Information on Shop Floor

Information on the shop floor is a topic we talk about all the time with our clients. There are two basic components we need to look at:

  1. Providing information to the floor when they need it and easily. One Click away.
  2. Collecting information at the point of activity. If we are completing a task or issuing a part, we need to log that into the system as close to the point of the activity as we can. Every step away reduces accuracy. Either the transaction is forgotten or done incorrectly.

First we need devices on the floor that are connected to the system. The right device is dependent on what we are accomplishing.

Labor collection

Labor collection stations may be a shared device, such as a PC or laptop in a central location. It can be connected to the system either through a network cable or wirelessly. Bar code wands might be added to facilitate entry of information into the system. We don’t want our technicians wasting time typing information into the system. Many of our installations utilize bar coded travelers, cheat sheets posted by the PC, and employee badges to make the labor entry quick and easy. Typical transactions can take on a few seconds to complete and if you have enough stations located in your shop so that people are simply logged their time where they are spending their time, this become an accurate and efficient process.

TV displays

There are many locations on the shop floor where we need information displayed so that people know what to work on next and also what is currently being worked on. These display boards are connected to the system and automatically refresh at a definable interval (per TV). These can show news, TO-DO lists, events, and planned maintenance. They are tied to the balance of the system so that the system is constantly up to date. This data is directly controlled by a department or work center manager.

A word about the events system. An event as used in this context, is something that is preventing a person on the floor from finishing their work. This can be a broken or missing piece of equipment (or tool). It might be a missing component, request for engineering help, or inspection needed. This are displayed on the screen so that anyone can quickly see the issue and help resolve it.

Planned maintenance can be set up in the system, complete with a schedule, work flow, and spare parts requirements. This can then display on the TV, so that people know that a machine will be unavailable on a certain date and certain times.

Tablets with bar code scanner

Tablets

We use rough shop ready tablet connected to the system. These tablets allow the user to report their activities, enter their times, and display information pertinent to what they are working on. The devices we typically use have a built in bar code reader. Work Instructions and Drawings can be displayed directly on the tablet that are related the work they are performing on the work order or particular sequence on that work order. They can check inventory balances, should they need additional components and/or check on the progress of a quality escape.

We suggest the use of rugged tablets to handle rigors of the shop floor. We can help with requirements for these devices.

RF bar code guns

RF guns

We also support the use of RF guns. These can have limited use due to the small size of their displays. However, they work quite well when issuing parts from the stock room, physical inventory counting, or cycle counting.

These work through a wireless connection to the system. We have specific menu options (called fastkeys in our environment) to work with these devices and allow the user to very quickly and accurately process the transaction in the system.

Summary

Regardless of the device, your PROMAN-erp system is designed to work directly on the floor and support your business.