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Look for These Five Characteristics in a Highly Effective MES – ReadWrite

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Deanna Ritchie


A manufacturing execution system (MES) is the basis for almost every smart manufacturing, Industry 4.0, and digital project in the 21st Century.

A manufacturing execution system (MES) is the basis for almost every smart manufacturing, Industry 4.0, and digital transformation project since it is a cornerstone of the fourth industrial revolution. And it offers enhanced cybersecurity.

The MES, like the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), enables a diverse set of capabilities ranging from data gathering and analytics to ERP interfaces and production applications.

The system also includes — order management, production management, line scheduling, quality management, material management, recipe management, performance monitoring, corporate manufacturing intelligence, plus rich descriptive and diagnostic analytics are just a few of the manufacturing applications available.

How to Be Successful With MES

However, for an MES to be highly successful, it must possess several distinct qualities that give considerable capabilities and significant value. Inquire about these critical aspects while evaluating various MES alternatives to see whether the MES can offer the basis for intelligent manufacturing for you.

MES Database

To collect all necessary information from the shop floor, a highly efficient MES must start with a robust database.

Every piece of data connected to manufacturing processes inside the four walls of a plant, from the receiving dock to the shipping dock, requires a database entry.

Materials, suppliers, customers, procedures, equipment, labor, quality, maintenance, deviations, incidents, and everything else involved in the manufacturing process.

The database must also be structured so that it can accommodate a wide range of data. Some of the data will be time-series data gathered from industrial operations regularly.

Don’t forget the historical component

You must include a historical component for handling time series data in the MES database. Therefore, the MES database must have an object-based relational database for the event and transactional data to access shop floor data quickly.

Additionally, the MES database must have a data lake or warehouse component that enables historical data and a wide variety of analyses, employing a star schema. The whole MES system is a triumph of the IoT.

Properties of the MES Database Functionality

Orders, production, consumption, scheduling, quality, materials, and recipes must all be included in the execution section of an MES. However, it must have built-in ERP integration capabilities. You must have connectivity with other information systems, and the capacity to link automation and control systems through the IIoT.

Manufacturing and perfarmance monitoring

An MES should also provide enterprise manufacturing information and performance monitoring in the form of real-time dashboards and other displays. In the form of descriptive and diagnostic analytics, it must have real-time and historical analytics. It’s all part of the big metaverse picture.

Scalability

For businesses with several locations, MES should scale up to sites with hundreds of employees or down to those with just a few. However, there should be no disparity in capabilities since even the most minor facilities need a complete solution.

A highly successful MES must operate in a wide range of physical architectures.

Consequently, the days of systems residing within the production plant are long gone. The IIoT may conduct its function on-site.

Meanwhile, the MES is in the cloud. In reality, distinct sections of the MES and separate parts of a database may live in different regions of the cloud. You might offer up transactions, dashboards, and analytics from MES applications to various employees throughout the global organization.

Configurable

A bespoke MES solution isn’t possible, and neither is a toolkit. This system must be a customizable solution based on pre-built apps and application templates. It should be simple to customize.

Almost every feature of the MES system has to be customizable. Screens, apps, dashboards, reports, analytics, and more are all part of this. In an MES system, there should be no custom code, just customizable out-of-the-box apps and application templates.

MES Flexibility

Manufacturing facilities in intelligent manufacturing and Industry 4.0 environment change all the time.

Constant equipment relocation or adding. You can alter processes or introduce them, etc. The MES must readily handle these modifications. MES have flexibility enough to manage these sorts of changes regularly. That is to say, whether it’s modifications to the plant model, database model, individual apps, dashboards, or analytics.

Designers configure MES systems to work in certain ways and for specific industries in the past.

Although particular businesses (e.g., pharmaceutical industries) have special needs, a highly successful MES must go beyond this paradigm. Production businesses must adapt alternative manufacturing processes in Industry 4.0.

Blurring conventional barriers between process or batch manufacturing and discrete manufacturing — almost everything is heading toward hybrid production. Flexibility is with most businesses using various methodologies will be the most important moving forward.

Conclusion

Your MES must be comprehensive, delivering a complete set of tasks while being scalable down to the minor facility to be effective as an Industry 4.0 solution.

The system must be strong enough to handle all manufacturing tasks — meanwhile, also configuring across the board. It must provide considerable capabilities and advantages while also incredibly adaptable to the production environment’s continual change.

Finally, your MES must handle a variety of distributed architectures, all of which are cloud-based. As a result, the MES offers a solid basis for growth.

To determine whether a system is a highly effective MES, ask prospective vendors if it can deliver these characteristics for you.

The MES is the cornerstone of the fourth industrial revolution. Moreover it is the basis for just about every smart manufacturing, Industry 4.0, and digital transformation project.

Image Credit: Pexabay; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

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Fintech Kennek raises $12.5M seed round to digitize lending

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Google eyed for $2 billion Anthropic deal after major Amazon play


London-based fintech startup Kennek has raised $12.5 million in seed funding to expand its lending operating system.

According to an Oct. 10 tech.eu report, the round was led by HV Capital and included participation from Dutch Founders Fund, AlbionVC, FFVC, Plug & Play Ventures, and Syndicate One. Kennek offers software-as-a-service tools to help non-bank lenders streamline their operations using open banking, open finance, and payments.

The platform aims to automate time-consuming manual tasks and consolidate fragmented data to simplify lending. Xavier De Pauw, founder of Kennek said:

“Until kennek, lenders had to devote countless hours to menial operational tasks and deal with jumbled and hard-coded data – which makes every other part of lending a headache. As former lenders ourselves, we lived and breathed these frustrations, and built kennek to make them a thing of the past.”

