Two sector specialists have pooled their expertise: Komax Wire, the wire processing specialist, and iTAC Software AG, the MES specialist. The result of the collaboration is a manufacturing execution system (MES) that is precisely tailored to the requirements of the wire processing industry. The new MES was first presented at the Komax Inhouse-Show from October 25-27, 2016 at the Komax headquarters in Dierikon, Switzerland.

(Photo L-R: Peter Bollinger (CEO iTAC Software AG), Marc Schürmann (Vice President Marketing, Sales & Services Komax AG), Matijas Meyer (CEO Komax Group), Martin Heinz (General Manager D-A-CH iTAC Software AG))

“Quality requirements of wire harnesses and wired connections in vehicles will continue to become increasingly stringent as the number of electronic components performing safety critical functions in cars increases,” explained Marc Schürmann, Vice President Marketing, Sales and Services at Komax Wire. “The manufacturing process will also become more complex due to the miniaturisation of the contact elements, the introduction of new materials and the cost pressure on products,” he added. Another consideration is the zero defect production requirement.

iTAC and Komax became partners to solve these problems by developing a manufacturing execution system to ensure end-to-end transparency in all wire harness production and assembly processes while improving productivity and quality.

iTAC Software AG’s MES offers a comprehensive range of functions for the control and optimisation of wire processing-specific processes and all production processes. This state-of-the-art system has the smart technology and functions that are essential in any modern MES for the wire processing industry.

Optimization of the supply chain

As a leading supplier of innovative and high quality solutions for the wire processing industry, Komax helps its customers implement economical and safe manufacturing processes. By combining the expertise of the two companies, an MES has been created that is specifically tailored to the requirements of the wire processing industry in terms of its functions. It is scalable and can be individually configured to customer requirements, which means it can be used by companies of different sizes. These facts, plus the sector-specific smart factory capable modules for production scheduling and optimization and the business intelligence for assembly, make the MES unique in the wire processing market.

The end-to-end system is designed for the entire wire processing supply chain - from goods receipt through production to goods dispatch. It is a full-scale MES for the management of the entire wire harness production process, including machines, manual workstations, operating resources, material flow and resources. Machine characteristics can be mapped in detail so that the manufactured products are always exactly to specification. It helps wire harness manufacturers to turn out their complex products on time and in the required quality while making optimum use of materials and resources.

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