Kontron offers industrial software for cross-industry automation solutions through its subsidiary Kontron AIS GmbH. With FabEagleMES, Kontron AIS provides a Manufacturing Execution System purpose-built for ingot, wafer and high-volume solar cell and module production. New MES tools support manufacturers in maintaining stable processes, reducing scrap, and ensuring consistent product quality under rapidly changing production conditions.
As solar manufacturing scales globally, cell and module manufacturers face rising demands for quality, stability, and efficiency. Reliable gigawatt-scale production requires Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) designed specifically for photovoltaic processes, capable of handling complex material flows, large data volumes, and strict traceability requirements.
By connecting machines, materials, and processes in real time, FabEagleMES provides the transparency needed to stabilize production and drive continuous optimization.
New FabEagleMES Tools for High-Volume PV Production
Configurable material flow and active transport control enable flexible production routing for complex solar module production lines. Routing is controlled based on product type, quality, and status information and includes bypass and unloading scenarios. This allows manufacturers to respond quickly to changing production requirements while optimizing production processes.
Robust defect analytics and quality reporting enable detailed evaluation of product defects from inspection and rework stations at cell and string level. Heatmaps by location, defect code, and frequency support real-time monitoring and help identify systematic issues at an early stage, enabling targeted improvement measures.
Long-term data storage forms the foundation for sustainable process optimization. By leveraging data-lake-based data history for mass production, FabEagleMES ensures efficient storage and evaluation of large volumes of production, quality, and machine data. This not only supports advanced analytics but also ensures compliance with quality and regulatory requirements common in global PV markets.
Connectivity, Transparency, and Data-Driven Decisions
An enhanced web client enables analysis of production, equipment, material, and quality data directly in the browser. Clear visualizations such as trend charts, heatmaps, histograms, XY plots, or material flow diagrams help identify deviations early and provide a solid foundation for informed decision-making and continuous improvement.
Configurable role-based dashboards provide targeted insights for operators, process engineers, and production management. Real-time information on machine status, alarm events, throughput, and work-in-progress (WIP) supports faster decision-making and more agile production control.
In addition, a REST API enables simplified machine integration and standardized communication of equipment status, alarms, process and material tracking, and process control. This allows manufacturers to calculate and analyze KPIs such as OEE, MTBF, and MTTR, and to implement advanced functions like alarm Pareto analysis, SPC-based process evaluation, and comprehensive track-and-trace.
