Having been in wire processing for 30 years, I have seen many improvements made possible by advances in electronics and software. Looking ahead, I see continued improvements in efficiency through networking technology.
In a typical small to medium size shop, operators receive work orders on paper and program the wire processing machine for that job. Determining what jobs to run, in what sequence, is up to the operator to minimize changeovers and maximize efficiency, making it difficult for anyone else to monitor the status of an order.
By networking all your wire processing equipment with a central server and dedicated software, new possibilities and benefits can be achieved including:
* Interface directly to your existing ERP system
* Eliminate operator keystrokes (and errors)
* Know when each job is started and completed (using barcode scanners) and average production rate
* Optimize work orders automatically, taking changeover times, due dates, available machines and personnel into consideration
* Maintain a central database for all specs and data
* Have operator scan material barcodes (optional) to ensure the proper materials are being used
* Track number of cycles each machine, applicator or tool has produced and their maintenance schedules
* Integrate mandatory quality assurance tests
* Traceability
* Reduce lead times and Work-In-Process (WIP) and calculate Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
Once your wire processing equipment is networked with a central server and software, the possibilities and benefits become almost limitless.
