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Hi folks,
I am looking into the possibility, need and touchpoints to integrate Windchill and MES. If anybody has done the same, could you share some light on the recommended middleware, and what should be the framework one should follow to do the integration.
Thanks.
Actively doing this on my end. Do not confuse MPM (Mfg Process Management or Planning) and MES (Mfg Execution System). While MPMLink can assist in documentation and management of process plans, work instructions, etc, you still need a system to execute those plans and keep track of relative data. SAP, Solumina, Epsilon3 are some examples focused on the execution part but there are many others. With MPMLink, Thingworx offers connected work cell to handle execution of plans from Windchill.
As for the touch points, it depends on your dividing line between Windchill and your MES. If you use MPMLink, then you will want something that will publish those plans downstream. ESI handles this and should be preferred choice to export your process plans to your MES system. If you author somewhere else, then your integration is with the BOM, Parts and visualization data. In our case, we maintain document objects as stubs for those MES plans and test procedures in Windchill so they are linked by number and URL. Change control defers to MES system. In our case, we are exploring Thingworx as the middleware between the two systems to create a mashup but any REST service will do.
@avillanueva - Thanks much for the information. Though I am still trying to completely grasp what you have mentioned :), I have the following queries.
i) As you mentioned, Thingworx can be utilized as a middleware, are Solumina, SAP and Epsilon3 some alternatives or they serve all together a different purpose?
ii) Somehwere in a PTC case, I read Apriso mentioned for this integration. Is that one of the recommended way to go ?.
Never heard of Apriso and all I came up with was a drug 😁. I listed some MES systems but you can google to find a complete list with feature comparisons. They all serve the same purpose, to author and execute MFG procedures. Do you have an MES system currently? Not sure if you need background information on what an MES system is and how its used.
Hi,
You can use MES Distribution Target to export to B2MML standard and you can create an adapter to consume this B2MML in Apriso. Apriso support the B2MML standard.. This will help to create a closed loop integration just like ESI Tibco
The other option is to use rest api. if the data is huge, it can be a challenge