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Hot off the press is the news that nFold has just completed an evaluation of competing Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
This type of software typically assists in the day to day management of manufacturing operations. The measurement and control devices used by manufacturers are not always sufficient for this purpose, nor do ERP systems always have enough production-specific abilities. Features may include :
- visibility
- genealogy
- planning
- quality
- tracking
- performance
- optimisation
The three finalists were:
- Ampla (from Citect)
- Siemens Simatic (from GijimaAST)
- Wonderware (from Ram-tec)
In the initial comparison of RFP responses, the Ampla solution was cheaper, but the Wonderware solution was quicker to deploy (depending on your solution partner).
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Both were more or less on par when it came to meeting the functional requirements of the customer with the minimum customisation or programming.
After reviewing the RFP responses and seeing the products in action, the Siemens solution seemed strong on business process definition; the Ampla solution was bundled well and had a very visual way to explore genealogy; while Wonderware solution was the most intuitive to the future users of the system.
The jury is out. As always, there are pros and cons to consider before it becomes clear what the best solution might be for this particular customer requirement.
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