Traceability (TR service)

The most important function of the iTAC.MES.Suite is traceability.
The iTAC.MES.Suite answers the key questions of traceability for all serialized individual items:

• On the basis of which master data,
• with which production order,
• at what time,
• on which machines,
• with which quality- and measurement data
• and using which supplier lots and units

was the product / individual item manufactured?

Furthermore, the MES system is characterized by the “active traceability” from iTAC. This distinguishes our product immensely from ordinary traceability (passive traceability, e.g. VDA 5005), which was originally “only“ for the documentation of production processes and mounted material lots.

By interlocking individual processes and work steps, the iTAC.MES.Suite minimizes the production of faulty products. As a result, failures within the production process can be detected early on in real-time and then corrected.

During each production stage, tests are carried out to establish whether the components and parts have been mounted as defined by product development and whether the defined process parameters for production have been adhered to. If faults occur on parts or a component/unit during the production process, the corresponding unit will not be processed further but instead follows a defined escalation path (analysis – repair – test, or the unit is ejected).

“Active Traceability“ within the iTAC.MES.Suite has a technological and a functional characteristic:

Technologically, the iTAC.MES.Suite provides bidirectional and therefore direct communication between the MES system and the production plant. This bidirectional communication with various production plants is guaranteed via a number of standardized software functions (API – Service Adapter), which are integrated in the system control computer, testing systems or PLC.

In addition to these API-based software functionalities for system integration, the iTAC.MES.Suite offers system architecture which guarantees the required 24/7 operation of modern production sites. These include operational security of the system as well as other functions such as “failover“ or dynamic load balancing. The iTAC.MES.Suite architecture also enables system scalability so that dynamic extensions (e.g. integration of further manufacturing plants) can be implemented economically and safely with respect to production.

The technical/functional characteristics of the iTAC.MES.Suite are based on the API Service Adapter. Using standardized functions of system integration, this provides e.g. product-dependent parameter allowances, enables verification of units and materials before they are mounted as well as many other functions for achieving zero-fault production.