Cassiano José Sobierai’s Post

I had another interview with one of Skellig Automation's newest MES Engineers, Hunter Woodie. Check out our quick convo below (and as always, I'm 👾): --- 👾You’re one of Skellig’s newest hires, so welcome to the team! What’s your background in MES? 🔷I am fairly new to MES and have only worked with one MES software, which is Tulip. The project I worked on was setting up a system for a compounding pharmacy, which took about 6 months to set up the initial software to be used, and then about another 6 months of adding new features to improve on efficiency and quality as the operators of the MES gave feedback. 👾What kinds of MES projects would you like to work on in the future? 🔷 I think it would be cool to work on a MES project that would focus on improving sustainability of a factory/plant. Like checking on energy and material use and trying to improve on the process to decrease waste. 👾What are some of the biggest benefits of a great MES for Life Sciences manufacturers? 🔷A great MES can help Life Sciences manufacturers just like any other manufacturing company. It will help with boosting productivity and efficiency, decreasing downtime, enhancing quality control, and decreasing the need for paper. 🔷A bonus benefit for Life Sciences is since there are more regulations and restrictions, it allows for better traceability of equipment and materials as well as real time observation from supervisors to watch the process unfold and react to any discrepancies that occur and potentially help provide a quicker solution to keep the process continuing or to prevent the same event from affecting another batch. These MES software's can integrate with other common software, like ERPs, and common equipment, like scales, to help make batch processing work more smoothly. 🔷MES ability to track, monitor, and integrate makes it a good match for Life Sciences manufacturers. --- If your project team is looking for help with MES, look no further than Skellig Automation's talented team. Send me a DM and I can get you in touch with the right people ASAP!

Following on from my last LinkedIn post about transitioning from Software Engineer and Machine Learning Recruitment to working in MES, I thought I would explain what an MES system is. A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is a powerful tool used in manufacturing to monitor, control, and optimize production processes. Here’s a brief overview: 🔹 Real-Time Data Collection: MES systems gather real-time data from the shop floor, providing insights into production performance, equipment status, and product quality. 🔹 Process Control: They help in controlling and managing production workflows, ensuring that manufacturing processes are executed as planned and any deviations are promptly addressed. 🔹 Quality Management: MES systems play a crucial role in maintaining product quality by tracking and documenting every step of the manufacturing process, from raw materials to finished goods. 🔹 Resource Optimization: By providing visibility into resource utilization, MES helps in optimizing the use of labor, materials, and equipment, leading to increased efficiency and reduced waste. 🔹 Compliance and Traceability: MES ensures compliance with industry standards and regulations by maintaining detailed records of production activities, which is essential for traceability and audits. 🔹 Integration with Other Systems: MES can integrate with other enterprise systems like ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) and SCM (Supply Chain Management) to provide a comprehensive view of the manufacturing operations. In essence, MES acts as the backbone of modern manufacturing, enabling companies to achieve higher levels of productivity, quality, and efficiency. #CareerTransition #MES #Manufacturing #SoftwareEngineering #LearningJourney

Embarking on an MES implementation journey can be daunting. From technical hurdles to organizational resistance, there's a lot to consider.  We explore these common challenges and offer actionable strategies for a successful MES deployment in the latest blog post on our website. Read more and unlock the full potential of your manufacturing operations! ⬇️  #MES #ManufacturingExecutionSystems #Manufacturing #Industry40 #DesignSystemsInc #DSIExcellence #Engineering #DigitalFactory #SmartFactory

Manufacturing Automation – the Expert Been There, Done That is not enough without “LEARNED FROM THAT”! True in any discipline, but more so in an interdisciplinary activity, reaching expert status in AUTOMATION requires a systems thinking approach forged in EXPERIENCE and learning in an iterative manner, so that subsequent designs are informed by the lessons learned from previous ones. Not only a matter of time but extrapolation from the SPECIFIC to the GENERAL as each application has unique attributes determined by: -         Workflows. -         Input variations. -         Worker skill sets and discipline. -         Operational environment. -         Technologies used. -         Other differentiators. This EXPERT is not differentiated by knowing all the answers, BUT differentiated by knowing ALL the right questions that must be answered. With various paths possible to reaching this level, attributes may include: -         Generalist background, preferably Mechanical Engineering or Architecture. -         Enough proficiency in specializations “to be dangerous” but not expert. -         Inherent resistance to “NEW”, making him immune to hype & tech fashion. -         An economics understanding of manufacturing, NOT financial. -         A Cantankerous or Affable personality, BUT always with Integrity. -         Uncompromising but informed by ALL inputs. -         Insisting of full Control as he Delivers full Accountability. -         Lots of hands on and theoretical EXPERIENCE. At least one is found in major manufacturers and in some systems integrators with SMEs generally not having either the resources or tolerance for this high-powered capability and the absence of this resource is measured by lack of innovation and SIMPLICITY. Whether at the stand alone system, complete process line or plant wide solution, success is measured in increased PRODUCTIVITY while distilling the problem to its fundamentals AND Inspiring the team he leads to bring their own, best specialized capabilities so that systems are characterized by simplicity FIRST and technology LAST. Been There, Done That is not enough without “LEARNED FROM THAT”! -- “... EXPERIENCE with the myriad permutations available to accomplish the objective serves is the main mitigation factor for both the time and the total costs required. Without that experience, a particular automation project can easily turn into a Science Project!” -- Do you have one of these on your automation team? Your thoughts are appreciated and please SHARE this post if you think your connections will find it of interest. 👉 Comment, follow or connect to discuss how to collaborate and plan your automation for increased productivity. https://lnkd.in/e6SDuwrP #industry40 #automation #productivity #robots #expert    

