<strong>The new MES standard for productivity and ease of use </strong><p>
Just as Wonderware InTouch revolutionized the field of supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), Wonderware InTrack now sets new standards for Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES). Unlike traditional MES software that runs on minicomputers or mainframes, InTrack is a PC LAN-based, client/server MES tool that allows customers to develop their own MES solutions. It's a powerful, easy-to-use application that helps companies manage, control and improve their manufacturing processes at a fraction of the cost in time and resources.<p>
<strong>The safety of the industry leader</strong><p>
Wonderware has a tradition of providing high quality software solutions engineered to meet the high development standards required by manufacturing and process automation. Fundamentally, all Wonderware products provide three hallmark elements: ease of use, power and open architecture. In addition, each Wonderware product provides forward compatibility, so applications developed today will run on future versions of the software. The result is a rapidly growing community of thousands of Wonderware users worldwide representing literally hundreds of different industries.<p>
<strong>New design for new functionality</strong><p>
InTrack is an object-oriented client/server application software tool that empowers system administrators and engineers to model their own manufacturing processes graphically -- and then track and control production from the ordering of raw materials to the final finished goods.<p>
Unlike all previous MES applications, InTrack includes an application template. It is literally "functional out of the box." Users can also easily create custom applications with InTrack's powerful Manufacturing Process Definition Tools:
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<strong>InTrack Buildtime Toolbar</strong><p>
Using InTrack's Buildtime Toolbar, customers can quickly define every aspect of their manufacturing processes. The Toolbar provides a rich set of intuitive tools that contain attributes designed to track and control Products, Documents, Resources, Routes and many other manufacturing objects.<p>
<A NAME="intrack2"></A><A HREF="/products/screens/intrack2.htm"><IMG hspace="10" vspace="10" SRC="/image/ROUTE2_T.GIF" alt="" align=right border=0></A>InTrack features a revolutionary graphical route editor that allows users to simply "drag and drop" manufacturing objects in order to model their manufacturing processes. This model instantly reveals process flows and product dispositions.<p>
The process model is maintained in InTrack's relational database, where it can easily be modified using InTrack's powerful database editor. This browsing tool provides quick, easy access to object definition editors. Simply double click on an icon and a dialog box pops up, allowing review or modification of an object's attributes.<p>
<strong>Integration with Wonderware InTouch</strong><p>
InTrack is tightly coupled with the user interface capabilities of Wonderware InTouch. Using Wonderware's Wizard technology, customers can customize their screens by dragging and dropping user interface objects such as the WIP Selector wizard (shown above) into a screen or dialog box. This seamless integration of the two product domains provides a level of functionality and ease of use that is unmatched in the industry.
<strong>Process Definition and Modeling</strong><p>
The InTrack Buildtime environment provides users with the ability to define what gets done at a particular stage of manufacturing, the Bill of Materials or formulas involved, the consumption and disposition of inventory, and other attributes of the process. One of InTrack's main objects for process modeling is the Route object, which defines the sequence of operations required to manufacture a product. The resulting model is then used to track and control the product through each stage of manufacturing, from raw materials and ingredients, through intermediate stages to finished product.<p>
<strong>Materials and Process Information Tracking</strong><p>
InTrack can be used to track any manufacturing process. It maintains the real-time status of raw and bulk Inventory, including inventory bins. InTrack also initiates and tracks Work-in-Process (WIP) through every stage of manufacturing, collecting information about work performed on the product, including operations completed, the hold/release status of a lot or batch, time left to completion, time spent in queue waiting for materials, and yields for a particular operation. InTrack allows lot splitting, multiple dispositions, in-line data collection and transaction processing. Users can collect information such as specific customer orders and special work instructions by assigning User Defined Attributes.<p>
The status of all user operations is color-coded in the WIP and Inventory grid displays, for easy operator reference.<p>
<strong>Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition</strong><p>
InTrack provides a full complement of Man-Machine-Interface (MMI) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) functions, including real-time data acquisition, alarm management, setpoint control, and graphical user interface. Most existing MES systems don't provide these capabilities as an integral part of their system and custom drivers must be written for each application. Through the integration of SCADA and MES technologies, Wonderware InTrack offers tremendous performance, maintainability, and ease of design and use.<p>
