This blog explains how to manage spare parts in the MES, including sending them for repair to an external supplier or repairing them internally, and then replacing them with other spare parts available in the facility. Any user with the proper permissions can manage and replace a machine's spare parts at any time in an ad-hoc manner. However, it's more common to replace spare parts during the execution of a Maintenance Activity related to the machine.
A reusable spare part is a component or part of a machine that, after being removed due to deterioration, failure, or maintenance activity, can be restored or repaired and then used again in the same or another machine.
As an example, let’s take an Asset BOM (also called Equipment BOM) for Wafer Inspection Equipment typically used in the Semiconductor industry.
Wafer Inspection Device
This equipment has 4 different reusable spare parts that can be replaced at any moment or during a maintenance activity:
Wafer Stage
Camera System
Two Control Centers
Marking Device
Apart from the reusable spare parts, the equipment also consumes a set of consumables that are used exclusively during maintenance activities. Examples include:
Until very recently, there wasn't an easy way to track and manage spare parts used in the resources (Machines). They were either consumed and therefore removed from the MES system, preventing their reuse, and, in addition, it was not possible to have a clear view of them on the resource. Alternatively, these spare parts could be created as sub-resources and replaced by others when needed, which limited their management for repair or rework and made this process inefficient.
It's now possible to include in the resources a bill of parts (regardless of whether they are reusable or not). This provides full management of the spare parts and traceability across their entire lifecycle. Taking the Wafer Inspection Equipment
List of Parts
- Because Repairable parts can appear repeated, a designator must be defined. Or these designators can just be used to identify the specific position of a part within the Resource.
- During a Maintenance activity the repairable Part must first be removed before a new one can be installed within the machine. Once removed the repairable part can be repaired externally or internally
For this demonstration, the machine and the products mentioned above will be used and will already exist in the system. Using all of them a resource list will be created and then Repairable Parts can be managed (inserted, removed and replaced) directly from the Resource. But this is intended for the initial setup. The normal scenario is to replace these parts during maintenance, and this is what will be shown during the second part of the demonstration.
Managing reusable spare parts effectively is no longer a cumbersome task thanks to Critical Manufacturing MES capabilities. With better tracking and repair options, maintenance becomes simpler and more efficient.
I’ve been with Critical Manufacturing since 2018, starting out as an MES Consultant. Earlier this year, I stepped into the recently created Advocate & Architecture team. My role sits at the intersection of technology, communication, and strategy. Making sure solutions are technically sound and that everyone understands how to use or build them.
