Software update news about digital manufacturing tools and software

Cloud-Based Field Service Apps Cut Downtime

soft-ware element in handling field service operations for discrete manufacturers?

Mike Pandl: Field service software plays an increasingly important role for discrete manufacturers and their custom-ers, particularly for those whose products, equipment or machinery are mission-critical. Because field service sys-tems are the central mechanism by which customer service interaction takes place, including calls and other com-munications, schedules, work history, customer, product and personnel data, their importance can’t be overstated. Whether it’s medical, construction or any other type of capital equipment, repairs requiring downtime come at a high cost for customers and manufacturers. Further, leading manufacturers are innovating with servitization—incorporat-ing service as a central component of their product offer-ing—an approach which amplifies the importance of service performance and visibility.

Also common are scenarios where a manufacturer’s field services are delivered through a dealer network. In these cases, software can help manufacturers and their dealers collaborate to deliver a consistent, high-quality customer experience that brings mutual benefit.

ME: Your company recently released a new cloud-based application, Service Pro for NetSuite ERP. Describe this new MSI app. What does it offer manufacturing and distributors?

Pandl: Service Pro for NetSuite is a new ‘Built for Net-Suite’ SuiteApp that offers manufacturers and distributors servicing equipment and machinery assets with a complete,

integrated cloud suite for managing their field service work, including repair, preventive maintenance, installations and inspections. Manufacturers and distributors place a high importance on connectedness between their field service and ERP systems, and MSI has responded to this need by building integrations with industry-leading ERP providers, including NetSuite and Sage.

For distributors, the Service Pro for NetSuite partnership gives them a robust system before and after a product sale. NetSuite for Distributors helps them manage the sale, while Service Pro’s field service management integration handles the post-sale field service and support aspects, so distribu-tors can benefit from long-term customer engagement throughout the life of their product.

ME: How critical is using cloud-based applications for field service management?

Pandl: For service organizations performing work in the field, the cloud’s importance has increased dramatically as a connective element for each of the rapidly-advancing technologies that surround a field service operation. Today, a field service management system needs to be able to com-municate automatically with a variety of external technologies such as apps on mobile devices in the hands of technicians,

vehicles for GPS location and third-party business systems such as ERP systems for important integrations. Cloud-based systems greatly simplify these efforts.

ME: What manufacturing companies are best at imple-menting such service apps, and how can this technology boost productivity and extend machinery life?

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Software update

Mike Pandl

news about digital manufacturing tools and software

“Today, a field service system needs to communicate automatically with external

technologies such as apps on mobile devices in the hands of technicians,

Pandl: The companies that are best at implementing and using service apps have strong teams with both a vision for im-proving the customer’s service experience, and the organization-al commitment to lead internorganization-al service transformation initiatives.

These companies know that major gains in productivity and machinery life are available through ‘connected’ field service systems. The first and most important connec-tion manufacturers are tackling is a centralized field service

system that’s always connected to the field—continuously communicating with field technicians the information they need to complete their work, whether it’s repair, inspection, preventive mainte-nance or installation, on the first visit.

The second main need manufactur-ers have is a tight integration between their primary system of record—typical-ly their ERP system—and field service for seamless transition of customer, parts/inventory and invoicing data.

And, the most exciting connection manufacturers see is that of a field service system to usage, performance and maintenance information generated by their own machines through

telemat-Software update

The new Service Pro for NetSuite offers manufacturers and distributors cloud-based access to vital field service data on equipment and machinery assets.

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msi

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ics. Customers and manufacturers both prefer preventive maintenance ‘before failure’ to repair ‘after failure,’ and as machines become smarter, manufacturers plan to utilize that information to become more proactive, helping customers avoid downtime.

Many large manufacturers, like Caterpillar, are taking big steps to improve product support across their dealer network. With the right service technology connecting their business, dealers can use big data to anticipate problems, schedule preventive and predictive maintenance, and help cus-tomers manage their equipment fleets more efficiently.

ME: What manufacturing industries are implementing this class of field service software, and how widespread are these deployments to date?

Pandl: Manufacturers across a wide spectrum of industries are implementing transformative field service technologies with systems like Service Pro from MSI. While it is not uncommon for manufacturers to have back-office legacy systems in place that track core aspects of field service, such as customers, inventory and assets, far less common are those manufacturers that have fully mod-ernized their service operation, from mobile and scheduling to back office and IoT [Internet of Things].

