April 13, 2009 – Honeywell Wintriss introduced Version 3.4 of its Line Efficiency Tracking Software (LETS), the flexible and scalable factory reporting software solution that automates the process of collecting production data from production machinery and processes. LETS Version 3.4 allows customers to more accurately track overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) in applications where production rate is dictated by machine configuration.
LETS Version 3.4 calculates OEE by applying an ideal rate for each part/machine combination. In previous versions of LETS, the ideal rate for all jobs run on a machine was the maximum machine speed. This new calculation method delivers greater accuracy of OEE metrics in piece part processes where design of the part limits the speed of the job. LETS Version 3.4 also adjusts the ideal rate by applying a factor based on configuration of the machine. For example, in applications in which more than one part is made per machine cycle, LETS Version 3.4 automatically multiplies maximum machine speed by that number of parts. In processes in which multiple machine cycles are required to make a part, machine speed is divided by that number of cycles.
Through job changes, varying production rates and changing lot sizes, LETS Version 3.4 makes what should be an extremely difficult tracking process simple. As a result, discrete manufacturers can finally get an accurate account of their overall efficiency.
LETS Version 3.4 can precisely weight the OEE percentages for jobs of varying lot sizes by keeping both a running total of the actual parts produced by the machine over the series of jobs and the number of parts that could have been produced according to ideal rates and multipliers. This capability enables LETS Version 3.4 to accurately summarize performance over time regardless of the number or length of the jobs running in the machine.
LETS Version 3.4 also includes a real-time performance dashboard, a new feature that graphically compares the performance of current jobs and processes with user?-selectable benchmarks. The dashboard allows users to quickly identify any processes that require immediate corrective action.
As with previous versions, LETS Version 3.4 comes factory-configured to communicate directly over Ethernet with the Wintriss SmartPAC 1, SmartPAC 2, LETS Machine Interface and LETS Basic Interface. In addition, its OPC Server features a wide range of available plug-in device drivers and components for the industrial market. LETS Version 3.4 automatically logs production information in a Microsoft SQL database that can easily feed critical parameters to enterprise resource planning or manufacturing execution systems software. LETS Version 3.4’s powerful reporting capability allows customers to schedule automatic generation of a variety of production and OEE reports to be used by plant personnel for improved decision making.
The browser-based LETS Factory Viewer enables customers to see the status of all machines in a plant in real time, including the current status of each machine, the parts count, current tool, and estimated time until job completion. Through simple mouse clicks, users can bring up detailed job, downtime, and job history information for a selected machine including an event log that displays events and errors.
Honeywell International is a $37 billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London and Chicago Stock Exchanges. Honeywell Process Solutions is part of Honeywell’s Automation and Control Solutions group, a global leader in providing product and service solutions that improve efficiency and profitability, support regulatory compliance, and maintain safe, comfortable environments in homes, buildings and industry.
