Initial Assessment and Planning:
Evaluate current manufacturing processes, define project goals, scope, and success metrics.
Assemble a project team and develop a detailed implementation plan.
System Design and Configuration:
Configure Plex modules (MES, QMS, inventory, supply chain, etc.) to align with business workflows and requirements.
Set up user roles, security, and data access permissions.
Data Migration
Prepare, cleanse, and migrate legacy data (such as inventory, production records, and supplier information) into Plex.
Integration
Integrate Plex with existing enterprise systems (ERP, CRM, financials, shop floor equipment) as needed.
Process Automation Setup
Automate key business processes to replace manual, error-prone tasks and drive operational efficiency.
User Training
Conduct comprehensive training sessions for all user groups to ensure effective adoption and maximize system utilization.
Testing and Validation
Perform system testing and user acceptance testing (UAT) to ensure the solution meets business requirements and is ready for go-live.
Go-Live Preparation
Finalize system setup, perform final data migration, and establish support channels for immediate post-launch issues.
Go-Live
Deploy Plex in the live environment, monitor performance, and provide hands-on support during the transition.
Post-Go-Live Support and Optimization
Plex can be customized to fit specific business needs, offering a high degree of flexibility and adaptability for manufacturers across different industries. Here are several data points that highlight Plex’s customization capabilities:
Modular Platform: Plex is built as a modular Smart Manufacturing Platform, allowing organizations to select and configure only the modules (such as MES, QMS, inventory, supply chain, production scheduling, and more) that match their operational requirements. Businesses can activate or deactivate modules as their needs evolve.
Workflow Automation: The platform enables the automation of business processes to replace manual, error-prone tasks. Workflows can be tailored to reflect unique manufacturing processes, approval hierarchies, and compliance requirements.
Role-Based Access and Security: Plex allows for detailed configuration of user roles, permissions, and data access, ensuring that each team member interacts with the system according to their responsibilities and security needs.
Integration Capabilities: Plex supports integration with a wide range of third-party software tools (such as ERP, CRM, financial systems, shop floor equipment, and analytics platforms), enabling seamless data flow and process alignment across the enterprise.
Custom Dashboards and Reporting: Users can create custom dashboards, analytics, and reports to track the KPIs and metrics that matter most to their business. This ensures that decision-makers have access to relevant, real-time information.
Cloud-Native Flexibility: As a cloud-native solution, Plex can be rapidly scaled and updated, with the ability to configure environments for single-site or multi-site operations, and adapt to changing business requirements without major IT investments.
Industry-Specific Adaptation: Plex is used by manufacturers in diverse sectors (automotive, food & beverage, aerospace, electronics, etc.), and offers industry-specific best practices, templates, and compliance features that can be tailored to meet regulatory and operational standards.
Continuous Improvement: The platform supports ongoing customization and optimization, allowing businesses to refine workflows, add new modules, or adjust processes as they grow or as industry standards change.
User Interface Personalization: Plex allows users to personalize their interface, organize their workspace, and set up notifications or alerts based on their roles and preferences.
Plex offers a suite of training and support services to help new users effectively adopt and utilize the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform. Here's an overview of the available resources:
The AAP provides subscription-based access to a wide range of training resources, including:
Self-paced online courses: Learn at your own pace with interactive content, videos, simulations, and assessments.
Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT): Participate in live, online classes covering various topics, allowing interaction with instructors and peers.
Plex Education Portal (PEP): Access course materials, track training progress, and manage user registrations.
This flexible learning model supports continuous education across all functional areas of Plex, catering to different roles and skill levels.
An immersive, four-day training program designed for system administrators, Plex champions, and key users. Boot Camp offers hands-on experience with the Plex platform, focusing on real-world scenarios and best practices. Sessions are available both online and in-person, with options for private, on-site training tailored to your organization's needs. Plex, by Rockwell Automation
For those seeking formal recognition of their Plex expertise, the PAIS program offers certification through an exam covering core platform concepts and best practices. Eligibility requires at least six months of experience with Plex and participation in implementation projects.
Plex provides robust support to ensure users can effectively resolve issues and optimize their use of the platform:
Plex Community: A 24/7 online hub where users can access knowledge articles, engage with fellow users, and submit support cases.
Multi-tiered support: Options range from standard support to enhanced services, including assigned Technical Account Managers and priority case handling.
Language support: Assistance is available in multiple languages to cater to a global user base. Plex, by Rockwell Automation
Beyond training and support, Plex offers professional services to assist with specific implementation needs:
EDI Implementation and Training: Comprehensive services covering discovery, configuration, validation, and deployment of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) solutions.
Plex implements a suite of security measures to protect user data within its Smart Manufacturing Platform. These measures encompass data confidentiality, integrity, availability, and privacy, ensuring robust protection across all facets of the platform.
Data in Transit: Utilizes Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.3 or higher to encrypt data during transmission, safeguarding against interception.
