Some MTM organizations turned to developing computer-supported systems early on. It also simplified data use considerably for MTM consultants as well as the clients. Among the first programs there were the American software 4M System, a computer technique for applying MTM-1, and ANA Zeba Data, developed in Germany, for establishing and calculating data using any MTM technique. Those products were already so successful as an instrument of time data management that they were used by companies in many areas well into the 1990s.

In 1997 the German MTM software developers succeeded in producing a solution with which they once again proved their valuable role in the area of digital time and work management: TiCon®. They redeveloped the already existing module for planning and analysis (Ana Zeba Data) and integrated it into the TiCon® family of products. Since that time, digital tools for analyzing and optimizing the entire process chain are available with this software. In connection with the MTM planning product PROKON, designs can already be evaluated, products can be designed for easy assembly and manufacturing costs can be calculated before actual production. In a second step, the entire work environment can be optimized with 3D simulation, human model animation and other elements. The basic version TiCon®-Base includes the features and functions for method and time planning with the central planning database. It contains the complete set of time values of MTM-1, UAS, MEK and the most generic data blocks used in industries and services.

With the TiCon® Production Planning software, generated work plans can then be created for manual work and production processes based on time management analyses. Finally, the program TiCon® Balancing delivers exact information for distribution and work content, optimizes the load at work stations and the number of necessary workers, also considering product variation. The TiCon® family of software is conceived as a solution which focuses on industries. It can be as easily implemented in administration, development and assembly as it can in logistics, maintenance and service.

TiCon data are stored and managed by relational databases (e.g. SQL and Oracle) which make the system easily interface-able with most of the ERP systems (e.g. SAP/R3, eMPower, Sycat, etc.).

Interview: Flavio Dalla Costa, Value Stream Engineering Manager, Whirlpool Europe

How long has Whirlpool Europe been using TiCon®?

Flavio Dalla Costa (FDC): our company has been using TiCon® since 1999. We were the first international industrial group to install TiCon® on a geographic network: at that time our nine European plants, located in Italy, Germany, France and Slovakia, were all connected to a central shared database located at our European headquarter in Comerio (Varese – Italy).

The database server is an Oracle machine, whilst TiCon is installed on a Terminal Server next to the database server. In each plant we have a local area network to which all the users are connected. At present we still have the same architecture, we are connecting our new Polish plant and the performance of the overall system has improved significantly thanks to our new line with a broader band.

How does TiCon® fit into the company information system?

FDC: perfectly and easily. Oracle was the company standard for all the database engines. It was great to have the possibility to maintain the same system exploiting our Oracle enterprise license. The next step will be to install an interface between TiCon and our ERP system. That will become possible when we finish the migration of our MRP system toward SAP.

What do you consider the essential advantages of TiCon®?

FDC: the system was developed by a team of software programmers and industrial engineers, who brought into the development team a deep knowledge of all the technical requirements and features necessary and precious when you carry on MTM projects. Before choosing TiCon® we compared several systems and eventually we chose it thanks to its reliability and offer of useful functions.