PI miCos – transparent shop-floor data for precision positioning with FELIOS|BDE on Infor:LN

Location: 79427 Eschbach, Germany · Industry: Precision technology, photonics, electronics, positioning systems, mechanical engineering · Products: Precision positioning systems, linear stages, hexapods, positioning technology for microscopy and photonics · ERP: Infor:LN · Website: https://www.physikinstrumente.com/en/ · S4P modules: FELIOS|BDE (powered by 4BDE)

Initial situation

For the manufacture of precision positioning systems and photonics components at PI miCos GmbH, with around 120 employees, complete and transparent acquisition of operating data was required. The goal was a reliable real-time overview of ongoing production as a complement to the existing ERP system Infor:LN. Hexapods, linear stages and microscopy positioning technology are produced in a high variant mix and in small lot sizes, which requires precise documentation of each manufacturing step.

Challenge

The high variant mix and demanding precision requirements called for end-to-end acquisition of production data. Without digital shop-floor data collection, up-to-date KPIs on orders, machines and manufacturing times were difficult to obtain in real time. Manual feedback was error-prone and delayed, which made well-founded shop-floor control difficult. The seamless integration with Infor:LN was mandatory in order to ensure a consistent data basis between ERP and the shop floor.

Solution

With FELIOS|BDE powered by 4BDE, an end-to-end digital acquisition of production data was implemented. The solution integrates seamlessly with the existing Infor:LN ERP landscape and delivers up-to-date KPIs directly from manufacturing. Operators book order times, good and scrap quantities as well as fault reasons at the shop-floor terminal; the data is transferred automatically to Infor:LN. Manufacturing management and shift supervisors gain a real-time overview of order progress and capacity utilisation.

Results and benefits

With FELIOS|BDE powered by 4BDE, PI miCos GmbH achieves a reliable real-time overview of ongoing production. Operating data are captured transparently, KPIs are available up to date and manufacturing control is sustainably improved. Manual feedback effort was reduced, data quality in Infor:LN was improved and a solid foundation was created for evaluations and continuous improvements in precision technology manufacturing.