'Don't let your production floor be a blind spot anymore!'

Most companies are now convinced that ERP can add value to their business processes. But it is still important to gain insight into the production floor in order to steer your plant as efficiently as possible. However, additional modules attached to an ERP package do not speak the same language of machines that are controlled down to milliseconds. Therefore, each layer needs its own specialists. With its Plant Operations suite, Aptean has a modular software package, developed from production, to achieve the smart, sustainable factories of tomorrow.

Aptean may be a new name in the Benelux for some companies, but this American software developer is by no means unscathed. It built a strong reputation in its home market with its often Microsoft-based ERP solutions, but adds - through the acquisition of Belgian company Objective, among others - rock-solid MES, WMS, OEE, EAM and PLM software. "And we are quite unique in that," says Director Solution Sales Fries Lefevere. "We transcend the ERP business with best-in-class solutions for driving the production floor. More and more automation is coming into the industry, right down to the warehouse. Each machine manufacturer does have its own screens, but with an umbrella system you keep a central overview and even get insight into older machines where the manufacturer doesn't offer overviews." 

1 + 1 = 3 

Aptean MES and WMS Objective Edition can make the difference just there. Erwin Vervondel, Senior Architect at Aptean: "We see that the sum of MES and WMS is increasingly three. The key words in a modern production environment are just-in-time and just-in-sequence. Everything must be delivered to the machines at the right time and in the right order. But at the same time, you want to remain flexible enough to respond to changes in planning. MES provides detailed instructions to man, machine and warehouse, where the WMS then takes care of the complete supply of raw materials and output of semi-finished and finished products. A tight integration that adds insane value. You get a complete gate-to-gate solution with Aptean MES and WMS, also because you can link seamlessly with ERP." 

Little to no customization 

Just that strength in breadth, from ERP to Plant Operations, means that there is little to no customization involved for the user. "That's exactly what you want to avoid, because that costs money," Vervondel knows. "We therefore opt for a kind of plug-in approach with a focus on open interfaces, so that it can also interface with other solutions and systems. Second point of difference is the domain knowledge we have built up over the years. Our software targets very specifically different niches within the manufacturing industry. Those in metalworking have very different requirements than those in electronics or biotechnology. Our software always starts from the flows specific to these sectors, bundled in pre-packaged services, so that it is a natural extension of the operations on the shop floor. Software tailored to the company, without customization. And we teach clients how to configure their flows in our applications so that they can work with them themselves afterwards." 

Scalable, resilient and reliable 

Aptean understands only too well that it can be a real barrier for SMEs to invest in MES and WMS on top of ERP and automation projects. "But the more automation is introduced, the more complex production becomes, the more the need to control everything efficiently will be felt," Lefevere points out. "A well-designed system gives you the scalability to grow, the resilience to shift gears and the reliability to meet your customers' demands. And maybe our OEE package can be an easy first step. That is up and running after only a few weeks, focuses on a specific problem and delivers results quickly. It can be a catalyst to solve other problems as well: how to better support maintenance, how to address quality issues, how to eliminate a bottleneck, ... and eventually move to a full-fledged MES and WMS solution." 

Aptean at ABISS 2024 

Aptean is attending this year's Abiss summit to be held Oct. 3. "We would love to host and speak to you there to talk about how we can help transition to smart, sustainable factories of the future." Aptean will be present at Booth 57.