“EAS” stands for “Extended Assembly System”. With EAS it is possible to control and document complex manufacturing and assembly processes. We used the term “extended” to show that the system today is not a replacement for our CAO system, but an extension.

CAO was developed to control the production in the “cutting area”. The articles that are manufactured there are relatively simple in structure. Usually it is a single cable or twisted cable with corresponding crimps at the ends. The work plans are usually one-step.

Much more complex items can be described in EAS, such as assemblies or the complete wire harness. Work plans for the production of these articles can contain any number of work steps and BOM elements.

With EAS, the production steps in areas P2 and P3 can therefore be controlled and documented much better and more precisely.

EAS is designed to be very flexible and generic. The user can define each process himself. EAS can not only support the classic processes such as crimping, twisting and welding, but also any other processes such as injection molding. For each process, the user can define process parameters that are used during execution (process parameters, processing standards).

The first interfaces are already available. This includes interfaces to the leading crimping machines, twisters and welding machines. Further interfaces are constantly being developed. Because even complex items can be described comprehensively, we are now also able, for example, to describe a welding work plan in every detail and transfer it to the machine.

Such machines are often found in areas P2 and P3. For any devices that do not offer a dedicated interface, EAS will provide an API for the most common use cases that can be used to give feedback to the MES. These endpoints could be easily used by a generic interface gateway.

EAS also has an interface to the Crimpforce monitors from OES. If these are installed in a machine, we can use them to implement a connection.

EAS comprehensively supports quality assurance. Processing standards and processing instructions ensure that every process uses the correct parameters. EAS automatically selects the correct parameters depending on given rules.

The user can flexibly define quality assurance measures such as measurements. The system then ensures the correct workflow.

Traceability was a very important topic for us. With EAS you can document the entire manufacturing process. Full traceability is possible. We differentiate between “vertical traceability”, ie the information “what components does something consist of” and “horizontal traceability”, ie the information “how was something produced”. EAS masters both. If EAS is used together with CAO, you get traceability from the raw material to the finished wire harness.

EAS will be able to control a series final assembly (built to stock) and also a KSK final assembly (built to order)  in the next year 2022.

EAS is an application based entirely on REST APIs. This means that EAS can be easily integrated into existing system environments. Extensive documentation ensures that the customer can do this himself.

The user interface of EAS runs in a browser. This has the great advantage that you do not need a PC, but can use any device on which a browser is running.

This is a major advantage in terms of cost.

The costs essentially depend on how many workplaces are to be controlled.

We are offering a subscription model for the first time. The customer pays a monthly rent. There are no additional costs.

Customers who already use CAO receive a significant discount.