By Maiko Kenner, Independent IT Consultant, Conergy AG
In 2006, Conergy AG started construction on one of the most advanced solar factories in the world in Frankfurt (Oder). On 35,000 square metres, a fully integrated and fully-automated wafer, cell and module production facility was created – all under one roof. Since 2008, production has been running at full speed and every day more than 3,000 premium modules roll out of the factory. This paper outlines the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) process put in place by Conergy during the planning phase of the factory, to monitor and control the complex and merging production processes.