Applied Materials' new turnkey MES solution intros advanced automation for solar, LED and chip packaging factories

SANTA CLARA, USA: Applied Materials Inc. has launched its Applied SmartFactory MES software – an affordable, out-of-the-box, factory automation solution to track and streamline the flow of materials throughout a manufacturing facility.

Designed to help accelerate the production ramp of emerging technologies in the solar, LED and chip packaging industries, SmartFactory can be deployed in less than 60 days to improve product quality, boost productivity and cut operational costs. SmartFactory is also the first MES available with integrated advanced process control (APC) capability, enabling customers to achieve higher and more consistent factory output.

“With the SmartFactory system, customers can realize the benefits of Applied’s proven manufacturing automation technology with a ready-to-use solution that can be expanded as their businesses and industries grow without disrupting ongoing production.”

“The SmartFactory system is designed to help factory operations in rapidly-growing industries achieve the high yields and economies of scale that can lower manufacturing cost – key to the widespread adoption of these important new technologies,” said Charlie Pappis, vice president and general manager of Applied Global Services.

“With the SmartFactory system, customers can realize the benefits of Applied’s proven manufacturing automation technology with a ready-to-use solution that can be expanded as their businesses and industries grow without disrupting ongoing production.”

Based on Applied’s leading FAB300® MES technology, the SmartFactory system features pre-built, technology-specific scenarios to monitor every machine and all work-in-progress material movements, manage production sequencing, create an audit trail, and deliver instructions to shop floor workers via a consistent, task-focused graphical user interface.

The SmartFactory system’s optional APC module uses Applied E3 technology to interface directly with production equipment, enabling real-time, run-to-run (R2R) process tuning and fault detection and classification (FDC) to increase process capability and reduce unplanned down time.

Applied’s common framework approach allows the SmartFactory system to be expanded with plug-in components from Applied’s leading portfolio of factory automation software, proven in over 500 manufacturing facilities worldwide. Statistical process control, equipment performance tracking, advanced dispatching and RFID wireless management capabilities can be rapidly added to further raise manufacturing efficiency.