Projects
ATS delivers projects from system design to full implementation, roll-out (globally if required) and final user acceptance with flexible training packages and 24/7 service level agreements. ATS frequently works closely with customers as a strategic partner and preferred supplier. Standardised project methodologies lead to efficient, repeatable implementations locally or globally. We have developed six business activities specifically designed to support the full lifecycle of automation and IT systems.
Information Systems
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) connectivity is provided by ATS rather than ERP systems themselves. Using Commercially Off The Shelf (COTS) products ATS can create upgradeable, maintainable and configurable links from the MES and control layer to the information layer within an organisation's system architecture.
Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) & Enterprise Manufacturing Intelligence (EMI)
Implementing MES and EMI requires a thorough understanding of the business process and expertise in the technical solutions required to design, implement and support the system. An MES project needs to be viewed from a complete lifecycle perspective so that it can be easily maintained by the customer. The ATS methodology applies Commercially Off The Shelf product solutions leading to efficient, repeatable implementations. Many of our local and global customers must implement MES or EMI in existing plants with an existing information architecture. ATS's step by step collaborative approach ensures continuous improvement.
MES or EMI projects are designed to deliver the right information to the right people at the right time. ATS commits to collecting data once, verifying it once, storing the data and then presenting it as information. Using information for improved decision making delivers immediate return on investment.
Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Overall Equipment Effectiveness and other techniques can be applied post implementation to deliver real financial benefit to your organisation. ATS's collaborative approach means that we deliver a technical solution for business benefit.
Our world-class customers in the Aerospace, Defence, Automotive, Chemicals, Consumer Goods, Electronics, Forest Products, Marine, Medical, Oil and Gas, Pharmaceutical, Pulp and Paper, Water and other industries are our best references. ATS MES/EMI implementations deliver some of the fastest payback periods of any IT project, and we can prove it.
Control
Industrial and Process Control is a speciality of ATS. Control technologies include Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC's), Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Drives and Motion Control, embedded software, PC based real-time control, Computer Numerical Control (CNC), Distributed Numerical Control (DNC) and Coordinated Measuring Machine software (CMM). Our professional engineers possess an intimate knowledge of these technologies and can implement projects involving solutions from various suppliers.
The ATS independent Solution Provider Profile is important when implementing hardware and software products from diverse suppliers. Connectivity is of crucial importance and the implementation team is supported by our software development and MES teams with centres of excellence in Australia, Europe and the USA.
Network and Internet Installations
- Network servers supplied by different manufacturers
- Server operating systems: Novell, Windows NT, Windows 2000/2003
- Network clients: Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT, Windows 2000/XP
- Network components like Routers, Hubs, Industrial Switches and Modems
- Internet connections: analogue, ISDN and cable
- Internet security
- Microsoft Exchange, IIS and Netware GroupWise E-mail systems
- Backup systems
- SQL Database applications
- UPS systems
- Remote connections between networks and users
- Network security
- Web site development
Service Level Agreements 24/7
Implementations require long term support and ATS maintenance and service level agreements offer an economic alternative to sustaining large in-house teams with specific expertise, only required on an occasional basis. Typical agreements cover both hardware and software installations. Users have different needs so we offer a variety of agreements all of which can be tailor made to our customer's requirements:
Telephone Support
Guaranteed response times for both telephone support and on-site response
Cover in Australia, Europe and USA
Cover includes:
24/7 24/5 16/5 8/5
Special services offered by ATS include remote security monitoring with Host Intrusion Prevention Software (HIPS) and Remote Access troubleshooting.
General Projects Info ATSInt/09-02-2005
Customer References
Wonderware InTrack was introduced to the company in order to provide information (order status, work instructions, machine failures, availability of machines & tools & instruments) to the production department as well as information about efficiency and quality assurance to the other parts of the company.
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ATS has completed a wide range of applications for the automotive industry. Special projects have included INTERBUS connectivity with Allen-Bradley PLC's whereby a major auto manufacturer and the control supplier asked ATS to write a standard software protocol for implementation with PLC backplane communications modules. Another very large application included painting booths using InTouch SCADA software with Mitsubishi and Siemens PLC's.
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Working for a major brewery in the Netherlands has brought us into many aspects of the brewing industry. Suppliers of brewing equipment such as Krohne in Germany also use our communication products widely.
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Car Door Manufacturing
In this ground-breaking experimental project ATS wrote PLC, MES (Manufacturing Execution System) and SCADA software for a steel manufacturer who built a new plant to produce doors for a major car manufacturer. Laser welding separate door components has replaced the old method of producing doors from a single sheet of stamped metal. This significantly reduces the weight of the doors thus helping to improve fuel efficiency. The MES and SCADA software was written in SQL and Visual Basic.
The project included the design, installation and implementation of a data-collection and traceability system for the production of cheeses. The traceability system was linked on Ethernet to the existing DCS-based control system and HMI systems building an entire production history from raw milk to dispatched cheese.
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