Installation of a New Process Control System with ERP Integration

Installation of a new process control system with ERP system integration

At a chocolate producer, our partner company SPIE ESCAD Austria installed a new process control system with ERP system integration, replacing an existing, old one.

Challenge and Objective

The company was looking for a way to its increasingly complex quality controls and production processes better to handle. The existing process control system was no longer able to meet the higher demands. In addition, many investments in production facilities were planned, which were to be integrated directly into a new process control system.

A week was defined during which production was to be shut down. Within this timeframe, “Area 2” (mixing and preparation) of production was to be converted to the new process control system.

Solution

First, a project team was formed with experts from SPIE ESCAD Austria and our client. After in-depth discussions with the operators, the production manager, and quality assurance staff, the exact function of the systems was determined and a requirements specification was created.

The subsequent software preparation took place in-house at SPIE ESCAD Austria. The client’s IT team provided the necessary hardware prerequisites to install our system.

The development of the ERP system interface posed a challenge that required intensive discussions and tests. Before we began the first conversion, the production employees were trained on the new system.

On two weekends before the planned downtime week, it was checked whether all systems functioned with our system. On Sundays, the existing system was reactivated. During the downtime week, we carried out the final system tests and started the first test productions on the third day.

Very soon, the operators were also involved. Because with such a comprehensive conversion, it is always important that production employees are satisfied with the new system and can identify with it.

Benefits

The client now benefits from a reliable, technologically advanced system that centrally collects, processes, and provides all relevant process data to the corresponding positions within the company. In addition, the client has a partner in SPIE ESCAD Austria who is available around the clock (24/7 hotline) and can thereby minimize system downtimes.

These strengths of our partner company SPIE ESCAD Austria were utilized

About our client
Our client is a renowned chocolate producer who places high quality demands on their processes and products.

Industry
Food Production

After the installation of the new process control system, we integrated further production areas, so that now all areas run through our system. In a recent conversation with the client, he confirmed to me once again that it was the right system and the right partner, and still is.

Thomas Neudorfer
Project Manager
SPIE ESCAD Austria GmbH

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