1. Shop Floor Tracking by Bar Code (OPTIONAL Module)

1.1. Prerequisties - SFT by Bar Code
ManEx’s standard module configuration allows most users to accomplish their daily tasks.  For those users wanting to get more from ManEx by leveraging the total solutions, this is one of the optional modules available for purchase.   This module is designed primarily for transfer of products in shop floor tracking and input of inspection data by serial number and defect code.  To place an order or to learn more about this specific module or any of the other optional modules please contact us at http://manex.com"contactus.aspx

After activation, "Shop Floor Bar Code" access for each user must be setup in the ManEx System Security module.  Users with “Supervisor Rights” will automatically have access.

Bar Code Tracking Method

Select Bar Code Tracking method in System Setup, Shop Floor Tracking Defaults
Production Planning  Select Serialization in Work Order Traveler Setup.
Work Order Serial Number Set up Serial Numbers in Work Order Serial Number Control
Bar Code Scanner There is no restrictions on the scanner you use as long as it can read Code39 it will work.  It also must be a keyboard wedge since we do not offer batch processing. 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.  If you are having problem with your scanner, make sure your scanner isn't set to scan Code39 extended.

  

1.2. Introduction - SFT by Bar Code

Overview: 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 extra cost option; it is not a part of the Core Manex MES modules.

Upon purchase of the module, Manex will send a soft key to activate the module.

  • After activation, Bar Coding access for each user must be setup in the Manex Security module.  Users with “supervisor’s rights” will automatically have access.  See Article #3250 if you would like to scan the employee id rather than having the employee enter password each time. 
  • Each client workstation (individual PC) which will be printing Reports, Travelers, labels, Serial Tags, Physical Inventory Tags and Defect Lists with Bar Coding must have the font installed as an active Windows font.
  • If Bar Coding of Serial Numbers is desired, the Serial Numbers must be setup in the Work Order Serial Number Control module. 

Specification:

  1. Manex uses the Microsoft Trutype BC C 39 Narrow Font. See Article #1225  for Bar Code installation procedure.   
  2. 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.
  3. There is no restrictions on the scanner you use as long as it can read Code39 it will work.  It also must be a keyboard wedge since we do not offer batch processing. 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. If you are having problem with your scanner, make sure your scanner isn't set to scan Code39 extended.
  4.  Manex recognizes a bar code by an asterisk (*) at the beginning and end of the bar coded field.
1.3. Fields & Definitions for SFT by Bar Code
1.3.1. Transfer Tab
 
 
Work Order Work Order Number
Product #/Rev Product and Revision assigned to WO
From WC transferring qty's from
To   WC transferring qty's to
Transfer to RWRK  Transfer qty's to rework Work center
 
Single Serial No. Mode
 
Serial No Enter SN to Transfer
 
Batch Serial No.  Mode
 
Starting No. Enter First SN to Transfer
Ending No. Enter Last SN to Transer
 
Manual Mode
 
Quantity Enter Qty to Transfer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1.3.2. List of Item for Transfer Tab
 
 
Work Order Work Order Numbers being Transfered
Serial No. Serial Numbers being Transfered
Qty Qty being Transfered
From WC product being transfered from
To WC product being transfered to 
1.4. How To ..... for SFT by Bar Code
1.4.1. Install Bar Code Font
The following procedures must be followed for each workstation from which the user expects to print barcodes.  If the following font is not installed, the barcodes will print very large and will not be usable.
 
1.Go to Start
 
2.Select My Computer
 

3.Select Control Panel
 
 
 
4.Select Fonts
 
 
5.Select File
 
 
 
6.Select Install New Font.  In the Add Fonts dialog box, go to the system location for fonts in your system.In most cases, it will be in C:"Windows"Fonts.
 
7.The font BC C39 should show up in the List of fonts window.  Highlight it.  Be sure there is a check mark in the Copy fonts to Fonts folder box and click OK.   If this font is NOT listed then you can Download the attached [BarCodeFont_C39N.zip] file and extract it into your  C:"WINDOWS"fonts directory. 
 
 
8.The new font will appear in the Fonts window.  Double clicking on the font will produce the following:
 

 

 


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1.4.2. Transfer Product

Enter the SQLMANEX.EXE (within the ManEx root directory)
This action will then prompt the user for a password

The following screen will be displayed, select Production/Shop Floor Tracking by Bar Code 



The following screen will be displayed:



Depress the Xfer button. Enter in your password or scan employee id .  
 
The Bar Code Tracking method is dependant on how it is setup within the Shop Floor Tracking Defaults .
 
User has the choice of Transfering product by "Single Serial No. Mode", "Batch Serial No. Mode" or "Manual Mode".
 
If "Single Serial No. Mode" or "Batch Serial No. Mode"  is selected, when user enters a Work Order, they will receive the following message asking them to enter by Serial No., and the system will then populate the Work Order No. and Part Number and Rev. automatically.
 
 
If the first Serial Number entered has more than one Work Order associated the system will displayed a Work Order Selection screen as displayed below.    
 
 
When in "Batch Serial No. Mode" -  Once the user selects a Work Order all the SN's entered in that batch will use that Work Order No. to do the validation, instead of asking user to select the WO No. everytime.  If the SN entered or scanned is NOT associated with that Work Order No., the system will not find it or add it to the list. 
 
When using "Single Serial No. Mode"  Once the user selects a Work Order, then enters the next SN,  the system will use that Work Order No. to do the validation, instead of asking user to select the WO No. everytime.  If the SN entered or scanned is NOT associated with the previous WO, then the WO Selection box will be presented to the user again. 


Once the Serial Numbers have been selected, go to the List of Items for Transfer screen.

The Work Order number, Serial No., Quantity, From Work Center and To Work Center or from Work Center to Activity will display, depending on the selection within SFT Defaults to Transfer by WC or Activity. 

Depress the Save button.

The items will then be properly transferred within the system. 
 
If the product is included in an active Cycle count, or Physical Inventory count, the following message will appear after depressing the OK button on the transfer screen and user  will not be allowed to transfer product until the count has been completed and posted.
 
 
 
If the work station being used to transfer serialized material is assigned to use a default work center in Production Work Center/Activity Setup module, when the user first opens the module, the module will use the default work center assigned for this workstation, if the transfer is "FROM" a different work center other than the default and user is NOT a supervisor or has the  option "Allow Changing Default Work Center for Serial Number Transfer" box checked within the Security module, they will receive the following message:
 
 
 

When user depresses "OK"  a supervisor approval is required to continue.  After supervisor’s password is entered, the default work center will be changed to the one that the supervisor entered password for.   For example:  the workstation is assigned to use “TU” as default work center, now if user chooses to use “AI” to transfer, the system will ask for supervisor’s password, if user cancels the password, the default work center will still be “TU”, but if the supervisor enters his/her password on this machine, the default work center will be changed to “AI”.  If now the user tried to transfer from “TU” again, the system will ask for supervisor’s password again.  If user exits the module and come back, the default work center will be “TU” again.

User also has option in single  serial # mode to directly transfer all qty's to the Rework Work center using the directive button 

Please note when user transfers several serial numbers in one transaction, the following serial number transfers always take the same "TO'' work center from the previous serial number transfer.  Therefore, if user changes the 'TO' work center to 'RWRK', the following transfer will all use -'RWRK' as 'TO' work center until user changes it again.

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1.5. FAQ's - SFT
Facts and Questions for the Shop Floor Tracking Modules