Feature Article Tracking Shells Through Dipping by SynchroERP A
utomated dipping and drying systems do a great job of tracking the
hangers that have been
loaded onto the system, but they have to be fed with information when the hanger is loaded and most of the data that is maintained by the automated systems is never used for anything else. When Tech Cast LLC decided that they wanted to replace an old (unsupported) shell tracking piece of software, they talked to their existing ERP systems provider (SynchroERP) about incorporating this system into their software.
It was decided that the project
should be done in 2 phases. This was done so that the existing stand alone mold tracking system could be abandoned as soon as possible: 1. Incorporate the Shell tracking software into the ERP system and increase efficiency by the use of Bar codes to load the molds onto the hangers and then track the hangers at key points during the process while automating existing WIP tracking using this same data.
2. Integrate the ERP system with the database used in the dipping and drying system so that they can share data and reduce duplication of data and increase efficiency.
Phase 1 In order to achieve the first phase of the project, the following plan was followed: 1. A mold log was designed and implemented in the ERP system to allow for the number of molds required to fulfil an order to be maintained within the system, allowing for changes in number of pieces per mold by order as well as by part. This also allowed a mold specific (bar coded) label to be generated for later use in tracking.
2. A hanger log was designed and implemented in the ERP system to allow for the maintenance of the active hangers and the generation of a hanger label.
3. A dedicated screen was created to allow for mold tracking at key points in the manufacturing process and this was integrated into the existing WIP tracking facility within the ERP system.
Phase 1 was completed and bedded into the existing systems, changes were made during this process to make the collection and input of information as streamlined as possible and to make sure that the information collected during the process was leveraged to provide valuable management data analysis.
Phase 2
Phase 2 is still in its planning phase but an approach has been approved on how the ERP system and the automated dipping system will exchange data and how that data will be used to streamline the usage of both pieces of software, how the data will be stored and leveraged to provide a more cohesive management data analysis and real time tracking on a minute by minute basis of the hangers and molds in the ERP software. Phase 1 has seen a successful
integration into the ERP system. Implementation of Phase 2 will provide Tech Cast
with the necessary
information to show the level of time and cost saving that the new module is capable of producing. We will look to provide an update to this article once the data is available.
About SynchroERP Synchro ERP is designed for the Investment Caster, Foundries and Diecasting manufacturer. Established since 1974, it is a world leading provider
of Production Control ERP/
MRP software systems specific to the cast metal industry. Designed for the unique requirements of the Investment Caster, Foundry and Diecaster. From the front gate through to the shipping dock and everything in between this powerful system is successfully used all over the world.
18 ❘ April 2019 ®
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