One of the inherent challenges in top-down scheduling systems, such as manufacturing plans generated from Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (Level 4 in ANSI/ISA-95 model), are that they are typically based on the ideal state of manufacturers’ processes. The real state may quite different and include issues with equipment, processing steps that didn’t go as planned, and other less-than-ideal occurrences.
For biomanufacturers in the Life Science industry, developing and executing plans based on the real state of the process can maximize production and identify improvement opportunities. Having models of the process integrated with conditions, events, and other real-time information coming from the control systems (Level 2), manufacturing execution systems (MES – Level 3), and other software applications used in the production process such as laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) enables feasible schedules to be executed.
Recently, Emerson acquired Bioproduction Group (Bio-G), a leader in simulation, modeling, and scheduling software for biomanufacturers. I caught up with Bio-G’s leader David Zhang to learn more about these software applications and how they help improve manufacturing performance.
The Bio-G Real-Time Modeling System software is designed to help biomanufacturers understand complexity, accommodate variability, find bottlenecks, maximize production and understand the implications of any change in the manufacturing process.
It links to real-time data and databases such as SAP, DeltaV DCS, Syncade MES, PI, CMMS, LIMS and other SQL-based data sources. These links are bi-directional providing automatic updating of key process parameters for a robust and comprehensive information model. Continue Reading ▶
