Data collected from the shop floor

In manufacturing and assembly circles, the ability to manage the shop floor in real-time by manipulating an instant, wide view of the company represents direct competitive edge. This is exactly what a leading engineering firm acquired in partnering with AWM360 Data Systems.
The established steel fabrication, machining, manufacturing and heavy duty engineering company contracted human capital management (HCM) and HR services and solutions specialist AWM360 Data Systems to enhance its shop floor data collection capability.
Guenter Nerlich, founder and MD of AWM360 Data Systems, says its client is using the dorma+kaba Group’s B-Net 9520 terminal which, together with the Logitime software suit, allows job data to be collected and processed. Logitime interacts with Enterprise and SAP to update jobs and reflect the amount of time allocated to each one.
“This is the culmination of a vision three years ago and the possibilities are being realised,” he says.
“The technology allows real-time knowledge of time-related information of what is being produced on the shop floor.  This includes stage of customer orders, delays with reasons and overall, an indication of the true cost of an order. This allows for budgets to be more accurate and the company to be realistic in costing,” Nerlich adds.
Data management, analysis and archiving are key to any sized operation today and there is more attention today on the ability to source and work-off instant reliable data, than ever before.
“Big data is only built over time when patterns emerge.  You can begin to compare work of individuals and teams on the same kind of work and allocate appropriately depending on the urgency or sensitivity on of an order,” Nerlich explains. “Time variances between productive and non-productive time representing staffing issues come up as well.  Both scenarios are only possible when you have volume of data to indicate real factors and trends.”
Instant reporting and data collection are always impacted by skills – particularly within data-driven and high-people.
SFDC is the next step from general time and attendance. On the application side, required skill is around the preparation of SFDC terminals and setting up of the various rules for SFDC. The skills are in line with the technical advances as the principals are what is important.  The main skill required therefore is the application of the principals around SFDC implementation,” Nerlich adds.
Ultimately it is about ensuring acquiring active control of operations, and in this market this is absolutely crucial.