Automated Collection of Real-Time Production Data

The software systems that you use to run your business - including Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) - rely on production data collected from the shop floor. In most cases, this data is collected manually and entered into the system by a human operator. The three common problems with manually collected data are untimeliness, inaccuracy, and bias. Considering that this raw data forms the basis for all subsequent production reports - and that important decisions are made based on those reports - any problems with the initial data collection can start a ripple effect that results in a negative impact on your business. This paper will detail the shortfalls of manual data collection, explain how automatic data collection can eliminate these errors, and describe the function and architecture of a robust automatic data collection system.