MOBILITY
This has been one of the catch
words of the last decade or so.
Today we take it for granted that our
office, social activities and more sit
in our pocket. Users expect to be
able to transact and track tool crib
activity on the go. A new generation
of Android based hand-held devices
– each one loaded with a rich menu
of reports and data presented in a
mobile friendly format – allows users
to see what’s happening.
These devices can be a
full substitute for those old
cumbersome Windows CE handheld
devices that you needed to lug
around to issue items from stock
in your warehouse or tool room.
You can be sure that the UI is what
you’d expect of a modern Android
based app, with a clear uncluttered
interface that gives you just enough
of the information you need to
promptly and easily carry out day to
day transactions. And there’s some
more good news – the Android
devices are usually a fraction of
what you used to pay for the older
Windows based systems.
There are also some great
devices out there that combine a
professional 2D scanner within a
rugged hand-held device that sit
comfortably in the palm of your
hand, supported by convenient
accessories, like a trigger for heavy
duty scanning.
IOT – THE INTERNET OF
THINGS
Some unique ideas have surfaced
that bring the Internet of Things
to the shop floor in a manner
that doesn’t require complicated
and expensive installation, or
subscription fees that can virtually
break the bank.
One such innovation is the
integration of real time location
systems – or RLTS - into a host of
production assets that tend to be
very nomadic, such as gauges,
fixtures, measuring devices, test
equipment and more.
Knowing where they hide out can
save money by lowering capital
investment and reducing downtime.
There are different technologies out
there, using RFID (passive) and BLE
(active Bluetooth low energy). The
trick with all this stuff is to make it
simple to use and focused on what
the end user really needs. Flashy
dashboards with tons of graphs
and analytics look great, but it’s
usually just a simple location ID that
allows the user to quickly locate an
asset. Accuracy can be affected
by the physical environment, and
where and how many gateways
are deployed to receive data
transmissions.
However, knowing the general
position, within a meter or so, will
normally be enough, and the current
technologies can deliver on this.
Metrics that log and analyze location
history allow for greater optimization
in the use of production assets for
further indirect cost savings.
SMART MANUFACTURING
RFID chips on tooling and adapters
can be loaded with tool assembly
and other production data to allow
for an error-free experience at the
point of use.
Tooling is placed in a modular
housing where the chip data is
read and transmitted to the tool
management software, which then
limits vending to tools which have
been authorised for the job. The
cost of using the wrong tool can
be exorbitant and lead to scrapped
parts, delayed orders and risks
compromising the reputation of the
manufacturer.
In aerospace, for example,
eliminating the risk of using the
wrong tool is mandatory and
non-negotiable. Where the bill of
materials is fixed, this technology
will be extremely useful.
CLOUD TOOL AND DATA
MANAGEMENT
Several companies already offer
cloud-based applications to find,
select and assemble the right
tools for the job. Many cutting
tool manufacturers develop and
offer their own digital catalogs and
tool selection apps. Integrating
all of these with job planning and
vending platforms makes sense.
When creating the job, you want to
know the most basic of things – is
my preferred tool in stock? And,
can I reserve it, so it won’t be used
for another job in the meantime?
Some vending systems offer this
important integration.
REAL-TIME DATA
ANALYSIS
Pulling it all together with advanced
reporting options, analytics and
customization is essential for
targeted and efficient navigation
through the huge quantities of
data that a vending system can
generate. This includes thousands
of SKU’s, hundreds of thousands of
transactions, multiple users, cost
centers, logistics parameters and
more. Mining out what you need and
calculating the performance metrics
will make all the difference between
staying ahead or drowning in all that
data.
WHAT’S NEXT
The above innovations already
provide us with tangible advances,
bridging the gap between the past
and the future smart factory - where
AGV’s, artificial intelligence and
robotics will probably deliver tools to
the point of use just in time.
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