MIS Investment | 85Software evolutionSispro, the planning and production control system from Argentina-based UpSoftware, used by some of the biggest label converters in Latin America, has brought signifcant benefts to Etifex of Mexico. James Quirk reportss label converters seek to improve ‘Etifex installed the system in late 2008, different industries, although it has certainly the effciency of their businesses and beginning with four connected machines and evolved into a product which is ideal for the optimize production, they increasingly some control terminals in the offces,’ recalls label industry. We have been able to develop Aturn to software management tools. In Gonzalo Tagliabue, director of UpSoftware. the system and adapt it for our needs. Our Latin America, Argentina-based UpSoftware, ‘It was an important sale for us; we only had suggestions have had an infuence in the founded in 2006, has beneftted from a four or fve clients outside Argentina at the system’s evolution.’growing focus in the region on process time because we had only recently begun to At Etifex, Sispro is integrated into the automation, now counting more than 80 sell outside the country. By 2009, they had company’s ERP system. As an order is received, clients in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, all their presses connected to the system and it is planned automatically and with little Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, terminals distributed throughout the factory, intervention, according to Vonderwalde. Sispro Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. It also has so it was also a big contract for us in terms of communicates with the presses and monitor’s customers in Spain. It has set up a regional getting everything right in such a big plant.’ the job’s progress: set-up time, stops, material network of distributors: in Chile, Costa Rica Today, Etifex has all its presses – fexo and and ink consumption. The fnishing process is and two in Mexico, with a deal in Colombia digital – and fnishing equipment connected similarly monitored. most recently put into place. to Sispro, using the system to constantly ‘We have made many changes to our In its native Argentina, among evaluate its production. The company, with processes as a result of analyzing the data UpSoftware’s client list is a who’s-who of 34 years’ experience in the market and sales produced by Sispro. Internally, we now talk leading local converters, including Artes offces spread throughout Mexico, specializes in indicators – that’s the system’s infuence,’ in variable information says Vonderwalde. ‘Previously, we were losing and promotional labeling. too much time during set-up, and the system “We are a company that believes It serves a broad range allowed us to pre-set many parameters which of industries, including speeded up our processes. It allows us to see in data. What you can’t measure, food and beverage, textile, the data in real time and take immediate automotive, personal decisions. The presses run at maximum you can’t control”care, pharmaceutical and capacity and with less waste, thanks to the Gráfcas Modernas, Adhepel (now owned cosmetics, as well as producing tickets for system’s analysis. Since using Sispro, we have by CTI Invest), Achernar (part of Sato events and transport. improved production effciency by 10-12 Group), Autopack (recently acquired by ‘We are a company that believes in percent each year. It helps to make us more Baumgarten of Brazil), Multilabel, Artes data,’ says Etifex’s operations director Ari competitive.’Gráfcas Raal, Talleres Gráfcos Corti, Maroni Vonderwalde. ‘What you can’t measure, UpSoftware’s Gonzalo Tagliabue reports C and Villamagna Hermanos Etiquetas. Its you can’t control, so we were looking for that client input has been a key factor in biggest client outside Argentina is Etifex, production control software that would Sispro’s development. ‘We release new one of Mexico’s leading converters, with enable us to plan and grow more effciently. updates every six months, and we frequently more than 20 machines hooked up to Sispro, A great advantage of Sispro is that it is a incorporate suggestions from our customers. UpSoftware’s planning and production very open and fexible system. It can be They are the ones who really know what they control system. tweaked and adapted. It can be used in many need. So the system is constantly evolving.’ One development currently underway is the integration of warehouse and stock data into UpSoftware’s Sispro system in use at Argentina-based label converter AutopackSispro, while next year will see the launch of MyDash, a dashboard-styled webpage which gathers key indicators so they can be viewed live via tablets or computers. ‘The most important module is the Sispro Terminal, which accumulates the data from the machines. It provides statistics for everything: maintenance, consumables, waste, down-time, set-up. At a production level, it is very complete. It’s much more economic than other systems and our clients tell us it is very user-friendly. We focus on the terminal more than anything: that’s what controls the production. This differentiates us from the major international MIS suppliers. The Sispro system essentially works for any type of industry, but we focus particularly on the label and fexible packaging markets. And as a result of this focus, the system has evolved to meet the label industry’s specifc needs.’January 2015