The First and Only Software Firm to Bring Complex Event Processing (CEP) to Manufacturing

We have integrated the first and only time-based, complex event processing (CEP) product available to manufacturing within FactoryMRI. The optional CEP capabilities enable manufacturers to configure multiple, business process scenarios that evaluate vast numbers of real-time enterprise business events in microseconds against user-defined rules. Even more impressive is that simultaneously these scenarios are evaluating business events within a specific, moving window of time.

So not only are out of tolerance conditions identified, but including the dimension of time enables massive amounts of real-time data to be scrutinized for significant data patterns within a prescribed time window. Any scenario that identify events that are either equal to or are outside of the scenarios “trigger” specific actions, lessening the chances for missed deliveries, poor quality, or even diverting a disaster.

Users can easily examine their dynamic dashboards reflecting up-to-the-moment business conditions to more quickly identify and correct sources of waste, process bottlenecks, and unused capacity, resulting in increased profitability. And graphically-rich, dynamic dashboards display each and every change related to the process being monitored.

What is complex event processing (CEP)? CEP is a recent technology used extensively in the financial industry, especially to detect credit card fraud or stock market manipulation. For example: a credit card authorization is requested at a retail store in New York City and within five minutes another authorization for the same card is identified at another retail store in Phoenix. And immediately the credit card company is notified of the specific details so that appropriate actions may be taken.

Imagine monitoring all of the major credit card transactions in real-time, looking for specific data patterns, and then alerting the institutions and cardholders when fraudulent transactions take place. Think about how many transactions are occurring within these vast numbers of “event streams” all the while literally thousands of specific scenarios are analyzing the data—all in real-time.

Another key attribute of CEP, as in the credit card example, is that time itself is a built-in factor. As vast numbers of events occur they are analyzed in exact sequence, within specified time frames, while multiple scenarios are screening the data to identify specific patterns. Once these patterns are discovered actions such as email or mobile phone messages or even additional scenarios are triggered.

So how can CEP be applicable within manufacturing? Imagine being able to alert your maintenance crew to take action when your process is overfilling 25 or more containers of shampoo in any two-minute window, while filling at a rate of 250 units/minute? Or be notified if three or more production machines, running your best customer’s products, experience unplanned downtime last more than five minutes, within any 15-minute time frame? Or be notified if your robotic welder encounters three or more “Test Station Faults” AND “two or more “Assembly Station Faults” within ANY five-minute period?

In addition to the manufacturing intelligence being captured our optional CEP application is able to simultaneously monitor dynamic data from multiple software tools—ERP, computer-aided design (CAD), and quality management system (QMS). As data is “streamed” through various business scenarios any/all exceptions will trigger user-defined actions ranging from simple email notifications, to turning on audible alarms, or even shutting down a machine or process to prevent further defective products or avert disaster.