Tokyo, Japan - October 28, 2024
Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841) announces the global release of OpreX Batch MES, a product in the OpreX™ Asset Operations and Optimization family. OpreX Batch MES is a manufacturing execution system (MES) package intended for use in batch plants that produce specialty and fine chemicals.
The OpreX Batch MES home screen
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Development Background
Batch plants that produce specialty and fine chemicals consist of both automatic control and manual tasks in their production processes. This requires systems that can guarantee manufacturing procedures and rules are adhered to and manufacturing records are reliably kept, thereby preventing manufacturing defects and accidents, ensuring traceability, and facilitating the digitalization of processes and transfer of know-how. Specialty and fine chemicals are characterized by high-mix, low-volume production and a short product lifecycle, and customers thus need a certain level of flexibility to establish and revise manufacturing processes themselves.
Main Features
OpreX Batch MES is a software package for specialty and fine chemical batch plants that enables the management and confirmation of the status of manufacturing processes, provides support to operators, and offers smooth linkage with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and integrated production control systems. OpreX Batch MES offers the following features:
- Flexible modification of manufacturing procedures
For added flexibility, modifications to manufacturing procedures can now all be done using a low code development approach. This includes modifications to recipes (a comprehensive set of instructions for the manufacturing process specifying items such as the measurement of raw materials and the timing and temperature of specific processes), standard operating procedures (SOP: a set of step-by-step instructions on how to execute a specific process), and flow charts (conditions and determination rules at each stage of the manufacturing procedure). - Encourages utilization of know-how and new learnings by accumulating the knowledge and linking it to the job
Conventionally, a handover on a work site involved passing information verbally or by means of a memo on a notepad or other such media, but now it is possible to digitally record and refer to new learnings and evidence consisting of free-format text, photos, video, and audio from a screen that is operated directly during production, helping to pass on know-how.
Major Target Markets
Batch plants that manufacture specialty and fine chemicals (semiconductor chemicals, semiconductor mounting materials, adhesives and sealants, construction chemicals, industrial cleaners, fragrances, high-performance resins, etc.)
Applications
Manufacturing execution management for specialty and fine chemicals
About OpreX
OpreX is the comprehensive brand for Yokogawa's industrial automation (IA) and control business. The OpreX name stands for excellence in the technologies and solutions that Yokogawa cultivates through the co-creation of value with its customers, and encompasses the entire range of Yokogawa's IA products, services, and solutions. This brand comprises the following five categories: OpreX Transformation, OpreX Control, OpreX Measurement, OpreX Execution, and OpreX Lifecycle. OpreX Batch MES, an OpreX Asset Operations and Optimization family solution, is in the OpreX Transformation category. OpreX Transformation delivers operational excellence throughout an enterprise's activities, from production through to supply chain optimization and risk and business management.
With the OpreX brand, Yokogawa will deliver integrated solutions that address specific needs and support its customers in their efforts to transform and grow their businesses.
About Yokogawa
Yokogawa provides advanced solutions in the areas of measurement, control, and information to customers across a broad range of industries, including energy, chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals, and food. Yokogawa addresses customer issues regarding the optimization of production, assets, and the supply chain with the effective application of digital technologies, enabling the transition to autonomous operations.
Founded in Tokyo in 1915, Yokogawa continues to work toward a sustainable society through its 17,000+ employees in a global network of 126 companies spanning 60 countries.
For more information, visit www.yokogawa.com
The names of corporations, organizations, products, services and logos herein are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Yokogawa Electric Corporation or their respective holders.