Network Architecture: Features a zero-trust model with network segmentation, multizoned firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and continuous traffic monitoring.
DDoS Protection: Implements Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) mitigation strategies to protect against large-scale attacks.
Endpoint Security: Ensures all servers are equipped with endpoint protection to detect and prevent unauthorized access.
Secure Development Lifecycle: Adheres to the Rockwell Automation Product Lifecycle (RAPL), emphasizing security through design. This includes rigorous vetting, dynamic and static code analysis, and independent verification before deployment.
Application Security Testing: Conducts comprehensive testing, including assessments against the OWASP Top 10 security concerns, to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): Deploys SIEM solutions to log and correlate system events, facilitating real-time threat detection and response.
Incident Management: Maintains a robust incident response plan, including tiered response teams and post-incident analysis to continuously improve processes.
Access Policies: Implements least privilege access, multi-factor authentication, and privileged access controls to restrict unauthorized access.
Tenant Access Management (TAM): Provides customers with tools to manage user access and enforce security policies within their own environments.
ISO 27001:2013 Certification: Demonstrates adherence to international standards for information security management.
SOC 1 and SOC 2 Reports: Undergoes annual audits to assess controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
GDPR Compliance: Aligns with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requirements, ensuring data privacy and protection for EU citizens.
Plex operates under a shared security responsibility model, securing the cloud infrastructure and providing customers with tools to manage their own security policies. This includes features like single sign-on, event monitoring, and customizable access controls.
Plex, by Rockwell Automation, adheres to a clear and customer-centric policy regarding data ownership and portability within its Smart Manufacturing Platform.
Plex operates under a model where customers, referred to as "Entity Users," retain full ownership and control over their data:
Customer Control: Customers are responsible for managing their data, including access controls, retention policies, and compliance with relevant regulations.
Plex's Role: Plex acts as a data processor, handling data solely to provide the agreed-upon services. It does not claim ownership of customer data and processes it only under the direction of the customer.
Plex supports data portability, allowing customers to retrieve their data in a usable format:
Data Export: Customers can export their data from the Plex platform, facilitating transitions to other systems or for backup purposes.
Plex, by Rockwell Automation, offers a highly flexible and scalable Smart Manufacturing Platform designed to adapt to the evolving needs of organizations. Its modular architecture and subscription-based pricing model facilitate seamless scaling up or down as business requirements change.
Plex's platform is built on a modular, cloud-native foundation, allowing organizations to tailor their digital transformation journey:
Start Small, Scale as Needed: Companies can begin with specific modules like Quality Management Systems (QMS) or Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and expand to include additional functionalities such as production monitoring, asset performance management, or supply chain planning over time.
Seamless Integration: New capabilities can be activated without complex installations, ensuring that data and governance rules flow seamlessly throughout the system.
Plex offers a straightforward, all-inclusive subscription model that supports scalability:
Unlimited Users and Machines: The subscription covers unlimited users and machines across the enterprise, eliminating concerns about additional licensing costs as the organization grows.
Predictable Costs: With a single annual fee, organizations benefit from predictable budgeting without unexpected overage charges or data transfer limits.
Comprehensive Inclusions: The subscription encompasses server hardware, software, support, continuous innovation, security monitoring, off-site backups, and optimized performance, ensuring that scaling operations do not incur hidden costs.
The modular nature of Plex's platform also facilitates scaling down:
Module Deactivation: Organizations can deactivate or remove modules that are no longer needed, allowing for cost optimization without disrupting other operational areas.
Flexible Adjustments: The platform's design supports adjustments to align with changing business strategies or market conditions, ensuring that the system remains aligned with current organizational needs.
Plex cloud-based infrastructure underpins its scalability:
Elastic Resources: The platform can dynamically allocate resources to accommodate increased workloads or scale back during periods of reduced demand.
Plex, by Rockwell Automation, offers a flexible subscription model for its Smart Manufacturing Platform, accommodating the evolving needs of organizations. Below is an overview of the terms and conditions related to contract renewal and cancellation:
Automatic Renewal: Subscriptions are set to renew automatically at the end of each billing cycle. To avoid being charged for the next period, cancellation must be completed at least one (1) day before the end of the current term. Plex
Cancellation Process: You can cancel future renewals at any time by accessing your account's Subscriptions page. This action will prevent further charges, and your subscription will remain active until the end of the current billing period.
No Refunds for Partial Periods: Cancelling a subscription halts future renewals but does not provide refunds for the current subscription period.
Subscription Management: If your subscription was initiated through a third-party platform (e.g., Amazon Appstore, Google Play, iTunes, Roku Channel Store), cancellation must be managed through that specific platform.
Account Deletion: Deleting your Plex account does not automatically cancel your subscription. You must cancel the subscription separately to avoid future charges.
Plex
By Rockwell Automation
