Arabian Fiberglass Insulation Co. Ltd. (AFICO), a sector business of Zamil Industrial Investment Company "Zamil Industrial", has successfully implemented an advanced Wonderware Performance Software solution at its primary manufacturing facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The new system represents the culmination of a year-long effort on behalf of Zamil Industrial Information Technology Global Division (Zamil ITG) and is the first of its kind to be used in Discrete Manufacturing in the Middle East region.
The advanced system provides strategic planning and monitoring tools that allow management to accurately monitor the industrial process for efficiency, productivity and effectiveness in real time, and then make immediate adjustments. The software automatically compiles data into convenient, customizable reports that are used to reduce down time, eliminate bottlenecks and develop best practices - all in a comprehensive initiative aimed at increasing the production capacity of AFICO's existing assets.
Developed as a solution to the increasingly high costs of manufacturing, the new system enables the company to meet product quality goals, improve performance, decrease costs and minimize waste by monitoring production in real time, pinpointing and alleviating the exact cause of downtime, tracking unplanned mechanical breakdowns and calculating levels of scrap materials produced within specific operations.
On the production level, management personnel will gain the following real time capabilities:
dispatch and management of work orders, with multilevel BOM, improved process and production consistency and repeatability, accurate Work-In-Process (WIP) inventory management, materials consumption management and complete job order costing.
The extraordinary planning and implementation efforts of Zamil ITG were integral to the success of this ambitious initiative. Zaki Sabbagh, CIO, Zamil Industrial, indicated his satisfaction with the overall execution of the project. "We implemented this system in response to AFICO management's need for real time information that enables process automation, monitoring of resources and minimization of downtime. Zamil ITG will consider the process using the same dedicated efforts at additional Zamil Industrial sector business facilities in the future".
Antoine Abou Mansour, GM, AFICO, commented: "Following our major factory expansion last year, we enhanced our manufacturing processes, and upgraded and automated our production. Part of this major upgrade was the addition of new machinery and a number of Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) units. The new advanced automation system from Wonderware allows us to integrate and link the PLCs, and monitor and manage both single and combined input and output of all PLCs. We now engage in unified monitoring of the production lines and get the results in visual form through the implemented PLC Integration and Industrial Automation system. As a result, we have optimized cost reduction, improved workflow, and enhanced control of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and efficiency of the production facility. In addition, we now have the information needed for prompt decision making and action plans based on real time monitoring and on-demand reporting results".
AFICO's new Wonderware Performance Software is now using real time visualization, analysis and reporting capabilities to achieve several of the company's paramount manufacturing goals. The real time unified visual platform - Human-Machine Interface (HMI), production line and process monitoring, equipment performance and efficiency monitoring and customized on-demand reporting have already demonstrated a positive effect on the business and promise to change the future of manufacturing throughout the Middle East.
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About Arabian Fiberglass Insulation Co. Ltd. (AFICO)
Arabian Fiberglass Insulation Co. Ltd. (AFICO) manufactures premium quality glass wool insulation products for industrial and commercial applications. It is also the only manufacturer of fiberglass insulation products in Saudi Arabia.
This joint venture combines Zamil Industrial and Owens Corning, USA, the world leader in the technology of manufacturing fiberglass products. Zamil Industrial holds a 51 percent stake in the company, after acquiring it from Saudi Arabian Amiantit Group in January 2006. Owens Corning holds the remaining 49 percent.
AFICO manufactures premium quality glass wool insulation products for industrial and commercial applications. It is also the only manufacturer of fiberglass insulation products in Saudi Arabia.
Under license from Owens Corning and utilizing its technical specifications, AFICO's premium quality products and services are comparable to those of its counterparts in the United States and Europe. AFICO's market leadership is also based on expertise gained through more than 25 years of successful operations.
The company was established in 1981 with headquarters and manufacturing facilities located in Dammam First Industrial City in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Sales offices in Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dubai and Beirut and strategic business alliances with competent distributors across various international markets serve customers throughout all six Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the wider Middle East and Far East region.
More information can be found at www.afico.com.sa.
© Press Release 2009
