment to production tasks. Scheduling determines what product is to be made, how much is to be made and when it is to be made. Detailed scheduling optimizes the production schedule through describe the production process with a heuristic model to find the best way of allocating the available tasks and resources. Detailed scheduling is a centerpiece of production and closely interlinks with production control, order processing, material and energy control and maintenance.

In order to be able to provide all the necessary information for making logic decisions, it is in some cases necessary to implement data transfers that are not supported by the ISA-95 standard for enterprise to plant integration. One example of production parameters that are not included in the standard are release dates and due dates of products. The release date is the exact time from which on a product can be produced. The due date is equally important and refers to the date that the product has to be available, usually due to a customer requested time.

The integration of a scheduling solution for a steel plant using the ISA-95 standard is described. The application shows one way of benefiting from the already existing elements and expanding the B2MML files using the means provided. The resulting input data contains much more information than ISA-95 was originally designed for because the optimization takes place as a separate module on an MOM level. All input/output information must thus be provided through ISA-95. On the other hand, the output file fits completely to the ISA-95 landscape. This case study also shows that many practical applications only need to implement a small part of provided elements and there are always several options to make this happen.

MESA White Paper #33 was produced as part of the MESA/ISA-95 Best Practices Working Group through an international peer review process involving 5 or more subject matter reviewers.  This MESA White Paper will also be published in one of two methodology best practices collection, Book 2.0, When Worlds Collide in Manufacturing Operations (Collections published by ISA, 1/1/11).

All of MESA's white papers are available at www.mesa.org for $25.00 per paper for individual papers, or become a MESA premium member and have complimentary access to over 250 white papers, presentations, MOM/MES guidebooks, industry studies and web casts.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Whitepaper Released on OEE Reporting in Manufacturing

MESA International today announced the availability of MESA Whitepaper #34, OEE Reporting in Manufacturing: Value through Operational Improvement, to help MESA members implement OEE reporting to guide manufacturers into better performance.

Jaap Both, one of the paper’s authors noted, “Practical implementation of OEE is usually not as simple as it seems in theory. This whitepaper covers both organizational issues to ease the implementation process, as well as technical considerations you are likely to encounter when designing OEE.”

OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) is a standardized reporting metric that shows the effectiveness of a production line. The OEE-score of a production line is normally a value between 0 and 100 where 100 means: running without losses. The OEE metric provides structured means to collect and represent data about the performance of a line and it identifies when, in a period of time, losses occur: due to reduced speed, bad quality or (unexpected) downtimes.
Setting up improvement teams and implementing OEE-reporting provides an increased focus on improvement potential and this can be very valuable with relatively small and focused projects. This whitepaper is available via MESA’s Resource Library.
MESA premium members have complimentary access to over 250 white papers, presentations, MOM/MES guidebooks, industry studies and web casts in the Resource Library. Others can purchase individual papers from the Resource Library for $25.00 per paper.