Press Releases

MILWAUKEE, Oct. 27, 2004- A new series of software and service offerings from Rockwell Automation collectively called Performance Solutions for Manufacturing helps manufacturers increase operating efficiencies and speed time-to-market. The modular solutions provide manufacturers with software, engineering services and industry-specific technical expertise to solve specific performance challenges and facilitate profitable decision-making by transforming production data into actionable information. The four focus areas within the series — Machine Performance, Line Performance, Plant Performance and Supply Chain Performance — establish a scalable, modular solution framework targeted to the automotive, life sciences and consumer packaged goods industries.

Performance Solutions for Manufacturing pairs pre-integrated software components with expert consulting and engineering services. Its unique infrastructure supports both focused applications and easy extensibility, enabling manufacturers to deploy plant-based information systems using a phased approach. The embedded FactoryTalk® data model pairs a flexible architecture with a common set of services and software modules to create a seamless and consistent enterprise information flow. Performance Solutions for Manufacturing is applied in a wide range of discrete, process and hybrid industries. “This is a solution strategy designed for manufacturers who need to drive sustainable improvements in enterprise production operations,” said Steve Ryan, Manufacturing and Process Solutions marketing director, Rockwell Automation. “We’ve established a migration path that allows customers to extend initial technology investments at the machine or line level into solutions for plant-wide execution and supply chain synchronization.”

Each of the Performance Solutions for Manufacturing offerings addresses progressively larger footprints for plant-wide information systems:

• Machine Performance Solutions increase asset utilization by monitoring equipment throughput and performance
• Line Performance Solutions analyze production line operational efficiency to help management eliminate process bottlenecks
• Plant Performance Solutions increase visibility, tracking, and control across manufacturing processes by automating the production planning, execution and analysis functions
• Supply Chain Performance Solutions synchronize multi facility production information to optimize internal-to-external supply chain operations

Modules that target high-impact areas for discrete, process and hybrid manufacturing environments will be made available throughout 2004 and 2005. Recently released offerings under the Performance Solutions for Manufacturing umbrella are Discrete Machine and Discrete Line Performance Solutions, both targeted specifically for improving discrete production and packaging operations. Both solutions utilize pre-integrated software based on Rockwell Software® RSBizWare™.

Discrete Machine Performance provides pre-configured reports that can analyze machine or equipment throughput, including downtimeanalysis, historical trending, and on-demand efficiency analysis, to help production personnel monitor performance and ensure that operations are within established control limits. Capturing and analyzing accurate real-time information is the key to identifying improvement opportunities, maximizing existing production equipment, and reducing operational and maintenance costs.

Discrete Line Performance provides a deeper view into a production line’s operational processes, aggregating and contextualizing key performance data to support rapid correlation of many variables that can impact overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Operators and managers in engineering, maintenance and production enjoy on-demand access to downtime monitoring and alerts, production performance analytics, and equipment operating metrics. Numerous reports display production metrics associated with time, shift, operator, work order, product and SKU. Implementing a Discrete Line Performance Solution is an important step for improving overall visibility, tracking and control of manufacturing line performance — helping management to maximize line capacity, while ensuring quality output.

Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) is a world-leading provider of industrial automation power, control and information solutions that help customers meet their manufacturing productivity objectives. The company brings together leading brands in industrial automation for Complete Automation® solutions, including Allen-Bradley® controls and services, Dodge® mechanical power transmission products, Reliance® motors and drives, and Rockwell Software factory management software. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., USA, the company employs about 20,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.

For more information on Performance Solutions for Manufacturing, please contact the Rockwell Automation Response Center, 10701 Hampshire Avenue South, Bloomington, Minn., 55438, 800.223.5354, Ext. 1760.

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FactoryTalk, ControlLogix, PLC, Complete Automation, Dodge, Reliance Electric, Allen-Bradley, and Rockwell Software are trademarks of Rockwell Automation.