Scenario 42 - Production to Manufacturing Execution System (MES)

42.0 Overview

Scenario #42 describes scenarios which would enable integration of disparate manufacturing systems applications for production execution.

The purpose of this scenario is to enable the visualization of the participants in the process and the dialogs between them for this specific integration. This scenario is not meant to be the only model for integrating general ledger applications to a budget applications. This is simply one model that may be used to guide one’s own integration efforts.

The scenario below shows an integration that involves a manufacturing execution system (MES) and a central ERP system. The MES is shown as the source of production events and activities. The ERP is shown as the source of related setup events which occur prior to production.

42.1 Scenario Diagram

The scenario below contains the participants involved in the interaction, the dialog flows or conversation between them, certain assumptions about the sequence of events, and assumptions about the technical approach, for example, publish and subscribe.

This is a model to be used as a design recommendation, not a required approach.

42.2 Assumptions

This scenario assumes a loosely coupled, asynchronous approach with transaction management required but not explicitly defined.

The environment for this first integration is typically within an enterprise and within a division.

The environment for this second integration is typically between two enterprises.

This scenarios also assume that one application will maintain the master data for the integration.

42.3 Participant Definitions

The scenario contains six major application; order management, inventory, engineering (PDM), manufacturing (ERP), manufacturing execution (MES) and costing applications.

The definitions and details of these applications are left to the designer but are assumed to contain the functionality as defined by what is commonly sold in the commercial market place today. This definition is broadly accepted by the scenario designers and is a direct result of the decision not to define how the processing takes place within any individual application.

Each application must be able perform the services defined by the message BOD (business object document), but the internals of the application are not required or desired to be exposed at this level of standardized abstraction.

The most important factors in defining these participants is to ensure that an integration designer can communicate the requirements precisely enough to detail the interfaces needed and their interrelationships.

42.4 Business Workflow (Sequence)

The business workflow is graphically represented by starting at the Scenario top and reading from top down and from left to right.

The events involved include:

  • Sync BOM (Bill of Materials) - Occurs whenever an event triggers a change or update and ensures correct BOM is used for planning and production when an order occurs
  • Sync Routing - Occurs whenever an event triggers a change or update and ensures correct routing is used for planning and production
  • Process Sales Order - Initiates a sales order with the manufacturing (ERP) system to trigger inventory movements and production
  • Sync Production Order - Initiates the production of the items that will needed to deliver the order and/or replenish inventory
  • Process Issue Inventory - Updates the inventory management system to the status of and availability of inventory
  • Get WIP Status - Enables the ERP and MRP to coordinate the exact status of the production events (can be done with a “push” Show from the MRP on some preplanned or arranged schedule)
  • Process Allocate Resources - Indicates the actual resources used and how they are to be allocated to a costing system

42.5 Exception Handling

Exception handling is highly localized as the result of an implementation’s infrastructure, management and business rules. As such, this section of the Scenario documentation is planned to be used as a guide to help understand the additional intent of these Scenarios. If no exceptions are noted here, then it can be assumed that the Scenario designers agreed that the Scenario is straight forward and has no additional needs:

  • Note that the Confirm BOD is not shown in the scenario and that it is the most obvious method for providing an application level exception and feedback mechanism between business software components. Full Confirm BOD use is described in other OAGIS documentation in detail, but it should be noted that the specific use of the Confirm BOD may vary significantly from scenario to scenario and from integration to integration.

  • The Confirm BOD is typically intended to be used by the original receiving application to communicate to the sending application that the information it sent in the message BOD (business object document) was received and understood and can be processed.

  • If the information was not received or nor understood, or contained errors of any type, it is accepted practice for the OAGIS users to presume that the data was not acted on and in the absence of a Confirm BOD within a partnership previously agreed to time limit to resend the original message again.

  • As errors and assumptions are the bane of any implementation, it is strongly recommended that the Confirm BOD be used to prevent any potential problem although it is not a requirement by OAGIS use.

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