What are the benefits of a multi-technology production management MES? Why use Prometheus?
Those who are already familiar with the MES (Manufacturing Execution System) software of BLM GROUP "ProTube Enterprise" in the management of the processing of tubular parts with laser cutting and bending, will find its evolution "Prometheus" very interesting. Prometheus allows unified management of the wide range of technologies within the Group, such as Lasertube, sheet metal laser cutting, tube bending and 3D part laser cutting.
When different technologies give life to a complete process, with which to create a finished product
Of the many process technologies on the market, cutting and bending are among those that best combine freedom of design and production efficiency. This is demonstrated by the almost unlimited number of applications in which they are used.
Tubes and metal sheets are the essential elements that contribute to the creation of a finished product. The tube for the structure and the sheet metal as a functional element.
On frames, such as lattices and tubular metal structures that are easily made with tube benders and Lasertubes, the addition of a surface often becomes the essential next step for the functionality of the product. Sheets or complex three-dimensional metal profiles thus act as a support, separation, containment or finishing element.
The laser cutting of the tube, sheet metal and any three-dimensional profile, with the tube bending can therefore represent a complete technological mix, capable of creating an unlimited number of finished objects in total freedom. The ping pong table below is testimony to this concept.
Ping pong table made with a technological mix with laser cutting and bending.
Prometheus: the MES software to manage the processing of tube, sheet metal and three-dimensional metal profiles
Prometheus is the BLM GROUP's production MES that allows you to plan the production of a complex product made up of pipes and sheets in a perfectly unified way, just like the ping pong table in the figure.
In Prometheus a multi-technology object can be managed via a macro production order, i.e. an order that contains multiple work orders, for each of the systems involved: tube bending machines, Lasertube, sheet metal laser cutting machines and 3D laser cutting cells.
Prometheus autonomously assigns the technological information needed to the various machines, avoiding the user having to deal with it directly.
For example, it is the software that finds the correct part program associated with the workpiece, transfers to the machines all the information necessary for their operation and automatically collects production data from the workshop.
Having created the work programs with the CAD/CAM software of the different machines, through Prometheus it will be possible to perform all the main operations of a MES software for all the technologies involved.
- Schedule production and prepare work orders for the different machines
- Define the quantities, deadlines and priorities of the processes
- Monitor the production progress on each involved machine
- Track the machines operational status in real-time
Through the connection with the business process management system, the Prometheus features can be used by the customer directly from their ERP system to automate the production flow conveniently on their own system, according to their needs. In the same way it also represents an alternative point for the company management for those who do not have an ERP or do not wish to have one.
Prometheus is a software characterized by high versatility capable of adapting to the customer's IT infrastructure and the most variegate production methods.
The advantages of using Prometheus MES software
In addition to all the advantages offered by the MES system, including improving the overall efficiency of your production system and simplifying the decision-making process, through the analysis of production data in real time, Prometheus offers interesting additional advantages:
- With Prometheus, every change to the order or work cycle made on the machine is automatically reported in the office.
- Prometheus allows you to set processing priorities by taking into consideration the machine operating calendar and the deadlines assigned to the orders.
- Prometheus tracks real machine usage times and real production data. In this way the software learns information about the production process and is able to both estimate the working times by creating the estimate and to summarize the production carried out with details on the processing phases.
- Technological options to be set in the office as if they had been set on the machine, thus relieving less experienced operators.
- Through a monitoring dashboard accessible from any browser, Prometheus allows you to monitor production on each plant in real time: pieces produced and to be produced, waste, alarms, elapsed machine processing time and time remaining to completion.