PINpoint V5 MES

Avantages

Customization, User Interface for the operator and background configuration, rigorous data architecture and schema, and capacity changes are simpler

Inconvénients

Changing a production schedule like break start and end times, Operator maintenance, if your production floor speaks two languages you have to favor one.

Avantages

I like the ease of use, great customer support, the integration with visual factory tools, and the versatility of the software

Inconvénients

Some of the data mining features can be a bit tricky to use. The Smartbuild software can be a little laggy.

Avantages

new features on the 5.11 allow me to pull up data much quicker and accessing smart build is faster

Inconvénients

this is out of your control, the way we log in now on the 5.11 using our email address instead of our CWS it take a bit longer logging in.

Avantages

I really like how it works with KEPWARE. I also like how you can configure the hardware. The reports and relationships as well as the user management is very nice. I also like the and on aspect. Being able to send messages and quality alert to each individual station as well as being able to decide who can work where are great features.

Inconvénients

Not like the difficulty of the building flow and making changes on it. I also wish I could use an ethernet best I/O module like a phoenix connector without having to have a PLC. Using a smart arm does not work very well when everything is server based. Subscribing and unsubscribing to each tool for every individual tightening on a single step Really slows down the entire system. Overall the network traffic is too much which makes everything very slow.

Avantages

Application front end user interface and ease of use for the Assembly operators.

Inconvénients

Less connectivity with IIOT and ERP systems.

Avantages

I find the platform easy to use and gives us great control over our process

Inconvénients

There are a lot of functions and I feel we scrape the surface (OEE). We use the MES for SW on the document section, would like an easy way to upload when we update our documents

Avantages

The ease of connecting the digital tools and get the data out of it

Inconvénients

Feasibility not to get connected to ERP systems and the AMC charges/feature charges are high.

Avantages

It really helps us standardize our process, now everyone does it the same way, before there were many versions of the process and that was a waste of time and quality defects.

Inconvénients

Nothing. Everything related with Pinpoint is great: improves quality, productivity, reduces downtime, more confident to operator and whole staff

Avantages

Easy to configure to our unique production system, PINpoint team incredibly knowledgeable and supportive

Inconvénients

Still some work with end of week reporting but again PINpoint team are excellent at taking feedback and adjusting

Avantages

1. Compatibility with Atlas Copco Torque tools and retention of fastening data for analytics purposes.
2. Customer support is responsive and works with us to develop analytics

Inconvénients

1. Software has a learning curve prior to use

Avantages

User-friendly design is crucial for enhancing the overall experience and ensuring satisfaction

Inconvénients

If you're experiencing slow performance at times, it could be due to several factors such as a high system load, insufficient memory, or network issues. It might help to close unused applications, clear cache, or restart your device to improve speed. If the problem persists, consider checking for updates or optimizing your system settings.

Avantages

It has lot of flexibility and no code programming which allow end user to do modified without IT help. Open to connect with any hardware that support OPC protocol.
Support team is awesome, I never see the support team like PINpoint has.

Inconvénients

On Prem server requirements, Client application do not support auto installation for each users with scripting or RMM policies. it need to install manually for each user.

Avantages

I enjoy the overall look and feel of PINpoint. I like the wide range of reports on the machines we build in PINpoint.

Inconvénients

I would like to have the option to edit the serial number on the reports and make notes about the edit. This would be helpful when we have line-load changes, and the part goes on a different SN that originally intended. This could even be an option for a factory to choose whether they want it or not.

Avantages

The automatic reports, quality graphs and analysis, automatic quality gauge data collection, and SPC.

Inconvénients

Lack of smooth interface with torque controllers

Avantages

The number of things it can do/record, but unfortunately, I have not had the time to take a deep dive into it to get to learn it all. Looks to be a very robust system that in the long run should work out well for our needs.

Inconvénients

Not the most flexible system for our applications, but we are learning new ways to make it that way. PINpoint is always open for suggestions to make it better.

Avantages

The team behind the software is very responsive and have made changes to support our production model. The software is very user friendly from an administrator stand point as well as from the use of an assembler.

Inconvénients

One challenge we faced was the applications focus on lean production lines vs building anywhere. There is an update set to address this challenge which will make the software even easier to use in setting up production lines.

Avantages

Many things that I like with PINpoint, focusing on the most important ones for me, I would say the feature richness and the product reliability are excellent, ease of use is very good and the support team is very pleasant and efficient.

Inconvénients

Nothing that I dislike with the product but few improved functionalities I would appreciate to see in the future like better management and integration of multiple sub assembly line building elements for the final product.

Avantages

[sensitive content hidden] and the team from PINpoint have been working with us for over 15 years. The product has enabled our manufacturing team to build quality into the product, especially with the integration of Atlas Copco torque tools. Operators and operations leadership can readily understand if we are running ahead or behind plan for each operation of each part being produced. Fantastic system!

Inconvénients

In the beginning, it did take a bit of time for our manufacturing site to grab hold of the capabilities within PINpoint so that we could leverage the capabilities to full advantage. However, the PINpoint team was always there to support us.

Alternatives envisagées 

Pourquoi passer à PINpoint V5 MES

Avantages

Process control, interlock, error-proofing, ease of programming with Smartbuild, ease of integration, data management, Tracking tab in Smartscreen to manage workorders.

Inconvénients

Not a fan of the smartscreen operator levels yet!

Avantages

They have great support and it is an easy to use product with a lot of features.

Inconvénients

It used to be hard to get ahold of support on off hours however it has gotten a lot better.

Avantages

its pretty easy to use and navigate throughout the system

Inconvénients

the availability of the service support is not good and the system occupy a lot of space

Avantages

The system is very intuitive and easy to work with.

Inconvénients

One area I would like to see improved would be the Scheduler section. I would like the "save forward" to be removed and replace with the option to use those times and goal numbers until you change it again. I would also like the shifts to be shared across the plant.

Avantages

Id say the new Dashboards available are the thing I like most about PINpoint today. What have I liked most about it over the past 13 years? That would be how easy it is to set up, program, and use to interlock our fastening process here within our facility. I also really like their universal socket trays that are ethernet IP addressable. These trays can be used with every tool that is connected to the work station. If you have an Atlas inline tool on a reaction arm, an Estic handheld digital pulse tool, and a couple of Crane Digital wrenches. They can ALL use the same tray of sockets, wrench end adapters, or whatever you want to insist is picked up to enable the tool. FAR better trays than the various OEM Mfg trays that ONLY work with the tool mfg tool they are assigned to.

Inconvénients

I dont want to say anything negative about PP because I truly think it's the best MES solution out there today. However, if I had to pick one thing that I'd like to see fixed or altered it would be this.... When ever anyone who has the proper rights makes a change within the SmartBuild portal of the system. Whomever makes that edit or change, has their User ID tagged to the edit. The thing is, there is no way for the end user like myself to find our who made the change without requesting that information from a PINpoint integrator to look it up for me in the database. Id like that user info to become a searchable item just like it were a tool name or a socket position ... it should be simple since each change made already has the info associated with it... but it isn't that easy and I wish it were.

Avantages

Easy user friendly features, to create products & manage in-process validation.Great support from everyone at PINpoint.

Inconvénients

I think there is the odd bug when sharing process steps, doesn't drop in where placed. Frequently can be found at the end. Not being able to move steps as a group (selecting multiple items) can make configuring processes a tad cumbersome.

Avantages

Our business grew 260% over the last 24 months and we could not have handled the growth in a quality controlled manner without the tools from Pinpoint.

Inconvénients

Operators will say it slows the process, but it really forces operators to focus and do it right the first time