Professional services firm Business Automation Specialists of Minnesota, Inc. has released a software application that lets manufacturers using Sage Pro capture time and date information from the factory floor.
BASM Shop Floor Data Collection 2.0 (SFD2) is designed to work with Sage Pro’s Work In Process features to keep inventory accurate. As the user scans an item, the system removes it from raw material and marks it as WIP, according to the company, which is an authorized Sage Pro reseller. An option is provided to issue all material at the same time and change quantities.
The software also captures work order data in conjunction with the Pro 7.5 Resource function, and “calculates overhead for people and machines, yet maintains the ability to report against standard time required for a job,” said Ron Ketterling, BASM president, in a statement. “It also provides a simple, effective method of editing punches, correcting work order numbers, operations, employee, and time.” The company said that the process of posting and completing work orders in Sage Pro remains unchanged, but users don’t have to enter the time into the work order completion; the software does it automatically.
Manufacturers can use the software to track login, logout, and lunch punches to measure productivity against total time logged to each work order. It tracks setup and operation cycle time even when multiple workers are logged into the same work order and operation. Reports for work in progress on open work orders at the end of each month are available.
“When BASM introduced Shop Floor Data Collection into our existing software system, we were able to streamline data entry processes and monitor employee productivity in real time,” said Paula Masko, controller at Engineering Unlimited, Inc., in the statement. “We receive accurate, detailed cost information that enhances our ability to identify and quickly rectify production issues.”