Compare MERLIN Tempus EE vs. SmartAPQP

The MERLIN Tempus Enterprise Edition (EE) enhances the functionality of MERLIN Tempus by incorporating full Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), an adaptive job scheduling feature, and seamless integration with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. The data from ERP systems plays a crucial role in tracking the overhead costs associated with manufacturing operations. For instance, when a customer inquires about the status of an order, a factory's front office team without MERLIN Tempus EE would need to manually search for the work order and physically check on the location of the components on the production floor. However, with the integration of the ERP-connected MERLIN Tempus EE dashboard, the team can quickly access real-time information about the part's status in the manufacturing workflow and its estimated completion time for shipping. This real-time data feed enhances the relevance of the ERP system, thereby reducing uncertainties in fulfilling customer timelines and enhancing overall satisfaction. Ultimately, MERLIN Tempus EE transforms the way factories manage their operations, making it significantly more efficient and responsive to customer needs.

SmartAPQP serves as an interconnected platform tailored for manufacturers adhering to IATF 16949 standards, facilitating the journey from customer RFQ to PPAP and onward to production. Within this unified system, essential processes such as APQP, FMEA, Control Plan, MSA, PPAP, ECN, CAPA, collaboration with suppliers, and lessons learned are all managed through a single Part Master, which provides a cohesive audit trail and streamlined workflow engine. In contrast, most traditional quality systems rely on a disjointed array of tools that claim to work as one. RFQs are often managed in Excel, while APQP is tracked in project management tools that lack information about specific parts. FMEAs and Control Plans are typically confined to Word documents, PPAPs exist as cumbersome PDF binders, and ECNs are exchanged through email correspondence. Additionally, suppliers receive drawings packaged as ZIP files, and invaluable lessons from past projects remain lodged in the minds of individual engineers. The product narrative can be captured in two key stories. The first, Quote-to-Launch, begins with the arrival of a customer RFQ; the costing process automatically generates a cost sheet based on your BOM, MBOM, and tooling, leading to an internally approved quote. Once won, this quote seamlessly initiates a fully linked APQP project, with FMEA, Control Plan, MSA, PSW, and PPAP all aligned with the parts that were previously costed, ensuring an organized and efficient workflow. Furthermore, this integration enables teams to access real-time data, improving collaboration and decision-making throughout the product lifecycle.