Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) is a topic that has certainly generated a great deal of interest and debate in most manufacturing circles today. Through the implementation of a CIM strategy, an organization may realize improved operations by reducing and controlling costs, improving information flow, and increasing production accuracy. However, a manufacturing system within the CIM environment is only as good as the data that it has to work with. Production data feedback is the lifeblood of any manufacturing and production scheduling system.
This paper will explore the design parameters of an effective and efficient data collection system for the factory floor. The design presented applies equally to new production facilities as well as older facilities undergoing renovation. A review of the hardware and software necessary to perform the data collection task in the areas of production, material control, and labor reporting will be presented. Installation, ease of use, system flexibility, and programmability will also be addressed.
This paper will not, however, address the software aspects of processing and reporting of the data once it has been collected. This could be a topic for an entirely different discussion.