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Session 2663

Enterprise-wide Data Gathering and Reporting System

Michael Amos, Dr. Bruce Segee

University of Maine Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Instrumentation Research Laboratory

Abstract

Modern manufacturing methods require that products be assembled in the most cost efficient method available. In many cases, this includes separating the manufacturing process across several locations. Even though manufacturing takes place in several locations connections, it is necessary to provide a method to track work in process (WIP) and provide these reports to appropriate divisions of management without indicating the geographic diversity. The solution to this problem has three main parts. First, the data gathering equipment must be scalable, so as to allow virtually unlimited expansion without expensive upgrades. This is accomplished through the use of a network of barcode scanners and decoders. This barcode network communicates with a local PC that contains a database that holds new information. Unlimited scalability is achieved since each network only interfaces with one PC. Secondly, main data storage is contained on main database server. Each of the PCs running the barcode network connects periodically and adds new information from the local database to the main database. If the network is inoperable at any point, the information is not lost, since it is held in the local database. We have developed a system that provides an interactive World Wide Web (WWW) front end to the main database storage and provides management with the appropriate work tracking tools. The main database storage is refreshed at regular intervals to reflect the contents of each local database. The local database contains information from a small number of barcode decoders running on a dedicated network. Utilizing this system, it is possible to track product in real time at various locations around the world.

I. Introduction

Problem Description

A local company with several manufacturing locations separated by many miles needs a way to track work in process (WIP). The current system in use involves a sheet of peel-off labels that follows the product through the manufacturing process. As the employees complete each operation, it their responsibility to remove the label from the sheet and place it on their timecard for that week. This timecard is then read by an automatic reader to tally each employee’s timecard and then input that data into the payroll system. There are several problems that arise from this method.

Since the automatic reader is particular about the placement of the labels for each operation, many timecards need to be entered by hand into the payroll system. The number of errors is

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Segee, B., & Amos, M. D. (2000, June), A Scalable Enterprise Wide Data Gathering And Reporting System Paper presented at 2000 Annual Conference, St. Louis, Missouri. 10.18260/1-2--8682