Tracking of actual production process information is a critical component of production monitoring & control activities. Improved workflow, material-in-progress details, machine and labor utilization are achieved by providing supervisors and line managers with actual status information as work is being performed. The primary goals of PMC’s implementation are to improve labor efficiency and enhance productivity management at the workplace.

Data Collection System

DCS and its devise support facilities included in the ETOS system are highly flexible and adaptable to a variety of device types and device protocols, present in the market today. As an application provider, Cetec supports data collection from dedicated terminals, access security devices, machine controllers, and browser-based stations (kiosks). These devices are used for attendance, workflow, and activity execution transactions reported at the workplace. Depending upon the devise and its interface protocol, data is entered in real-time, validated, processed for application use in less than a second of turn-around time. Interface throughput and devise response to its user are critical to the application.

The Web Terminal provides new opportunities to use data collection from remote and highly distributed facilities. Such devices are now available at reasonable cost.

Operations Dispatch

Operation dispatch generates details of jobs (Workorder/operations) for execution at a specific work-center or work-cell (machine).  Dispatch functions are used with the TOS web terminal (kiosk) allowing display of execution details (routings) in a full-size multi-line display.  Dispatch details are varied and contain at minimum work order, operation, part number, standard time, demand quantity ... etc.

Its primary function is to eliminate the use of bar-coded paper routers and reduce documents handling errors. Operations are dispatched by scheduling priority and sequence of execution as released by a manufacturing planning system.

Work-in-progress Tracking System

WIP is an activity-based shop floor information tracking system applied in both discrete and continuous process industries to provide production management with an on­line view of work in progress and production status. This view is achieved with actual in-process information tracked at the workplace depicting workflow and cycle run status, labor utilization, in-progress material flow, material position, and machine run/idle status throughout the production cycle.

Transactions reported at the shop floor are utilized to create WIP information, reconciled, and adjusted for an employee shift time-line. WIP determines "time-to-complete" to enhance order fulfillment as an integral part of the shop floor supply-chain process. Functions include are in the following:

·  Utilized reported transactions

·  Full reconciliation of labor time

·  Determine time-to-complete status

·  Order/lot quantity status/location

·  Sub-lot tracking by location

·  Full tracking of operation/task

·  Accumulate operation progress

·  Accumulate quantities & time

·  Support scrap/defect status

·  Tracking by serial number

·  On-line reporting of order status