Supply chain & Logistics

Futaba North America Group to standardise automotive manufacturing operations on the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform

Time Stamp: February 6, 2023 11:48 PM
Source Node: 2390553

Republished By Plato

Plex, by Rockwell Automation, the cloud-delivered smart manufacturing solutions provider, has announced that automotive supplier Futaba North America Group (FNA) has selected the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform as a state-of-the-art, complete and integrated manufacturing and business solution to run their North American operations.

The multiyear contract will see the full suite of Plex cloud-based solutions rolled out in locations across the US, with Plex Professional Services to support the multi-site implementation.

FNA sought the expertise of a single provider with automotive experience, where Plex has a deep history and domain expertise. The Plex solutions will help improve FNA’s real time inventory management, complex planning and reporting, and data visibility and connectivity across its production, supply chain, and business operations. FNA’s plan to standardise on Plex SaaS-based solutions to optimise their enterprise is targeted to improve scrap rates, labor productivity, and lower overhead costs. FNA also noted Plex’s outstanding security rating and uptime as key to the partnership.

“The members of Futaba North America’s selection team were very impressed by the strength of the Plex software solution and proven effectiveness at several of our peer companies in the automotive supply sector,” commented Dave Martin, Vice President, FNA. “We are excited to embark on a successful journey with Plex as our business partner.”

Rockwell Automation’s upcoming 8th annual “The State of Smart Manufacturing” study details the challenges faced by manufacturers to retain and attract skilled workers and the increasingly recognised value of integrating machines from shop floor to top floor across the enterprise. More and more, the data shows that manufacturers recognise the critical nature technology plays in their ability to maintain and grow market share, particularly as advanced technologies like artificial intelligence gain widespread adoption. These modern systems help manufacturers digitally transform their environment and gain the visibility needed to stay ahead of the competition.

“The Plex comprehensive suite of scalable, smart manufacturing solutions will deliver a world-class production system for FNA that is integrated across the enterprise and broader supply chain to drive increased levels of efficiency and agility,” said Nathan Pieri, chief product officer and vice president, applications, Rockwell Automation. “Futaba North America recognises the importance of digital transformation to stay ahead of the game in today’s evolving automotive supplier marketplace.”

FNA will implement Plex’s full suite of cloud-based solutions including Plex’s Enterprise Resource Planning system (ERP), Manufacturing Execution System (MES), Quality Management System (QMS), Asset Performance Management system (APM), Production Monitoring, MES Automation & Orchestration (A&O), and DemandCaster Supply Chain Planning.