Christopher Degeneffe is a Machine Builder at ATS LSS, Chicago. He worked recently with MODULIS, our modular, configurable dispense and smart conveyance platform for low and high-volume point of care manufacturing and diagnostic device assembly. H𝗼𝘄 was 𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗜𝗦 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱: CD: There are two applications - a Food Pathogen Testing - Vial Fill, and an Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing – Well Plate Fill. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿s?: CD: MODULIS offered: • Custom solutions for delivering market-ready production volumes for diagnostic testing • Support in conversion of a manual/low throughput process to automation-ready processes; ATS process support resulted in significant customer savings in R&D time and cost • Support to bring the customer's first large-scale product to market. We supported their User Requirements Specification generation and process development. 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? CD: A bit of both: For the vial fill we had high-temperature fluid dispense that created variable tubing properties causing inconsistent flow sensor readings. The Applications team deployed temperature-dependent adjustment algorithms using a temperature sensor to scale flow sensor readings for accurate dispense quality tracking. Variable fluid properties across product variants caused inconsistent dispense and dripping; we designed custom tooling to overcome variability without cycle time impacts or a need for changeover tooling. We used ATS fluid expertise to shorten debug time. Diagnostic testing includes time-dependent critical processes. Asynchronous technologies were utilized to meet throughput requirements in lieu of larger, slower, station-heavy synchronous options. For the well plate fill, the existing cleanroom had a small entryway; the modularity of SuperTrak’s design facilitated a breakdown to smaller sections for ingress. 𝗗𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀? CD: 35ppm output – Met Fluid cure times Silicone UV Cure – Met High-temp Fluid Cure (solidify) – Met <= 2% CoV – Met Each of these processes had differing cycle times, requiring flexible automation. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻? CD: We’ll share with other team members: Differences in fluid properties, and temperature, can have a strong influence on successful integration into automation. Diagnostic test material automation has a broader selection of variables that need to be addressed to achieve success when compared to device or tubeset assembly automation. Between these projects, we developed a deep understanding of fluid dispense and the challenges that come with it. 𝗔𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄? ATS LSS Chicago is about more than synchronous, cam-based, tubeset automation. We offer the full range of ATS products and solutions! https://bit.ly/4f6Tvpe

Manufacturing Automation – Simple Simple Automation starts with Experience! -- The result of years of "hands on" hard work and experience, the INTERWOVEN attributes of a good Machine Designer or Systems Integrator include: - Interdisciplinary Generalist skills - Knowing "who to call" on a specific specialization - "Horse-sense" enough to know how to avoid science projects! Simple Automation starts with Experience! -- "A WORD OF CAUTION: You can't teach an old dog new tricks! In our present context, experience doesn't mean we simply design and build the same form factor or use the same architecture constantly without reviewing the efficacy of that architecture for the application at hand. As enticing as that is from a maintenance and user training perspective, if we do that, we will be depriving our process from advances in various components and functionalities which are always evolving in the automation toolkit available. (In essence we will be falling behind our competition and depriving our process from the benefits of new innovations.) The experience we seek to leverage is the soft knowledge accumulated over many years of custom systems development and using a “cut and paste” approach, where appropriate, to speed the development of our next solution while maintaining a balance between technical risk and execution risk. Ideally, our experience will minimize execution risk so that we can focus on the overall performance and reliability of our new design while incrementally "moving the ball forward" in terms of innovation and evolution of our process. Depending on the organization, the in-house team is unlikely to have the breadth of cross industry – cross applications experience that a 3rd party systems integrator will have accumulated over many projects, in many industries, along with the rigorous project management procedures which all work to make a properly specified, custom automation project less risky and ultimately profitable. In short, an integrator often makes it look easy because they have done it before! ... While there are usually a few paths to success, there are usually many more paths that can lead to increased risks and even failed executions and experience is the key determinant to minimizing those risks and quickly benefiting from manufacturing automation." -- Is your Automation Simple? Your thoughts are appreciated and please SHARE this post if you think your connections will find it of interest. 👉 Comment, follow or connect to COLLABORATE on your automation for increased productivity. Adding value on the WHY, WHAT and HOW of Automation! What are you working on that I can help with? https://lnkd.in/e8FV2PQq #industry40 #automation #productivity #robots #AI

