Factory Online

FACTORY ONLINE is an exciting new system that counts the number of items being made by each production line using optical photosensors. 'Actual' figures are then instantly seen on overhead signs which also calculate targets and efficiency percentages whilst continuously relaying the data to a central computer. The computer in turn transmits the results from each line to the main scoreboard which displays them IN REAL TIME, one above the other, for direct comparison by staff and visitors.

Manufactured in the UK, this cost-effective hardware and software package has the ability to take into account shift changes, breaktimes and holidays all of which can be preset in seconds. When the software tells the system to shut down a siren sounds and staff know that their target figures have been frozen and will only restart when the downtime or changeover is complete.

Production workers are not the only ones who benefit from the system - every PC on the network can receive a 'live' simulation screen of exactly what is happening on the main scoreboard at any time. This means, for example, that the purchasing department can accurately reorder components throughout the day, the logistics department can be constantly aware of transportation and warehousing requirements and the directors can forecast ahead without leaving their offices. Moreover, the information can easily be exported into databases and spreadsheets to produce charts and reports for analysis.