Innovative data extraction from legacy and new machines to help drive production efficiencies, process automation and predictive analytics across Flex sites

Arch Systems, provider of a leading machine-data-sensing platform compatible with both legacy and new industrial machines, today announced an agreement with Flex, the global supply chain and manufacturing company, to supply real-time access to and analysis of manufacturing data at its facilities.

"We're deploying Arch's technology at key digital factories to capture the relevant analytics and help us drive production efficiencies, process automation and predictive analytics," explains Gus Shahin, chief information officer at Flex. "Arch can pull raw data from existing and new machines to help us generate actionable metrics, one of the core competencies of our digital factory. As part of our Industry 4.0 journey, we are excited to partner with Arch and leverage its leading-edge technology."

"Flex and Arch form a powerful combination," says Andrew Scheuermann, CEO and cofounder of Arch Systems. "As a global manufacturing leader, Flex is leveraging the value of accurate, real-time supply chain information to drive efficiency and innovation for its customers, while empowering live machine data and a data exchange to further embrace Industry 4.0 on the factory floor. Flex owns and operates a broad portfolio of new and legacy production machines, which posed a challenge in the Industry 3.0 world. Through our partnership and the Arch Factory Exchange, this is becoming an unmatched asset to achieve flexible, intelligent manufacturing. This is just the beginning."

Facilitating advanced capabilities around automation, robotics and smart machines requires data integration and standardization within and across each line. To help accomplish this, Arch is rolling out its enterprise-level machine-data-sensing platform, ArchFX, at Flex's manufacturing sites globally, extracting and transforming raw machine data into a global standard. On top of this foundation, Flex and Arch are creating standardized KPIs, such as global overall equipment efficiency and Industry 4.0 applications like predictive maintenance and end-to-end product traceability. These capabilities are driven by real-time information, advanced analytics and AI to help manufacturing move forward in the spirit of Industry 4.0.

About Arch Systems

Arch® works with top tier global manufacturers to extract data from any machine, both new and legacy, to unlock data governance and drive uniform metrics for enhanced productivity and predictive analytics. Arch's mission is to facilitate sustainable industrialization towards Industry 4.0 simultaneously with industry leaders and via impact-first development partnerships around the world. For more information, visit archsys.io or follow us on Twitter @Archsys_io.

About Flex

Flex is the Sketch-to-Scale® solutions provider that designs and builds intelligent products globally. With approximately 200,000 employees across 30 countries, Flex provides innovative design, engineering, manufacturing, real-time supply chain insight and logistics services to companies of all sizes across industries and markets. For more information, visit flex.com or follow Flex on Twitter @Flexintl.