We are still in the early stages of field service adoption [only about 25% of companies have adopted an IoT solution to help them manage service]. We see this as an area of huge growth for manu-facturing industries. Just like mobile was an ignitor four to five years ago, IoT will drive the next round of growth. Thanks to maturation and affordability of key technologies like mobile apps, devices, sensors and cloud, manufacturers we speak with are very excited that they can make their service vision a reality.

Acquisitions

Jabez Technologies (Laurent, Quebec, Canada), devel-oper of the Robotmaster programming software, was acquired

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July 30 by Hypertherm (Hanover, NH), manufacturer of plasma, waterjet, and laser machining systems. The transac-tion was structured as a purchase of substantially all assets of Jabez Technologies. Financial terms are undisclosed.

With the acquisition, Hypertherm will combine its cutting expertise with Jabez’s software engineering to develop better robotic programming solutions. Hypertherm said it plans no major changes to Jabez’s operations, leadership structure, or distribution channels, and Chahe Bakmazjian, founder and president of privately held Jabez, will continue to lead his team as part of Hypertherm’s newly established Robotic Software group. Jabez’s current offices in the Montreal area will remain intact, with no consolidations or reductions planned.

Jabez Technologies specializes in simplifying complex robotic programming for 3D shapes, particularly in high-mix manufacturing environments. With the ability to program many different robots across multiple processes, and by providing tools for easy cell setup and configuration, its Robotmaster software delivers the flexibility required to support a wide vari-ety of robotic applications. The software offers built-in simula-tion tools, on-the-fly calculasimula-tion capabilities and optimizasimula-tion and collision avoidance tools allow quick robotic programming.

New Releases

ModuleWorks GmbH (Munich), a supplier of CAD/CAM components for multiaxis toolpath generation and simulation, announced on July 2 the availability of Simulation for hybrid additive/subtractive manufacturing applications.

The new simulation module can be used in applications where additive manufacturing builds a part from a pow-dered material, as opposed to the traditional subtractive process where material is removed to create the final part. While relatively new, the technology has seen significant growth and machine tool builders have introduced a new generation of machines that combine additive and subtrac-tive technologies in a hybrid approach. Typically the part is built using additive technology and then finished using subtractive machining techniques.

ModuleWorks Simulation, which is found in many of leading CAD/CAM products and also on many machine tool controls, now offers the ability to simulate the additive pro-cess and combines it with the subtractive propro-cess to provide complete simulation of the manufacturing process. Full stock material addition and removal is provided along with full kine-matic machine simulation.

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“We’ve seen an increasing number of requests for simulation for the additive manufacturing process from our partners and prospects around the world, so we have en-gineered our simulation technology to offer this capability,” ModuleWorks Technical Director David

Plater said in a statement. “We’re now able to produce a realistic hybrid simulation and the results have been well received by our partners.”

CAD/CAM software developer

Delcam (Birmingham, UK) has updated its PowerInspect metrology software with the 2015 R2 release that makes it easier to complete fast and accurate inspection of complex assemblies. The new version includes more options for automation of inspection sequences, including automated probe changes, au-tomatic feature extraction for point-cloud batch inspection, and greater control over collision-checking.

Partnerships

PLM developer Aras (Andover, MA, and Munich) announced July 27 that the Rail Control Solutions (RCS) division of Bombardier (Montréal, Canada), manufacturer of aircraft and trains, has selected the Aras Innovator PLM suite. RCS will use Aras to streamline con-figuration management and compliance across the supply chain.

Kubotek USA (Marlborough, MA) and Synergis Software (Quakertown, PA) announced a partnership July 29 under which the companies will offer the Synergis Adept PDM (product data management) software to KeyCreator Direct CAD customers through devel-opment of an integrated plug-in. Adept PDM for KeyCreator will be available in late summer 2015. Many of Kubotek’s larger contract manufacturer customers have requested a PDM solution to help ensure accurate drawing revisions and

engineering change control throughout their entire design-to-manufacture process.

Software Update is edited by Senior Editor Patrick Waurzyniak; [email protected].

www.dptechnology.com (805) 388-6000 • (800) 627-8479

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