<strong>Quality Management</strong><p>
The concept of quality management goes beyond statistical process control (SPC). It means having the capability to use process information for cause-and-effect analysis and for continuous improvement and process optimization. The information can come from historical and SPC data files collected by Wonderware InTouch as well as from the batch history files collected by InTrack. This is a powerful tool for a Total Quality Management (TQM) program. InTrack can perform analysis on yields, queue times, cycle times, and other key metrics for optimizing the manufacturing process.<p>
<strong>Work Instructions</strong><p>
Special work instructions may be assigned to any step in the manufacturing process. These work instructions may be generated from within InTrack or provided as text, word processor, and/or graphics files. The InTrack document viewer displays engineering drawings, specifications, step-by-step instructions, safety procedures, and test specifications as required by the operator to complete the work.<p>
InTrack allows users to present operators with a list of work to be performed, prioritized according to user-defined SQL statements such as First-In-First-Out (FIFO), "hot order," next due date, etc. The system monitors the real-time state of equipment and the availability of inventory needed to complete production. This data can be used to dynamically change work priorities and schedules based on changing, real-time process conditions on the plant floor.<p>
<strong>Data Repository for Manufacturing Management</strong><p>
InTrack maintains the process model that is used to guide all manufacturing operations. Its extensive database contains the entire manufacturing history of every production lot: all transactions, events, process conditions, equipment used, operator actions, and a complete product genealogy. It also maintains a complete record of procedures, product and process attributes, specifications, testing criteria, operator certification, and other information needed for the manufacturing process. This same database serves as the source for a broad range of reports that are impossible to produce with point solutions systems, such as cause-and-effect analysis. InTrack reports can also be used to provide certification and documentation for regulatory agencies and to comply with process validation requirements.<p>
InTrack guides operators to follow the model described by the process designer. This means using the right material on the right equipment, ensuring that the operator has the appropriate level of authority and training certification to perform the operation, and any other constraints that must be observed to make products successfully and safely. InTrack will help operators by presenting work instructions, prompting for data collection and test results, presenting safety information and procedures for them to follow. The process can be validated by showing that all necessary manufacturing requirements were followed.
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<h2><a name="different">How is InTrack different?</a></h2><p>
InTrack provides all of the functionality of a traditional MES product and more. Here are some important differentiating factors:<p>
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<strong>Client/Server Based</strong><p>
The InTrack manufacturing process model is maintained in a relational database server that can be accessed by any InTrack client node or read by a database client application. This makes the sharing, availability, and visibility of data possible throughout the enterprise. Individual users can generate reports and "ad hoc" queries directly, in the format most useful to them.<p>
<strong>Database Independent</strong><p>
InTrack provides database libraries that insulate the process model and transactions from the underlying database engine, so it is truly database independent. This means users can begin with their existing database software and migrate to new database systems as their application needs evolve. InTrack already is compatible with many popular database management systems, including Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server.<p>
InTrack is object-oriented. Users can extend its standard objects, such as Routes, Disposition Codes, Materials, Work Instructions, and Areas, with User Defined Attributes (UDAs). For example, a user can assign a specific cost or customer purchase order number to a manufacturing lot or batch by defining that attribute as a custom UDA. The database automatically expands to contain the information.<p>
<strong>Point-and-Click Development</strong><p>
Application development is an order of magnitude easier than with any other MES system on the market. Users can develop WIP or Inventory screens in a few minutes with point-and-click ease. Predefined functions are available to start WIP lots, consume materials, collect data and User Defined Attributes, read work instructions and review engineering documentation, and advance the process along the manufacturing route. <p>
<strong>The Bottom Line</strong><p>
InTrack provides an infrastructure that customers can use to protect their long term investment in their manufacturing management system.
