Ectobox, Inc.

Real-time visibility into the plant floor

Ectobox helps manufacturers see what is happening on the factory floor in real time. The company describes its work as connecting equipment and systems without tying a client to one vendor. It says its approach starts from the business problem before the data or the technology.

Custom manufacturing execution systems

The main product is a custom manufacturing execution system, or MES, running on Inductive Automation's Ignition software. The company says each MES contains only the features a client needs, and that its experts architect it around the client's operation. Its integration work connects MES, SCADA systems, historians and similar tools so that they work together.

Open technology and no proprietary lock-in

Ectobox says it uses open technology and will not sell proprietary products, offering only the analysis and solutions a client needs. It argues that many manufacturers stall because they collect machine data without a purpose, and it says it starts instead at the top, with the business challenge, then moves down to data and technology.

Planning a digital transformation

Before any build, the firm assesses a client's needs, sets guardrails and draws up a roadmap. The company calls the first project the most important part of a transformation: it is meant to prove the value of the data, the team and the architecture. The company says such projects are expected to show a return within three to six months.

Measured outcomes

The site highlights three areas: cutting machine downtime, tracking and raising overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), and removing paper and spreadsheets from the plant floor. The company states its own ranges for these outcomes, including downtime reductions of up to 90 percent and OEE gains of 30 to 50 percent in the first six months.

Team and Industry 4.0 work

The team comprises engineers, designers, project managers and technicians, which the company says gives it a broad base in manufacturing and technology. Its customers are manufacturers working towards Industry 4.0, from a single pilot project to a larger program of change. Ectobox offers a short online digital transformation maturity assessment for companies that want to see where they stand before committing to a project.