The company said the latest funding round was oversubscribed and closed quickly despite the challenging fundraising environment. The new capital will be used to expand Kennek’s engineering team and strengthen its market position in the UK while exploring expansion into other European markets. Barbod Namini, Partner at lead investor HV Capital, commented on the investment:

“Kennek has developed an ambitious and genuinely unique proposition which we think can be the foundation of the entire alternative lending space. […] It is a complicated market and a solution that brings together all information and stakeholders onto a single platform is highly compelling for both lenders & the ecosystem as a whole.”

The fintech lending space has grown rapidly in recent years, but many lenders still rely on legacy systems and manual processes that limit efficiency and scalability. Kennek aims to leverage open banking and data integration to provide lenders with a more streamlined, automated lending experience.

The seed funding will allow the London-based startup to continue developing its platform and expanding its team to meet demand from non-bank lenders looking to digitize operations. Kennek’s focus on the UK and Europe also comes amid rising adoption of open banking and open finance in the regions.

Featured Image Credit: Photo from Kennek.io; Thank you!

Radek Zielinski

Radek Zielinski is an experienced technology and financial journalist with a passion for cybersecurity and futurology.

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Fortune 500’s race for generative AI breakthroughs

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Deanna Ritchie


As excitement around generative AI grows, Fortune 500 companies, including Goldman Sachs, are carefully examining the possible applications of this technology. A recent survey of U.S. executives indicated that 60% believe generative AI will substantially impact their businesses in the long term. However, they anticipate a one to two-year timeframe before implementing their initial solutions. This optimism stems from the potential of generative AI to revolutionize various aspects of businesses, from enhancing customer experiences to optimizing internal processes. In the short term, companies will likely focus on pilot projects and experimentation, gradually integrating generative AI into their operations as they witness its positive influence on efficiency and profitability.

Goldman Sachs’ Cautious Approach to Implementing Generative AI

In a recent interview, Goldman Sachs CIO Marco Argenti revealed that the firm has not yet implemented any generative AI use cases. Instead, the company focuses on experimentation and setting high standards before adopting the technology. Argenti recognized the desire for outcomes in areas like developer and operational efficiency but emphasized ensuring precision before putting experimental AI use cases into production.

According to Argenti, striking the right balance between driving innovation and maintaining accuracy is crucial for successfully integrating generative AI within the firm. Goldman Sachs intends to continue exploring this emerging technology’s potential benefits and applications while diligently assessing risks to ensure it meets the company’s stringent quality standards.

One possible application for Goldman Sachs is in software development, where the company has observed a 20-40% productivity increase during its trials. The goal is for 1,000 developers to utilize generative AI tools by year’s end. However, Argenti emphasized that a well-defined expectation of return on investment is necessary before fully integrating generative AI into production.

To achieve this, the company plans to implement a systematic and strategic approach to adopting generative AI, ensuring that it complements and enhances the skills of its developers. Additionally, Goldman Sachs intends to evaluate the long-term impact of generative AI on their software development processes and the overall quality of the applications being developed.

Goldman Sachs’ approach to AI implementation goes beyond merely executing models. The firm has created a platform encompassing technical, legal, and compliance assessments to filter out improper content and keep track of all interactions. This comprehensive system ensures seamless integration of artificial intelligence in operations while adhering to regulatory standards and maintaining client confidentiality. Moreover, the platform continuously improves and adapts its algorithms, allowing Goldman Sachs to stay at the forefront of technology and offer its clients the most efficient and secure services.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Google DeepMind; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

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UK seizes web3 opportunity simplifying crypto regulations

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Deanna Ritchie


As Web3 companies increasingly consider leaving the United States due to regulatory ambiguity, the United Kingdom must simplify its cryptocurrency regulations to attract these businesses. The conservative think tank Policy Exchange recently released a report detailing ten suggestions for improving Web3 regulation in the country. Among the recommendations are reducing liability for token holders in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and encouraging the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to adopt alternative Know Your Customer (KYC) methodologies, such as digital identities and blockchain analytics tools. These suggestions aim to position the UK as a hub for Web3 innovation and attract blockchain-based businesses looking for a more conducive regulatory environment.

Streamlining Cryptocurrency Regulations for Innovation

To make it easier for emerging Web3 companies to navigate existing legal frameworks and contribute to the UK’s digital economy growth, the government must streamline cryptocurrency regulations and adopt forward-looking approaches. By making the regulatory landscape clear and straightforward, the UK can create an environment that fosters innovation, growth, and competitiveness in the global fintech industry.

The Policy Exchange report also recommends not weakening self-hosted wallets or treating proof-of-stake (PoS) services as financial services. This approach aims to protect the fundamental principles of decentralization and user autonomy while strongly emphasizing security and regulatory compliance. By doing so, the UK can nurture an environment that encourages innovation and the continued growth of blockchain technology.

Despite recent strict measures by UK authorities, such as His Majesty’s Treasury and the FCA, toward the digital assets sector, the proposed changes in the Policy Exchange report strive to make the UK a more attractive location for Web3 enterprises. By adopting these suggestions, the UK can demonstrate its commitment to fostering innovation in the rapidly evolving blockchain and cryptocurrency industries while ensuring a robust and transparent regulatory environment.

The ongoing uncertainty surrounding cryptocurrency regulations in various countries has prompted Web3 companies to explore alternative jurisdictions with more precise legal frameworks. As the United States grapples with regulatory ambiguity, the United Kingdom can position itself as a hub for Web3 innovation by simplifying and streamlining its cryptocurrency regulations.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Jonathan Borba; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

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