The digital transformation of production is more than just a vision of the future. It has become reality and is vital to many companies. At the heart of this transformation, a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) as central standard software is often key to success. The system coordinates, monitors, and optimizes production processes. With an MES like HYDRA from MPDV, companies not only implement a high-performance system, but also benefit from decades of experience and best practice solutions in the manufacturing industry. And what does that have to do with low code?
If standard solutions reach their limits
However, the manufacturing industry is extremely heterogeneous. Each company has its own DNA, its specific requirements, and its processes making it unique in the industry. Standard solutions reach their limits when it comes to meeting the specific needs of companies. Let us look at the example of a machine manufacturer. They want to collect the measurement data of their CNC machines automatically and link them to the quality data from the laboratory. Standard software does not provide a suitable solution for this purpose.
Up to now, customers have usually opted for classic custom software to meet these requirements. A decision that resulted in external developers, high costs, long development times, and a permanent need for assistance in case of software changes or extensions. It is not uncommon that this approach leads to isolated solutions that actually work but can hardly communicate with other systems.
Low code/no code: The revolution of software development
This is where low code and no code platforms step in. They help making software development more democratic by replacing complex programming with visual development environments. Instead of writing hundreds of code lines, processes are modeled graphically and user interfaces are created by using drag and drop.
The Heisenware platform is completely code-free. This may sound technical, but the benefits are obvious: The resulting software is easier to maintain, changes are implemented much faster, and it is easier for employees to get started with development.
The tendency towards low code development is no longer a niche phenomenon. Gartner is predicting that by 2025, around 70% of new enterprise applications will use low code or no code technologies. As a matter of fact, tools like Node-RED are already being used in many companies — sometimes with, sometimes without the IT department’s official approval. This “shadow IT” is a clear indication of the great demand for flexible solutions that are quick to implement.
Seamless integration: Two worlds are merging
A low code platform is only as good as its ability to communicate with other systems. This is exactly where the partnership between MPDV and Heisenware offers a decisive advantage: A specifically developed connector for the Manufacturing Integration Platform (MIP) links the flexible low code world to the reliable manufacturing IT.
The connector offers bidirectional data exchange: production data from the MIP can be visualized in custom dashboards and entries from low code apps are directly transferred to the platform. The configuration in Heisenware is as easy as with other connectors such as MQTT or OPC UA. The data can additionally be saved in a time series database (InfluxDB) for analyses and trends.
Examples: Theory meets reality
A prime example of this successful integration has been implemented at Hedelius Maschinenfabrik GmbH. The machine tool manufacturer uses a combination of MPDV and Heisenware technology to connect Heidenhain controls for shop floor data and machine data collection (BDE/MDE) directly to the MES HYDRA — developed with low code, but fully integrated into the standard software.
Manifold applications are possible:
- Production engineers create personalized dashboards showing meaningful KPIs.
- Maintenance teams receive automatic push notifications on their smartphones if irregularities occur at machines.
- Production employees use custom mobile input dialogs to post data — even far away from the stationary terminal.
- Specific machine controls are easily connected to the MES.
The benefits are clear
The combination of low code development and MES offers clear benefits:
- Development costs are greatly reduced because expensive programmers are no longer needed.
- Changes and customizations can be implemented quickly and independently.
- The seamless integration into the MES environment prevents isolated solutions.
- Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) ensure that all applications are automatically available on mobile devices.
- IT departments stay in control while other departments can flexibly develop their own solutions.
Getting started: Straightforward and scalable
The first steps in the world of integrated low code development are really easy. The Heisenware platform is available as an mApp. After setting up an account and configuring the MIP connector for their own MIP installation, companies can start developing their individual solutions right away. Pricing is transparent: Costs are based on the number of apps used — regardless of the number of users or frequency of installation.
Conclusion: The best of two worlds
The synergy of tried-and-tested MES standard software and flexible low code development is more than just the sum of its parts. The approach combines the reliability and know-how of proven systems with the flexibility and speed of modern development methods. The result are tailor-made solutions, which are perfectly integrated into the existing IT landscape. Companies of all sizes can benefit from the partnership between MPDV and Heisenware.
Are you ready to take the next step in the digital transformation of your production? Contact Heisenware co-founder Gerrit Meyer or directly book a demo at https://calendar.app.google/avnEMC5geskaRQPR7.
