Traditionally MES deployments were considered complex endeavors, requiring a full-fledged project team. An average MES deployment project would take anywhere from six months to a year or more (full roll-out with desired functionality might take even longer). The timeline and complexity would further be affected if the MES was to be deployed in more than one site.
For global manufacturers, this view of MES deployment becomes a major hurdle. Any manufacturer having multiple production plants across the globe would want ideally all the plants in the company’s portfolio to be using a standard software application for process management.
However, based on the scenario presented above, the manufacturer with 50 plants is looking at a rough timeline of 25 years at a minimum, till all the plants can be on the same MES. The issue here is that by the time deployment ends for the last plant, the technology would have drastically transformed and the very purpose of having the most modern software technology to manage the manufacturing process would be defeated.
How should multi-site deployments of the MES for global manufacturers be handled then?
IS PARALLEL DEPLOYMENT A POSSIBILITY?
Modern MES applications are now being developed using agile software development methodologies. We recently had an article describing the way in which agile MES deployment trumps the traditional methods of MES development. Agile software development techniques rely on developing and deploying the application simultaneously, increasing functional coverage of the application in a phased, incremental manner. They are a game changer when it comes to multi-site MES deployment as they are very iterative in nature and provide workable software for users rather than just paper based plans of how the application would be once it is designed and deployed.
First an organization with say 50 or so manufacturing units globally, should decide that they require an MES application which should be used to control and execute production process for all their sites, and be integrated with the global ERP system. Once the need is established and key deliverables are highlighted to the MES development team, the agile development methods can kick in.
For more information about MES Deployment - The Multi Site Story click here to read the complete blog post http://goo.gl/6Dom8D
For global manufacturers, this view of MES deployment becomes a major hurdle. Any manufacturer having multiple production plants across the globe would want ideally all the plants in the company’s portfolio to be using a standard software application for process management.
However, based on the scenario presented above, the manufacturer with 50 plants is looking at a rough timeline of 25 years at a minimum, till all the plants can be on the same MES. The issue here is that by the time deployment ends for the last plant, the technology would have drastically transformed and the very purpose of having the most modern software technology to manage the manufacturing process would be defeated.
How should multi-site deployments of the MES for global manufacturers be handled then?
IS PARALLEL DEPLOYMENT A POSSIBILITY?
Modern MES applications are now being developed using agile software development methodologies. We recently had an article describing the way in which agile MES deployment trumps the traditional methods of MES development. Agile software development techniques rely on developing and deploying the application simultaneously, increasing functional coverage of the application in a phased, incremental manner. They are a game changer when it comes to multi-site MES deployment as they are very iterative in nature and provide workable software for users rather than just paper based plans of how the application would be once it is designed and deployed.
First an organization with say 50 or so manufacturing units globally, should decide that they require an MES application which should be used to control and execute production process for all their sites, and be integrated with the global ERP system. Once the need is established and key deliverables are highlighted to the MES development team, the agile development methods can kick in.
For more information about MES Deployment - The Multi Site Story click here to read the complete blog post http://goo.gl/6Dom8D
