Lighthammer

[techsupport3977]

We are a company that is thinking about using Lighthammer to pull all aspects of data collection into an easy web service to report. We use SAP, CIM, MS Access, SQL, ORACLE, XRF systems, OEE's, OEM systems, Maint PM's, etc... We need the most minimal programming system to create these reports and we are wondering if there are any packages out there that can compete with Lighthammer or is better?

 

[rvnguy]

Sorry for the delay but I have just discovered this forum.

I have no opinion on "LightHammer" due to no experience with it.

We utilize "Business Objects" for allowing varying groups to compile the information from DB's and pull it into a reporting structure thar fits their needs. Business Objects is mature and may not be the best product available but as training in a new enviro is the most costly item corps are reluctant to change. The important item that is allowed is for individual groups to access the information they require and use this info in a manner that facilitates their needs. We have found that Business Objects allows this. Versus the older methods of pre-programmed reporting that information needed to be re-keyed to generate a different looking report.

If LightHammer allows the versality and ability of pulling the information needed together from the sources you listed and assistance in presenting (report formatting) then it could very well be equivalent or superior to BusObj. Hope this insight is a help to you.

RVNGUY

 

[techsupport3977]

From what I understand about Lighthammer it is better than Business Objects. Check them out on

http://www.lighthammer.com

 

[rvnguy]

Techsupport3977,

This product appears to be great (but that is their site and what would one expect to see there?). Yes, I would agree that it would not take much to better BO but as stated once personnel are trained and become comfortable with a product it becomes much more than the cost of the software when contemplating a change. We had a HUGE problematic conversion to SAP, and trying to integrate info from plant floor ops (i.e. Bailey, GE Genius, AB, Taylor, etc.) was next to impossible directly. I hope that you have a easier transition path.
I am sorry that I do not have more to input and hope that some other (wise) users will add their experiences to assist you in making a solid choice.

RVNGUY

 

[iCougari]

Hi there,

I work for a large Pharma that has used nearly all of the vendors out there on the market. One of my divisions used lighthammer and are very happy with it. They linked SAP to numerous control systems / MES layers with success. Given that this is in a regulated industry it is no mean feat.

One thing they did say is that they did have to recruit a number (3) software developers to assist them in the the development. Given the scale of the project i would say this is average.

This WILL be custom to you.. so keep this in mind for the future, it may be worth spendign the pennies to get a full fledged Datawarehouse therefore future proofing yourself.

iCougari

 

[techsupport3977]

We will not be linking to SAP for the initial project. Do you still see this as a major undertaking for our division?

 

[rvnguy]

techsupport3977,

I would have to venture a guess to your latest question,

"We will not be linking to SAP for the initial project. Do you still see this as a major undertaking for our division?"

and say definitely "YES". In you original post you mentioned linking to "SAP, CIM, MS Access, SQL, ORACLE, XRF systems, OEE's, OEM systems, Maint PM's, etc" even without the SAP link this is a task and I am assuming that you are following an "Open distributed archeticture i.e ORCALE type or other" .

Again, LightHammer appears roubust and should mitigate the access/conversion steps yet it remains a considerable task. It is not as simple as loading it and then just getting information from any or all of these sources.

For much of our factory floor info i.e. from PLC's, we wrote programming that polled the PLC networks, collected the data and wrote it to an ORCALE DB on a periodic basis, This was workable as most reporting requirements were on an hourly basis so that real time links were not demanded. This was prior to the SAP implementation that made all of this information real time. Once this is accomplished the volume of data that can be referenced is tremendous, then developing methods of utilizing this information for not only reporting (which is past tense) but to interactively control process/work flow in a feed-forward manner is where the real "value added" benefit resides. This makes all of the upfront effort/expense worth it.
Opps, I actually do not know what your industry is?? The reporting capabilities are fantastic also!!

rvnguy

 

[techsupport3977]

We are in manufacturing and we are about to have them on site in about 2 weeks. They sound like a great company that can do what we need. We will probably be using the 200 license package so that should tell you somewhat of the amount of people and the data we are dealing with. I will keep you posted on our progress.

 

[rvnguy]

techsupport3977,

That sounds great!! I was going to suggest that Lighthammer should assist in the implementation but was not sure if the account was going to large enough that they would be present soley for the sake of the sale. I also assertained that you must not be too small if you were investing in SAP. I do hope that you find this to be what you are looking for as I have stated, once you have made the large investment in trainning of your own staff it becomes increasingly difficult to justify a switch. Not sure what your specific role in this company is, but as I started to elaborate upon earlier, the real and major benefit of establishing this huge data store is not in the reporting that it will facilitate. Once these reports are generated they will direct those that are looking/aware of the problem areas in the processes and once identified the mfg process can be further controlled to smooth the bumps which almost always allows for increased capacity within the same mfg envelope be it one to three shifts or 24/7 operations.

Please do keep us informed of your progress/pitfalls as this moves forward.

Good Luck

rvnguy

I am also in the mfg arena, highly vertically integrated malted bev enterprise that is the "C" brand that encompasses from raw mat'l processing to shipping.