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Production Management Information Systems - TietoEnator

TietoEnator, of Redmond Washington, is a major supplier of Production Management Information Systems for the Pulp and Paper Industry. The TietoEnator system encompasses all aspects, from order placement by Sales to the management of production at the factory floor. An order can be placed in the system in any sales office then produced, packaged and labeled for the customer at any factory, in any country, within hours.

Universal Dynamics has extensive experience integrating data between TietoEnator and the production computers used to control the packaging, handling, and labeling of orders. The three primary tasks are: identification of the package and its properties, relaying that information to the TietoEnator system, and responding to directives from the TietoEnator system regarding packaging, labeling, and distribution.

Packages are identified by their weight, barcode and dimensions. The bar-coders are typically stand-alone units that must have their data formatted to TietoEnator's specification to permit communication. Universal Dynamics builds the software and hardware link between the external devices (weigh scales and bar code readers) and the production control computer. The dimensions are typically analog measurements that are scaled in the controller.

Once the package information has been presented and assigned in the TietoEnator system, it is wrapped according to the customer's specifications (number of wraps of paper, number of straps and pattern, labels and stencils, etc.) over several stages. The wrapping, folding, stacking alignment and labeling or stenciling are handled by the production controller. Universal Dynamics also builds in added value by including package-tracking information to assist in locating stray packages.

Control systems typically include a programmable logic controller (PLC) and a graphics station for monitoring package handling and system troubleshooting. Problems caused by faulty switches, such as "ghost" packages, can be easily identified and the production line reset with only minor delays, something that could take hours without this tool. System alarms are also provided.

The evolution of control systems over the past few years have opened up numerous communication channels such as Ethernet LANs between all the Plant Floor control systems. These systems are now capable of much more with respect to allowing communication between the production controller, TietoEnator and to enterprise resource planning systems such as ERP. Universal Dynamics can collect data directly from the plant floor controller and deliver this data to the ERP providing up to the minute data on production, downtime statistics and diagnostics, as well as maintenance monitoring and reports.

Universal Dynamics has participated in the configuration, installation, start-up and commissioning of several TietoEnator projects, including:

• Repap New Brunswick Inc., Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada
• SAPPI S.D. Warren Co., Mobile, Alabama, USA
• Abitibi Consolidated, Grand Falls, Newfoundland, Canada