Astn’go / ERP: competitors or complementary?
MES/ERP: this question often comes up among manufacturers: “I already have an ERP system, do I need an MES?” It’s an excellent question that highlights the complementary nature of these two tools, which are often perceived as competitors. In reality, they form an indispensable duo for optimizing production.
ERP, a global management tool
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) is the brain of the company. It centralizes and manages all data: purchasing, sales, finance, inventory, and, of course, production. But its role ends where Astn’go’s begins.
Generally, there are two scenarios in workshops with only one ERP:
1 Direct entry into the ERP
Les opérateurs saisissent, généralement en fin de production, les informations de production dans un module atelier de l’ERP. Les données généralement saisies sont :
- The launch of the OF
- Production times
- Downtime
- Good quantities
- Rejected quantities
Disadvantage of this approach:
- Lack of data reliability (human error, oversights, etc.)
- Lack of real-time data reporting (data entry at the end of production, etc.)
- Minimalist and non-visual performance analysis (raw indicators without context or causes of non-performance)
- Lack of information on the causes of non-performance (causes of stoppages, causes of scrap, causes of failure to meet changeover times, etc.)
- Lack of real-time performance analysis (operator working blind, no clear view of their performance in real time)
Result:
- Conclusion based on unreliable data and intuition
- Ineffective corrective action
- Monitoring the effectiveness of corrective action is difficult or even impossible
2 Paper entry followed by re-entry into the ERP system
Operators enter production information on paper, usually during production. The data typically entered includes:
- The launch of the OF
- Production times
- Downtime
- Good quantities
- Rejected quantities
At the end of production, the production manager must go down to the workshop, collect the loose sheets, and re-enter the information into the ERP system. At the same time, he re-enters it into Excel files to view the performance indicators.
Disadvantage of this approach:
- Unreliable data, human error, oversights, legibility issues, etc.
- Time wasted by managers searching for, entering, and re-entering data (generally two hours per day).
- Lack of information on the causes of poor performance (causes of stoppages, causes of scrap, causes of failure to comply with changeover times, pace, etc.).
- Lack of real-time performance analysis (operators working blind, no clear view of their performance in real time).
Result:
- Constat basé sur des données non fiables et faisant appel à l’intuition
- Action corrective inefficace
- Contrôle de l’efficacité d’une action corrective difficile voire impossible
The picture painted here is quite bleak. ERP is certainly a necessary, even indispensable, solution for business management. However, as we have shown in the two cases above, ERP systems are not designed for detailed monitoring of production and performance. The solution therefore lies in a dedicated workshop monitoring solution such as Astn’go. The results achieved by our customers speak for themselves. See customer feedback.
Astn’go, the heart of production
Astn’go is specifically designed to closely monitor production operations. It automatically and accurately collects real-time data on each machine, each operator, and each product. This information helps optimize processes, identify bottlenecks, and improve quality.
For example, could you easily answer these questions? Astn’go yes!
- Which format/reference performs the worst on machine 3?
- What is the average rate for reference 529VDR?
- I want to know my OEE when my line 15 was producing reference 1525ABC.
- I want to know the changeover times on my line 14 when Jean Dupuis was making the adjustments.
- I want to know the quality rate for line 10 when I was producing a 500g format.
Astn’go will enable you to quickly and easily determine the root causes of poor performance using reliable data. You will therefore move from intuitive management to fact-based management.
Once the root causes of poor performance have been identified “factually,” you can implement effective corrective actions and measure the impact of these corrective actions on the performance of your equipment in real time (PDCA).
Why use Astn’go with an ERP?
- Complementarity of data
The ERP provides Astn’go with an overview of production and theoretical data (work order number, quantity to be produced, references, etc.), while Astn’go provides the ERP with detailed data and real-time results (actual quantity produced, quantity rejected, production time, downtime, etc.).
- Different time scales
The ERP works on a longer-term basis (planning, forecasting), while Astn’go focuses on the present moment (execution, monitoring).
- Additional functions
The ERP manages organizational aspects, while Astn’go focuses on optimizing performance and production operations.
The benefits of an ERP-Astn’go duo
- Improved productivity
Thanks to better visibility into performance and faster decision-making.
- Cost reduction
By optimizing the use of resources and minimizing losses.
- Quality improvement
By implementing rigorous quality controls and tracking products throughout the manufacturing process.
- Time savings for managers
Save time with intuitive interfaces and automated exchanges.
Astn’go and ERP form a dynamic duo that exchanges all the data needed to optimize production via an API programming interface or manual Excel imports/exports. See ERP or not: How do I manage my work orders and operations?
Our solutions are already interfaced with more than fifty different ERPs.
Astn’go, the true conductor of the workshop, retrieves all the information necessary for manufacturing from the ERP system: manufacturing orders, references, quantities, etc. It transmits work instructions directly to operators.
At the same time, operators, equipped with all the necessary information, start production and can monitor its progress in real time. Managers, meanwhile, have complete visibility over the workshop, enabling them to anticipate and respond quickly to any problems that may arise.
Finally, Astn’go feeds back accurate data on production progress, quantities produced, cycle times, rejects, etc. to the ERP system, enabling it to manage inventory and orders efficiently.
In summary
If ERP is the brain of the company, Astn’go is its beating heart. Working together, they optimize production, improve quality, and reduce costs. For manufacturers looking to increase their competitiveness, combining ERP with Astn’go is an essential investment.
To learn more about Astn’go and the benefits you can gain from the solution, contact us via this link.
