Interval for Refreshing Shop Floor

When the user is in the Shop Floor module, and has information displayed on the screen (for example, the wip status of a work order). The user then leaves the screen up and alone to do another task (say breaks for lunch). Then the data represented by the screen may actually undergo changes by other employees. If the user does not use the screen in the meantime, when they return from their alternate task, the information on the screen would be incorrect (because someone else moved material). ManEx performs a periodic update (refresh) to Shop Floor screens when the user has information displayed on the screen, but has not performed any functions in the meantime. The period of the refresh rate is initially set to every two and a half minutes by ManEx. So, if the user has a work order tracking screen displayed with a work order showing wip, and does not perform any transaction for 2-1/2 minutes, ManEx will automatically update the information on the screen. This timing is initially set at 2-1/2 minutes, but the user may change this period in this setup. However, the trade-off for shorter periods is increased network traffic, and setting too many workstations to be refreshed every few seconds will seriously impact the server’s ability to deliver data.

Whenever a product is moved from one work center to another, the user has the option to print a move ticket (like a traveler) for each transaction. This move ticket may be printed and accompany the material to the next work center, identifying the work order, product date, work center, etc. The user may choose to turn this feature off by selecting the “Printer OFF” button in the setup. If the printer is turned on (“Printer ON”), then a sheet with the details will be printed for every product movement.

FGI Label Printing Defaults

Whenever a product is moved from one work center to the Work Center called FGI (Finished Goods Inventory), the user has the option to print a move ticket (like a traveler) for each transaction. This move ticket may be printed and accompany the material to finished goods, identifying the work order, product date, work center, etc. The user may choose to turn this feature off by selecting the “Printer OFF” button in the setup. If the printer is turned on (“Printer ON”), then a sheet with the details will be printed for every product movement.

Print Work Instructions on Move Tickets

If the user chooses to print move tickets, then they may also choose whether or not work instructions and work order notes are included in the printing.

If the user wishes to move material by the panel, sheet or roll, they may select “Default to PANEL” as the method of tracking quantities. This requires the user to define in the product definition the number of products contained in a panel/sheet/roll. Then, if this method is chosen, the user moves panels and ManEx keeps track of the number of units. If the user chooses to identify material movement by quantity of product, then the “Default to Quantity” button should be selected.

Bar Code Tracking

If the user is tracking serial numbers through the production process, and is using the ManEx bar code tracking module, then they have the option of defining a default method for picking up the bar-coded serial numbers. One option is to scan one serial number at a time, and collect those serial numbers for processing a transaction. Another option is to enter the beginning and ending serial number of a series of serial numbers and allow ManEx to fill in all of the serial numbers in between for processing a transaction. The third option is for the user to manually enter the quantity of boards to be moved. If the boards are serialized, then a list of serial numbers is presented to the user from which to select the serial numbers being moved with the quantity of parts.  The user has the option to change any of these defaults at the time of entry.  Please refer to the Shop Floor Tracking Management manual.  The ManEx Manufacturing System Software has bar code scan and print capability which is designed primarily for transfer of products in Shop Floor Tracking and input of inspection data by serial number and defect code.

Installation:  Bar Code Shop Floor Tracking is an OPTIONAL module; it is NOT a part of the Core ManEx MES modules.

·         Upon purchase of this module, ManEx will send a soft-key to activate the module

·         If Bar Coding of Serial Numbers is desired, the Serial Number tracking must be setup in Shop Floor Tracking Defaults . 

Specification:

·         ManEx uses the Microsoft Truetype BC C39 Narrow Font.  See Article #1225  for the installation procedure.

·         Use of a Y-Type keyboard-emulation scanner is supported by ManEx.  The scanner output goes into ManEx via the keyboard-input cable.  Bar code fields may be scanned or manually entered with the scanner installed.

·         Most scanners require ¼” of white space surrounding the bar code.  Laser and inkjet printed labels must have adequate resolution, contrast and clarity to print barcodes that are readable.

·         ManEx recognizes a bar code by an asterisk (*) at the beginning and end of the bar coded field.

Serial Number Tracking Method