Paperless Factory
Paperless Factory
Sustainable manufacturing is the key to a lean shop and a manageable factory floor. Work order and job packets can be reduced or eliminate manufacturing costs by saving paper and labor time. At the touch of a button, documents within (or outside of) the FACTIVITY system can be called up by the operator. By our unique approach of document delivery of files to the factory workers, our paperless manufacturing module can provide electronic documents that capture important quality data by the operator or from the equipment or machine automatically during processing.
Beyond shop floor data collection software and document management software, paperless documents have the benefit of eliminating the time and cost of compiling job packets. Work can be completed through touch screen data collection terminals by an operator, and FACTIVITY creates the electronic signature needed for accountability.
Presenting the operator with our specialized document group helps focus the worker on only the information needed to complete his/her task. Documents might include CAD and PDF drawings, special work instructions and/or quality data capture. Many of our customers simplify data capture through our customizable templates. These templates are electronic documents which are created by you through our easy-to-use drag/drop touchscreen template builder facility.
Data capture can be via touch screen or automatic machine interface from measuring devices, weigh scales, PLC, etc. It can provide non-conformance alarms when measures and data captured is outside of pre-determined tolerances.
Templates can also provide the back bone to Material Review Board MRB reporting of work in process that needs to be evaluated for possible scrap or rework. Paperless inspectors can view the MRB in/out on an electronic tracking board and make the appropriate decision on the disposition of the materials reviewed.
Other documents can deliver equipment instructions to the machine interface directly at the touch of a button. For example, a Part Program to a CNC or other program controlled device. Document buttons can also deliver a specific part or components from an automated inventory picking system for accurate and timely deliver to automation equipment.
Beyond paperless time tickets, job packets, drawings, quality sheets…is the paperless window into the factory via the Web based query facility in our FACTVIEW. The machine, labor, part and job real-time queries in FACTVIEW provide a quick, effective, no cost method of having personnel in other areas of the factory keep track of activity on the floor without a license fee. So…
- Quality can see what is coming up for inspection at no cost
- Maintenance can see the line-up of work for scheduling downtime at no cost
- Customer service can evaluate estimated delivery dates at no cost
- Materials Management can increase their visibility and improve error proofing with lot tracing and lot tracking
- Production Management can see OEE Dashboards and Labor Daily Job Tickets at their desk at no cost
Questions people ask about FACTIVITY paperless approach
No, for years FACTIVITY has provided a variety of interfaces to allow companies to use the ERP system as the repository of information and maintain it there. We have interfaced our FACTIVITY system to many standard ERP systems, as well as, many legacy and customized ERP systems. The FACTIVITY system helps control the execution of the ERP plan and provides management with updates in real time and analytics for lean manufacturing improvements, while at the same time, assisting operators with guidance and error-proofing.
When production is reported, operators and management can be alerted to unusual situations. Situations, such as, over or under reporting quantities, too much scrap based on expected yield, components not on the bill of material or material not in appropriate lot, etc.
No, Bar Code Readers require paper to be printed. This is not sustainable or paperless! You can purchase inexpensive touch screen PC and tablets for under $100 per data collection terminal which is a fraction of the cost of an RF Bar Code Reader.
Yes, by controlling the electronic dispatch, you have full control of showing only the job you want to operator to see. For example only the next job on the “to-do” line list appears on the dispatch screen.
FACTIVITY MES is used worldwide. Our software works with SAP, QAD, BPICS, Navision, Baan, other legacy and customized ERP systems using one of our existing pre-integration or one that is configured to fits your specific needs.
FACTIVITY's Documents module delivers any file type to operators at the touch of a button — CAD drawings, PDF work instructions, setup sheets, ISO/QS 9000 controlled documents, video clips, inspection forms, and more. Documents are organized into groups that present only the information relevant to the specific job and operation the operator is working on, so workers aren't navigating through irrelevant content to find what they need. This is particularly valuable for complex parts with multiple setup configurations or for quality-sensitive operations where operators need to reference specific tolerance or inspection requirements.
FACTIVITY's Documents module includes a drag-and-drop template builder that non-technical users can use to create electronic quality data capture forms. Operators fill these in on the touch screen during production — recording measurements, inspection results, and process parameters directly into the system. Data capture can also happen automatically through direct machine interfaces — measuring devices, weigh scales, PLCs, and other equipment can feed data into FACTIVITY templates without operator entry. When measurements fall outside pre-defined tolerances, the system generates a non-conformance alarm immediately rather than waiting for the part to reach a downstream inspection step.
FACTVIEW is FACTIVITY's web browser-based viewer that gives personnel outside the production area real-time visibility into factory floor activity — at no additional license cost. Quality teams can see which jobs are approaching their inspection area during the shift. Maintenance can view machine schedules to find the best time for planned downtime. Customer service can check estimated completion dates for any part currently on the floor. Production management can monitor OEE dashboards and labor job cards from their desk. FACTVIEW works on any device with a browser, so this visibility is available from anywhere without requiring a FACTIVITY terminal license.
FACTIVITY's Documents module provides electronic MRB tracking for work in process that needs quality disposition — scrap or rework decisions. Paperless inspectors see an electronic MRB in/out tracking board that shows them what's waiting for review and allows them to record disposition decisions directly in the system. This eliminates the physical paperwork trail that manual MRB processes create and gives management a complete, auditable record of every quality disposition decision tied to the specific job and lot it affected.
Eliminating paper from the factory floor is a lean objective because paper is waste — it takes time to create, distribute, sort, and file job packets. It introduces errors when it becomes out-of-date or misplaced. And it creates delays between when something happens on the floor and when management knows about it. FACTIVITY's paperless approach removes all of these: documents are current because they're maintained in one place and delivered on demand; management visibility is continuous because data is captured electronically as it happens; and the system generates value-stream mapping as a natural byproduct of normal operation, giving lean teams the data they need for Kaizen events without additional measurement effort.