Software provides procedural control for process applications.

ABB Metals Systems Feb 26, 2003

Press Release Summary:

Produce^IT Batch configures, schedules, monitors and controls multi-product and multi-path productions, and provides manufacturers with real-time decision support and control for individual batches of product. It is integrated with Operate^IT Process Portal operator interface and Control^IT for basic regulatory equipment control. Software also integrates with Inform^IT Information Manager for global information access, consolidated record storage and analysis.

Original Press Release:

ABB Announces Next Release Of Produce^IT Batch: Provides Procedural Control for Industrial^IT Automation Systems

Wickliffe, Ohio, February 17, 2003 - ABB announced today its next release of Produce^IT Batch, the production management component for Industrial^IT automation systems. Produce^IT Batch brings the productivity benefits of tight procedural control to a host of process industries, including chemical and specialty chemical, life sciences, food and beverage, pulp and paper, metals and mining.

"ABB's Produce^IT Batch software provides our customers with the flexibility, speed and control they need to respond to complex and changing production demands," said Mike Heatherman, Global Product Manager, Batch Products, ABB Inc. "It helps them to achieve excellent production quality and consistency, and brings the real benefits enjoyed by batch manufacturers to a much wider range of industries."

Produce^IT Batch serves as the production management component for Industrial^IT automation systems, providing procedural control that dramatically improves the consistency of manufactured products, so the "best" runs of product can be repeated again and again. This comprehensive batch production solution configures, schedules, monitors and controls both multi-product and multi-path productions, and provides manufacturers with real-time decision support and control for individual batches of product. This improved visibility into and control of the manufacturing process results in increased overall product quality and production capacity.

Produce^IT Batch is compliant with current industry standards, such as ISA S88 for batch control and enabling features in support of FDA 21 CFR Part 11 for electronic records and electronic signature. Its Procedure Function Charts (PFCs) follow ISA S88 standards. Compliance to these standards improves recipe transportability and flexibility, simplifies validation, and makes software reuse easier, ultimately resulting in operational efficiency gains. For example, the implementation of S88 standards at a facility can reduce overall production costs by 30% to 50%.

This release enhances ABB's extensive portfolio of world-class batch applications. ABB has a rich heritage of delivering productivity solutions for batch manufacturing activities of any scale, from large, complex processes such as bulk chemical, to smaller batch manufacturing, such as cosmetics, food and beverage. As the production management component for Industrial^IT systems; Produce^IT Batch works with the rest of the automation system to deliver overall productivity benefits to customers in most manufacturing industries. ABB's Aspect Object technology helps Produce^IT Batch deliver dramatic quality and productivity improvements and maximize the value of the entire automation system investment. Produce^IT Batch truly extends the applicability of procedural control in the control system environment, so that a number of manufacturing industries can harness this functionality to improve their overall performance and competitiveness in the marketplace. It uses the power and versatility of ABB's unique object-oriented aspect views, which allow the user to monitor and control batch and order production in efficient selectable views during the manufacturing process.

For example, the user can answer messages, take control of active procedures, change operation behavior while in process and quickly identify if any given batch procedure is complete, active or waiting for operator action. As a vital part of a comprehensive automation system solution, Produce^IT Batch is tightly integrated with Operate^IT Process Portal operator interface for superior navigation and system interfaces and Control^IT for basic regulatory equipment control. Produce^IT Batch also integrates with Inform^IT Information Manager for global information access, consolidated record storage and analysis as well as other Industrial^IT products. This complete integration provides the user with seamless navigation throughout the whole process and intelligent management of collected batch event data, as well as online access to Microsoft Excel-based batch or order logs, reports, batch-to-batch comparisons, and trend analysis.

Produce^IT Batch is part of ABB's award winning suite of integrated Industrial^IT solutions; these solutions address the challenges that automation customers face in today's global marketplace. ABB's comprehensive Industrial^IT portfolio of compatible products is focused on delivering productivity and profits to automation customers. ABB's product strategy is for evolution through enhancement to protect customer investment.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. ABB has some 146,000 employees in more than 100 countries.