Nuremberg, 2003.04.07

MES-Software with extended functions

At Hanover Fair, as indeed at Achema and Anuga FoodTec, Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D) will be presenting its new release 5.0 of MES-(Manufacturing Execution Systems)-Software Simatic IT. Simatic IT V 5.0 holds a new packaging consisting of Simatic IT Framework combined with core manufacturing execution functionality, following the standard S95. This includes Production Order Management, Production Operations Management, Materials Management and Equipment Management. The core MES functionality can be extended with various products such as Simatic IT Historian (Plant Performance Analysis), Simatic IT Unilab (Laboratory Information Management System) and Simatic IT Interspec (Product Specifications Management System) and option packages. Version 5.0 offers detailed access control functionality, which provides a better way to follow up resource access to the system. Simatic IT Framework, holding the model capabilities of the plant and assuring the coordination and synchronization of business and production processes, is enhanced to better support global rollouts or implementations in various plants, based on a full reusability of industry specific characteristics or "libraries" of products.

The Production Order Manager, for managing, dispatching and tracking production orders through the plant, now also allows handling of orders through external applications and to customize the user interface.

In new release V 5.0, a pilot version of a personnel manager is included, bringing extended management of personnel data, allowing the definition of personnel groups, categorization of personnel and creating work schedules according to different rules.

Within the Material Manager, allowing to define materials and managing all kind of material informations, now the Bill Of Material can be versioned. This makes a complicated approval cycle obsolete, avoiding errors and saving time. Improved lot management includes the possibility to create and manage handle units for material transportation and handling through carriers, pallets, bins, etc. exterior of the production line.

In Version V 5.0, Historian brings a new KPI (Key Performance Indicator) management with custom calculation and the possibility to relate to specific equipments. Calculations can also be triggered from external applications. The data display has been improved by adding the capability to display trends in a different time frame on the same chart.

The Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Simatic IT Unilab in V 5.0 offers enhanced performance and more advanced web functionality, also compliancy to the FDA's 21 CFR11(or 21 CFR Part 11) regulation for electronic records and signatures.

Simatic IT Interspec V5.0 will be available later in the year with more enhanced functionality and will support web service based applications. The new version will also offer compliancy support to 21 CFR Part 11.

Background information:
Siemens´ MES offer Simatic IT follows a model based approach, linking standard components with specific functionality with an integration layer or "framework" that allows to describe or "model" the physical and logical model of a plant in specific "rules". Changing the model or the rules, does not implicate that functionality or components have to be changed or adapted. It is the coordination of this specific functionality that can be adapted to changes in the plant or in business requirements, and not the functionality itself. By separating rules and functionality, the result is a standard yet flexible approach, allowing the customer to rely on stable products.

Additional information is available on the Internet at: www.simatic-it.de

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