Almacam: ERP/Production Management Systems integration

Almacam integrates natively into the customer’s information system, delivering seamless data exchange

The programming software is an essential link in the digital chain, making it possible to manage machines and optimize production in the workshop on the basis of information supplied by ERP, Production Management Systems and CAD.

It enables Alma’s CAD/CAM software to communicate perfectly with the company’s information systems: leverage of data to start manufacturing or to manage inventory (ERP, Production Management, metal sheet quotes), retrieval of technological information concerning the parts to produce (CAD, GDT), transfer of production information (MES), etc.

This integration requirement was taken into account when designing the architecture of our products. Almacam is designed to be an open environment where exchanges with other information systems are managed natively with an adaptive approach. Data imports/exports are an integral part of the system and can be adapted to the specific needs and characteristics of our customers.

Almacam: a natively adapted environment to integrate into any information system

Almacam uses an event and formula system, making it possible to graft a specific program onto each step in the process (e.g. specific naming of offcuts or automatic export of closure of a nesting).

Almacam makes use of high level APIs enabling importing parts to produce, metal sheets, etc. and managing the impacts resulting from changes to imported elements (e.g. native identification of the nesting layouts affected by a change in the part or the part-to-produce).

It is possible to create any type of user fields (numerical, text, list, etc.) in order to transfer information from one system to another. They can also be used as a criterion to group parts and/or metal sheets in a manufacturing order.

Almacam enables you to execute planned tasks, e.g. to automate importing of parts to produce, and so eliminate a user action.

It is possible to attach elements to the imported entities, e.g. a metal sheet’s factory product control certificate (CCPU).

Complete integration into an automated process

None of the imported or exported data retrieved from or sent to various information systems (ERP, CAD, Production Management, CRM, etc.) is lost, and it is not necessary to capture it again.

Information imports and exports are merged into the standard Almacam process and are completely transparent for the user.

Almacam can even be used as a black box, when it is automatically controlled by an ERP. The ERP supplies Almacam with the parts to produce and metal sheets to use, instructs it to execute the tasks for nesting and generating NC files and exporting the results (produced parts and metal sheets used).

Limitless adaptability to the customer’s organization

Almacam adapts to the customer’s organization, interfacing with the different systems, and plays a central role in communication between the different software packages.

Modules relating to Almacam (e.g. the quotation or planning of cutting) can be an integral part of the digital chain, and the communication process will be adapted accordingly.

Imports of orders (parts to produce) or of inventory can be additive (i.e. only as an addition to the Almacam database) or can be synchronized by managing changes to the previously imported elements.

It is possible to avoid using Almacam’s inventory synchronization by directly using the customer’s inventory management system.

It is possible to anticipate the metal sheets that will be used, even if these sheets have not yet been supplied to the workshop.

Thanks to the “context” concept, users have only access to parts to produce, to sock and to nesting layouts, etc. that concern their specific department or production site.

Completely secure data exchange

Automation of data exchange avoids users having to trigger imports or exports, and this eliminates any possibility of human error.

The impacts of data modifications are automatically taken into account, e.g. nesting layouts impacted by a part modification are automatically indicated and visualized because they must be validated again and modified before they are sent for cutting.

It is possible to dedicate an “administrator” role to control any alerts generated when importing parts to produce or metal sheets, e.g. change of material for a part to produce that is already nested in a different sheet thickness and grade.

Almacam connection to an ERP or CAD system
Almacam connection to a CRM, ERP, CAD or CAPM system

Yann Crépeau – Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyards

“In parallel to setting up our new ERP, we wanted to rationalize our nesting processes and harmonize our CAM tools. Using Alma as a single Cutting CAAM enabled us to achieve this objective. This solution has several advantages: simplification of data exchange between the ERP and Alma, more versatility from operators, possibility to transfer manufacturing orders from one workshop to another, facilitated support and maintenance.”

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