Production execution and management software

GE Fanuc Automation's Proficy Plant Applications Version 4.1 - a major new version of the company's Efficiency, Quality, Production and Batch Analysis software application - enables managers across process, discrete and hybrid industries to gain clear insight into their operations to more efficiently manage to peak performance.

Version 4.1 adds powerful capabilities to reduce overall implementation time with improved ease of use and configuration, enhanced reporting, improved connectivity and extensibility, and more expansive scheduling execution and production tracking. Additionally, the updated version has advanced analysis and drilldown improvements, making it even easier to determine production variation. The enhanced security, auditing, 21CFR part 11 and e-signature features of this software allow users to have more secure, auditable operations by identifying changes and access to the system.

A major component of the Proficy software family, Plant Applications' supports GE Fanuc's open and layered software framework, communicating with GE Fanuc systems as well as other applications to quickly leverage a manufacturers' installed base of equipment and enable faster ROI. The capabilities of the Proficy Plant Applications range from integrated quality management and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) to production tracking and recipe management.

The range offers a unified, easy-to-configure 'plant model' and notification service that enables users to define how their products are manufactured based on their actual plant layout, product specifications and product routing instructions. Plant Applications automatically generate configurable intelligent key performance indicators (KPIs) and alarms so that managers can monitor performance and receive notification when exceptions occur. Managers can then make real-time changes to their operations to improve performance.

Version 4.1 adds powerful capabilities such as:

• Enhanced reporting - helps users accelerate quality improvements, reduce implementation time and simplify reporting initiatives. Powerful enhancements to the Plant Applications reporting solution include several new standard reports, improved reusable and publishable Excel reports - with a web publish wizard - and many other additional features and capabilities.
• Analysis and drilldown - can increase quality and consistency of end products as well as increase overall operational productivity by helping users analyse the right information at the right time. Several advanced analytical web pages, 'web parts' and web applications are provided for analysing and drilling down through data to identify and analyse problem areas in order to make improvements. Analytical capabilities include variability conformance, event analysis, unit time accounting, alarm detail and batch analysis. Using these powerful capabilities, users can - for example - improve quality and consistency of products by comparing production 'events' and by comparing and analysing data by shift, machine and other configurable elements. Batch analysis allows production run inconsistencies to be identified through overlay and time synchronisation capabilities, so users can determine the cause of variation and take the appropriate corrective action.
• Improved connectivity and extensibility - can reduce costs and complexities associated with the integration and connection to legacy systems and sources. This latest version features expanded connectivity options to additional systems and sources, including OPC, generic SQL, InSQL, and others. OPC Support and an advanced SDK allow end users and systems integrators to extend the core Plant Applications offering.
• Enhanced security, auditing, 21 CFR Part 11 and e-signatures - help users avoid costly product recalls and fines and adhere to new regulatory requirements. Comprehensive support for electronic signatures, complete system audit trails and many other security capabilities allow users in regulated and non-regulated industries to have secure audited operations.
• Expansive schedule execution and production tracking - simplify implementation time and expand overall genealogical, scheduling and execution capabilities. Proficy Plant Applications 4.1 adds comprehensive product definitions to support complex Bills of Materials. This version also simplifies automated configuration for complex genealogical applications as well as standard reports and metrics made available through the reporting and analytical capabilities.
• Enhanced ease of use and configuration - save time and money by quickly and easily getting the right information in to the hands of those who need it. With simplified and streamlined configuration for client and server applications, version 4.1 makes creating reports, analysing data and setting up the Plant Applications system much easier.