Don't let your production floor be a blind spot anymore

That ERP can add value to optimize business processes, most companies are now convinced. But it is still important to gain insight into the production floor in order to control your plant as efficiently as possible. However, additional modules attached to an ERP package do not speak that same language of machines controlled down to milliseconds. Therefore, each layer needs its own specialists. With its Plant Operations suite, Aptean has a modular software suite of solutions developed from production to achieve the smart, sustainable food factories of tomorrow.

Aptean may be a new name in the Benelux for some companies, but this American software developer is by no means unscathed. It has built a strong reputation in its home market with its often Microsoft-based ERP solutions (through the acquisitions of Schouw Informatisering, DIN Solutions and Drink-IT). With the acquisition of the Belgian company Objective, Aptean is also adding rock-solid MES and WMS software. And through other acquisitions, the portfolio is further complemented by OEE, EAM and PLM software. "And we are quite unique in that," says Director Solution Sales Fries Lefevere. "We transcend the ERP business with best-in-class solutions for controlling the production floor. More and more automation is coming into the industry, right down to the warehouse. Each food and beverage manufacturer does have its own screens, but with an umbrella system, you keep a central overview and even get insight into older machines where the manufacturer doesn't offer overviews.

1 + 1 = 3

Aptean MES and WMS Objective Edition can make the difference just there. Erwin Vervondel, Senior Architect at Aptean: "We see that the sum of MES and WMS is increasingly three. The key words in modern food production are just-in-time and just-in-sequence. Everything has to be delivered to the machines at the right time and in the right order. But at the same time, you want to remain flexible enough to respond to changes in planning. MES provides detailed instructions to the human, the machine and the warehouse, where the WMS then takes care of the complete supply of raw materials and finished products. A tight integration that provides insane added value. With Aptean MES and WMS you get a complete gate-to-gate solution, also because you can link seamlessly with ERP."

Little to no customization

Just that strength in breadth, from ERP to Plant Operations, means there is little to no customization involved for the user. "You want to avoid that, because it costs money," Vervondel knows. "We therefore take a kind of plug-in approach with a focus on open interfaces, so that it can also interface with other solutions and systems. Second point of difference is the domain knowledge we have built up over the years. Our software addresses very specifically different niches within the food industry. After all, those who supply bakery products have very different requirements than those who produce beer or are active in meat processing. Our software always starts from the flows that are specific to these sectors, bundled in pre-packaged services, so that it is a natural extension of the operations on the work floor. Software tailored to the company, without customization. And we teach clients how to configure their flows in our applications so that they can work with them themselves afterwards."

Scalable, resilient and reliable

Aptean understands only too well that it can be a real barrier for SMEs to invest in MES and WMS on top of ERP and automation projects. "But the more automation is introduced, the more complex the production becomes, the more the need to control everything efficiently will be felt," Lefevere points out. "A well-designed system gives you the scalability to grow, the resilience to shift gears and the reliability to meet your customers' demands. And maybe Patch OEE can be an easy first step. That's up and running after just a few weeks, focuses on a specific problem and delivers results quickly. It can be a catalyst to solve other problems as well: how to better support maintenance, how to address quality issues, how to eliminate a bottleneck ... and eventually move to a full-fledged MES and WMS solution."