The factory of the future is highly flexible and adaptable. MES solutions are an important building block for intelligent factories and digital manufacturing. However, as a stand-alone proprietary system and in its classic scope of functions, the MES no longer meets the requirements of the increasingly networked factory.
"The future challenges can only be solved with open software solutions and microservices architectures," explains Martin Heinz, board member of iTAC Software AG, and continues: "Flexible systems are required in order to be able to react quickly to changes. A traditional monolithic software architecture is too limited in this respect. This is because the components are in part interconnected and interdependent. Modern production therefore needs a holistic manufacturing management system, a MOM."
Where the MES reaches its limits – that's where the MOM begins
A MOM system is a further development of an MES – designed for predictive production that makes use of the latest IIoT technology. It brings previously separate worlds together. The iTAC.MOM.Suite has all the necessary functions for networking and automating processes. It is modular and scalable and, thanks to its openness, can be seamlessly integrated into a company’s digital platform strategies. The microservices architecture makes it possible to provide functionalities tailored to specific requirements.
The MOM solution enables real-time control, optimization and prediction of production processes using AI. It combines the typical MES functions with solutions for control, planning and analytics as well as IIoT capabilities. The MOM system functionally covers all processes that take place on the shopfloor, i.e. in the area between the machines and the ERP system. In addition, it offers the connection of interfaces to upstream systems of factory planning and design (such as APS, operational floor space planning, etc.) as well as to higher-level systems (ERP, PLM, etc.).
The software is designed for discrete manufacturing – from single piece to batch to mass production – and can be run on-premises, hybrid or in the cloud. It is used globally by companies in a variety of industries, including automotive manufacturers/suppliers, electronics/EMS/TC, medical, metalworking, and energy. Even in new markets such as e-mobility, iTAC's MOM solution maps the entire production process end-to-end.
25 years of experience lead to MOM
iTAC Software AG is a global IT and software company with a 25-year history and has developed from a traceability expert for discrete production processes to a global MOM player for a wide range of industries. Martin Heinz says: " For many years, we have been solving classical requirements such as traceability and production management in the conventional MES, but today it is also important to link production processes and to digitalize them in an agile manner. With the MOM, we have created a holistic platform for this. The functionalities for traceability, production planning or control are still essential, but are extended by new applications with AI and low-code applications, among others, and form a flexible, yet highly standardized system that is also fully scalable and easy to roll out due to the template characteristics."