Manufacturing Automation – Chemistry Choosing the right Automation Partner is the first Major Decision! -- Euphemistically called "culture fit", the "chemistry" between the Systems Integrator and the End-User speaks to the absence/mitigation of FRICTION which distracts from and is DETRIMENTAL to the OBJECTIVE. Sources of FRICTION Introduced by the End-User: - Jerking the Integrator around with Ill Defined Requirements. - Micro Managing the project, increasing overhead for the Integrator. - Untimely provision of deliverables, (Drawings,Parts, Progress Payments,etc.) - Failing to include the Integrator on significant changes impacting the project. -Other foreseeable Disruptions or Imposition of "way we do things" that increase Technical or Financial Pressures on the Integrator. Sources of FRICTION Introduced by the Integrator: - "Low Balling" the initial Proposal to follow with an endless stream of "Change Orders". - Shifting Technical Responsibilities for the Design and it's Performance to the End-User. - In the name of "Transparency", Sharing "too much" visibility on the "Sausage Making" with the End-User, needlessly increasing interfacing and stress levels. - Other,"letter of the law", activities that only serve to increase costs and have other negative impacts on the outcome. Choosing the right Automation Partner is the first Major Decision! -- "Identifying this SI often comes down to good due diligence and even some “gut-feel chemistry” but a good match is found when we are convinced that this particular SI can become a predictable source of solutions for us in exchange for our commitment to become a predictable source of business for them. Since the SI is usually relatively small, you are usually dealing with an owner or a senior manager and you will need to reciprocate by having a suitably senior person from your in-house team have this strategic conversation with him/her. In most cases, you'll find that the SI is not only receptive but willing to invest in and build such a longer term relationship based on transparency, mutually defined goals and an understanding that this relationship will be profitable for both parties. While there are no guarantees, if both parties can approach the first project with this goal in mind, both short term and long-term success is a probable outcome." -- How do you select your Automation Integrator? Your thoughts are appreciated and please SHARE this post if you think your connections will find it of interest. 👉 Comment, follow or connect to COLLABORATE on your automation for increased productivity. Adding value on the WHY, WHAT and HOW of Automation! What are you working on that I can help with? https://lnkd.in/eQvWmvgz #industry40 #automation #productivity #robotics

A comprehensible and comprehensive summary by Markus H. Bauer: How to achieve operational excellence in process engineering. We ourselves often experience that Operation Research and mathematical and statistical methods seem to be underrated still. Despite the fact they have shown their efficiency many times and in many industries (actually since the 1950ies and 1960ies). Naturally, modern data collecting, computing, AI and data science deliver even greater potential for optimization. Jump on the bandwagon!

In today’s manufacturing environment, it is essential to have an efficient and effective end-to-end workflow to manage production processes, from the planning stages to the final delivery of goods. Manufacturing execution systems (MES) play a crucial role in achieving this goal. They have evolved significantly over the years, from simple data collection tools to sophisticated systems that can provide a wide range of capabilities. They have also become an integral part of modern manufacturing operations, enabling companies to streamline production processes and optimize performance. However, an MES cannot operate in isolation; it must be integrated with other systems to provide a comprehensive view of the entire manufacturing process. This article outlines the significance of MES integration with systems such as enterprise resource planning (ERP). A lack of standardized processes in the industry has led to complexity, hindering implementation and scalability. These integration challenges result in manual data entry, increased deviations, longer release times, and higher costs. Specific integrations highlighted here through use cases can streamline operations, enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and offer real-time visibility across departments and business units. Clear guidelines and recommendations for integrating MES provide a shared understanding of the value proposition and offer insights into the why and what of MES integration for both manufacturers and supply partners. Honeywell | Life Sciences, Rockwell Automation, MasterControl, Apprentice.io, Aspen Technology, Körber, POMS Corporation, ABB, Siemens, AVEVA