One interesting aspect of workflow has been its ability to
fill in process “gaps” that normally exist in any industrial setting. There are always manual and paper processes
that must be executed in, be it work order sign offs, quality hold releases,
incoming material inspection reports (leading to supplier scorecards). And we’ve seen the gamut of them. Just consider the following:
·
An automotive supplier uses workflow to
determine if a Clean in Place process has occurred in their paint booth,
allowing them to change colors “on demand” for optimum product mix and flow
·
A power industry supplier needed a lock out/tag
out process enforced in a safe and consistent manner (including a complete
history of the process)
·
A chemical products supplier had a mix of MES,
with ArchestrA System Platform, and needed a way to manage normal and abnormal
events across all systems
·
A food processor that uses Wonderware InTouch
for process visualization along with an Overall Equipment Effectiveness
application wanted to monitor asset performance KPI’s, so that they could
determine any necessary actions if thresholds were exceeded (for example,
creating a maintenance order in SAP)
In all cases, the goal of these customers was to drive
process consistency, gain measureable data on activities, and become more proactive
in their maintenance, engineering, and operations practices. These customers HAD MES Systems,
visualization systems, OEE systems, maintenance systems, but there isn’t always
the time, money, or inclination to provide dedicated integration to these
different applications. The great thing
about workflow is you don’t have to!
Process handoffs can occur programmatically, or they can be human or
equipment-driven. The end result is
visibility to processes, a better understanding of the integration/handoff
points, and most importantly, closed-loop procedures.
Will workflow work for you?
Have you already used it? I’m
interested in any feedback you have…
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