Do you remember the time when the introduction of the steam and some other machines revolutionized and mechanized some of the work our ancestors did? Next was electricity, the assembly line and the birth of mass production. With the advent of computers and the beginnings of automation, came in the third era, when robots and machines began to replace human workers on those assembly lines. And now we enter Industry 4.0! Industry 4.0 introduces what has been called the “smart factory,” in which cyber-physical systems monitor the physical processes of the factory and make decentralized decisions.
The drive to realize value out of the digitization of manufacturing – Industry 4.0 – with some of the latest technologies is a focus for all organizations. Analytics specific to manufacturing are key to unlocking the potential of all the process data that exists as well as data created through new channels (e.g., IoT). Thus, big data and software analytics can have a tremendous impact on modern industries.
Focused exclusively on manufacturing for more than 25 years, Northwest Analytics, Inc. is a key supplier of Industry 4.0 analytics and manufacturing intelligence solutions to 35% of the Forbes 1000 manufacturers and more than 3,000 manufacturing customers worldwide.
One-Stop Solution for Enterprise-wide Integration and Real-time Analytics
The Northwest Analytics Industry 4.0 analytics platform generates digital knowledge using current and emerging manufacturing technology assets to aggregate, analyze, package and deliver results to all levels of the organization ranging from senior executives to process operators. This in turn maximizes product throughput and quality while lowering risk and costs by controlling and impacting processes with real-time, analytics-based decision support.
Their platform enables manufacturers to leverage a full spectrum of analytics techniques and approaches – from predictive and prescriptive to multivariate and SPC – as they find the best fit to address their particular manufacturing challenges or issues. The direct and ubiquitous data-source connectivity of its flagship product, NWA Focus EMI® allows easy data aggregation across multiple disparate data sources without need for duplication (e.g., data lakes) and delivers analytics-based process monitoring and alarming. Additionally, the NWA workforce possesses a unique combination and depth of both technology & manufacturing process knowledge, ensuring the platform matches the needs of their customers.
NWA’s Distinctive and Exemplary Products
NWA Focus EMI®: The award-winning Industry 4.0 enterprise analytics platform – with more full production deployments than any other manufacturing real-time analytics provider – delivers company-wide real-time manufacturing visibility from all data sources through a global analytics. Additionally, the analytics platform delivers additional value by enabling and accelerating the impact of other 3rd party predictive analytics solutions.
NWA Quality Analyst®: is an award-winning SPC charting and analysis software solution providing the best combination of power, flexibility, and ease-of-use of any SPC software available. It is a comprehensive statistical process control (SPC) software package for superior real-time SPC charting, analysis, and reporting.
NWA Quality Information System®: NWA’s Quality Information System provides a complete solution to your quality-system needs, including meeting GMP and ISO quality requirements. It provides manufacturing plants and laboratories a single, unified data collection solution for quality control test stations.
In addition, the company offers software assurance, support, technical, and training services. The company’s primary markets served include chemical, pharmaceutical & life sciences, oil & gas, packaging and materials. It offers its solutions through a network of distributors and integrators worldwide.
Leading NWA’s Data Revolution
The Northwest Analytics senior leadership team’s background is a unique blend of deep analytics, manufacturing and technology knowledge. Robert Ward, Chief Executive Officer at Northwest Analytics Inc., is responsible for all operating aspects of the company. Prior to joining NWA, Robert was the co-founder and managing partner of Capybara Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in high-growth technology investments.
Informed by more than 25 years of deep manufacturing process knowledge, Louis Halvorsen, Chief Technology Officer, oversees the design, development and support of NWA analytics products and brings. Previously, Louis held management and technical positions in the analytical instrumentation field and worked in research and quality control as an industrial chemist.
Peter Guilfoyle, Vice President of Marketing, is responsible for all aspects of marketing for Northwest Analytics from market strategy creation to channel partner development and program execution. For more than 20 years, Peter has been recognized for his ability to anticipate market moves relative to technology as well as an innovative approach to all aspects of the marketing continuum. Before Northwest Analytics, he held senior marketing roles at Coaxis, Inc, Intel Corporation, Xerox and Tektronix.
Responsible for customer engagements at Northwest Analytics, Jim Petrusich, Vice President of Sales, has a broad background in technology and solutions that involve analytic systems. Over the last decade, Jim has worked on analytic monitoring projects with many large companies and governments in over 40 countries. Prior to joining Northwest Analytics, Mr. Petrusich led sales efforts for Planar Systems and Clarity Visual Systems.
Accessing, Marshaling and Analyzing Data Perceptively
The global manufacturing market in general has just recently begun to fully understand the potential of analytics as a value-driver across their operations. And while that has resulted in increased momentum and interest in how to solve real-world problems with analytics, they are now challenged with sorting through the quickly proliferating list of solutions to determine which one(s) best address their particular needs. As the understanding about the application of analytics and internal skill levels build within the ranks of manufacturers, the desire to apply multiple analytics approaches to solve process issues will increase. The ability of the Northwest Analytics platform to access, marshal and analyze data not only increases the value and usability of NWA analytics solutions but also allows manufacturers to create more value from their data by enabling other analytics tools and 3rd party analytics solution providers.
Envisioning Proliferation of Industry 4.0 Initiatives
NWA expanded its software reach to the production facilities and added data collection and data management capabilities to its established analytics reputation. As a pre-eminent analytics resource for manufacturers worldwide, Northwest Analytics is viewed as a trusted technology partner for their customers having set the standard for manufacturing analytics in the industry. Additionally, Northwest Analytics will continue in its role as a visible thought leader by elevating the analytics discussion through industry education events like the Manufacturing Leadership Forum; and serving as a key value driver for Industry 4.0 initiatives.
