PLM: Web-based operations management

Intercim, LLC, a maker of manufacturing operation management (MOM) software, has launched Pertinence Suite powered by Velocity. The software manages the production process from design through final inspection, with a goal of reducing cycle times and time to market.

The Pertinence Suite oriented architecture (SOA) and built upon the Microsoft .Net platform, the system is a Web-based, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) operations management solution.

The product is the latest initiative to come out of last year’s merger of U.S.-based Intercim and French-based Pertinence. According to John Todd, Intercim president and CEO, the software’s patented predictive analysis capability offers manufacturers a totally new way of understanding and preventing quality defects before they happen, improving yield while decreasing the cost of re-work and scrap.” Aerospace and defense, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, and automobile manufacturers are primary prospects, given the complexity of their processes.

Native Web technology allows the management of production within the factory, across the enterprise, and throughout the supply chain. Process plans, data collection, risk patterns, emergent processes, electronic approvals, and key performance indicator (KPI) reports may be entered locally, and accessed globally. Comprehensive interoperability allows customers to optimize and leverage their existing product lifecycle management (PLM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) investment.

Another innovation is the ability to extend 3D modeling to the shop floor. “Since everything conforms to the 3D design, translating it to 2D as it leaves engineering adds no real value and can cause unnecessary errors,” said Todd. “Using 3D as a common model throughout the process ensures consistency for the shop floor technician.”

New pay-per-use pricing eliminates a large initial investment. Intercim installs software modules at the client site, which then allows users to access them as needed, without setting up new contracts or limiting the number of users. At each use, the corresponding number of credit units is deducted from the equivalent of a prepaid card. The more credits purchased, the lower the per-unit cost, allowing users to work on an as-needed basis, without having to install new software at different points in time. “This pay-per-use model leverages the Suite’s flexible and scalable capabilities, while making it financially less restrictive for manufacturers to implement a state-of-the-industry solution,” said Todd.

–edited by Renee Robbins , senior editor, Control Engineering Daily News Desk

Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our CFE Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.