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SCHOTT Tubing GmbH implements GUARDUS MES
SCHOTT Tubing Implements Integrated Quality and Production Management
During its search for a central manufacturing execution system (MES) for all products, processes, and quality information, SCHOTT Tubing discovered GUARDUS Solutions AG/ with world headquarters in Ulm, Germany. SCHOTT ultimately decided to implement the GUARDUS Manufacturing Execution Software solution. This software is designed to further optimize the high quality and reporting standards of the internationally renowned specialist in glass tubes in Mitterteich, Germany. “GUARDUS MES puts an end to our various Excel lists and paper files along the value chain as well as in reporting. On the one hand, the implementation of a central information pool contributes to the optimization of data quality and, on the other hand, it accelerates the creation of online evaluations and the continuous improvement process”, said Gerhard String, Chief of the Process Technology Department at SCHOTT Tubing GmbH. In the future, the new GUARDUS MES solution will be implemented in three areas: production in order to support the process optimization and tracking; quality management in order to support inspections during various processes as well as mobile data collection, traceability of product batches, and audit planning; and site management in order to provide all of the information necessary for the immediate reporting of quality data and standardized key performance indicators.
High degree of expertise and functional coverage
SCHOTT Tubing selected GUARDUS MES due to its high functional coverage degree of approximately 70%. “Besides the consistency of the system and the modular functionalities for quality and production management, the multitude of predefined standard reports also represented a convincing aspect. The customization process involved only some special upgrades typical to our business segment tubing”, String stated. The GUARDUS Solutions AG MES could also get a high evaluation due to its complete update capability. That is, a software release update is always possible without any issues, even in cases involving more extensive customization.
Creation of a central knowledge database
The selection of the MES software solution was influenced not only by the functional aspect of the application, but also by its integration capability. During quality inspections, the MES provides SCHOTT’s central history database with all of the process and quality information that results from measuring systems and production equipment. The integration of the certificate database also plays an important role in the smooth flow of the production process. At the end of the value chain processes, the GUARDUS system provides this database with the quality and production-relevant data of a manufactured glass tube palette. If customer complaints arise, the quality data used for the manufacturing of the glass tube palette can be easily identified by the user via the corresponding certificate number. As a result, the flexible integration of upstream and downstream systems into GUARDUS MES allows for the gradual creation of a unitary knowledge database that supports systematic performance indicators analyses and the continuous improvement process.
Autonomous and gradual upgrading of the system
The modular functionalities of the MES standard software ensure SCHOTT Tubing’s freedom of action with regard to the upgrading of the application at optimal costs, as well as its rollout to other locations and production units. One of the future targets of the specialist in glass tubes is the implementation of further GUARDUS MES modules, such as Maintenance Management, Audit Management, and Production Cockpit. Using the GUARDUS MES KPI methodology, the last of the three modules mentioned enables the company to create a key performance indicator system that fully meets the demands of the VDMA standard document 66412 parts 1 and 2 and ultimately ISO 22400.
SCHOTT Tubing GmbH
The SCHOTT Group Tubing Division extends to five manufacturing sites worldwide. With a production capacity of more than 130,000 tons, Business Segment Tubing is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of glass tubing. Sixty different types of glass are available to customers in almost every country in the world via an extensive sales network. With approximately 1,000 employees, Mitterteich is the largest manufacturing site within Business Segment Tubing. Production and quality assurance are coordinated and new products are developed and tested by in-house laboratories at Mitterteich. In addition, it is where central marketing and sales coordination are masterminded. In-house workshops equipped with special machine construction facilities ensure optimal mastery of the special challenges inherent to tube glass manufacturing and the fastest possible integration of technical process innovations worldwide.