The Freedom eWARE software suite from MAG is the first all-encompassing manufacturing data reporting platform to provide availability performance, and quality feedback from any industrial asset on the plant floor. eWARE is a modular and scalable software package for data acquisition, condition monitoring, energy monitoring, and cell control, capable of generating reports and analytics for maintenance, process optimization and OEE. The software, which is MTConnect compliant, can interact with smart phones, tablet PCs and similar mobile devices, displaying machinery status, productivity data and machinery analytics for various systems on a plant network. It will be demonstrated at the MAG booth (S-8519) at IMTS 2012.

Unique in the market, eWARE is "target independent," capable of collecting data from any plant floor asset - without modification to ladder logic or part programming - and transforming that data into actionable information. With installations that include Department of Defense facilities and contractors, eWARE makes manufacturing activity and system conditions transparent, enabling rapid implementation of operational and maintenance excellence, proven with payback as short as one year.

eWARE consists of five modules for logging, analyzing and reporting information, plus a control-resident eCONNECT interface for each machine that uses a PC front-end control. For non-PC-based CNC's, PLC's and manual machines, eCONNECT runs on a hardware appliance with discrete I/O connections to specific machine electrics. eCONNECT acts as a data collection hub and access point for equipment on the plant floor, and supplies information to the five software modules: eLOG, eSCOPE, eMONITOR, eENERGY and eCELL.

eLOG uses algorithms based on AMT and VDI standards to categorize time into six different areas: Plant Shut-Down, Scheduled Downtime, Delay Time, Repair Time, Not-In-Cycle Process Time and In-Cycle Time. Reports available in eLOG include: top 25 alerts, top 25 events, top 25 programs by duration or by count, a daily view of activity over a 24-hour period, a tapestry report for day-by-day or hour-to-hour comparisons, and OEE. eLOG allows rapid visualization of inefficiencies and identification of root causes to facilitate mistake-proofed process, improved utilization, condition-based maintenance and reduced MRO inventories. Information can be formatted and filtered for specific departments, such as production, planning or maintenance. The software can also send text and email alerts.

The eSCOPE module is maintenance-driven and provides in-depth machine diagnostics and monitoring utilities to reduce the time needed for diagnosis and repair, particularly for complex problems. It permits visualization of machine data and allows setting user-configurable trigger points for diagnosing problems.

eMONITOR analyzes and displays data on machine and process health, such as vibration, temperature, pressure, spindle/axis current, etc., for establishment of a condition-based maintenance program. Capable of correlating multiple I/O conditions, eMONITOR allows detection of small anomalies before component failure, detects process variation prior to production, and determines whether a component or process is in a nominal condition.

eENERGY allows plant management to develop an ideal balance between energy consumption, cycle time, part programs and tooling by correlating energy consumption trends related to specific machines, programs and tools. It can alert manufacturing teams of peak usage thresholds for purposes of shift balancing, and allows cycle optimization by energy consumption of each tool.

eCELL is cell control software for automated palletized manufacturing systems and parallel processing of parts. It allows management of cell resources and operations to improve production flows and facilitate "lights out" operations.

In addition to its software platform, MAG can support users with Lean training, turnkey system integration, simultaneous engineering, producibility/productivity analyses, remote diagnostics and a host of other services to help sustain and maximize improvements. eWARE is certified as "networthy" for use by U.S. Department of Defense agencies, armed forces and contractors. Networthiness certification ensures Automated Information Systems (AIS) utilizing the Army Network are developed in compliance with the Clinger Cohen Act and are secure, supportable, sustainable, and compatible with the Army Enterprise Infostructure (AEI) (as defined in AR 25-IA). The software provides multiple language support including: English, French, German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish and Chinese.