What does it do?
Machine History ensures machine and time based tracking of the stoppage, scrap, operator input, cycle and performed product/operation information of the time period that is desired to be analyzed. It reports a machine’s history through displaying its functioning in the related time interval.
It ensures that the following questions are visualized on the time axis and all situations are associated with each other within the visualized time interval:
- Which product/operation was worked on?
- When was the work on product/operation launched and terminated?
- Which stoppages took place, when did they start, when did they end and how long they lasted?
- Which operator/operators worked in which time interval?
- What’s the amount of faulty production and their reasons for occurrence?
In addition, it ensures examination of all performed cycles’ cycle durations in the cycle unit used specifically in the factory (second/cycle, cycle/second, minute/cycle, cycle/hour and etc.). It enables the examination of the performed cycles’ distribution and cluster graphics on histogram via matching them with the operator and product.
Why should it be used?
Online tracking of machine statuses carries significance in terms of preventing production losses and taking rapid actions if losses occur. In the cases that online tracking is not possible, shaping the recent past and displaying the current situation bear importance. The operator responsible of the machines, shift supervisor, department responsible, production responsible and factory responsible’s tracking a machine’s status and adopting necessary actions must be parts of the factory culture. For instance, the factory’s status during the night shift, machine stoppages and performed production information must be tracked without delay and necessary feedbacks must be realized.
How does it affect production?
The tracking of machines, manufacturing operations, stoppages and scraps lead to the formation of awareness and intuitively to improvement. Raising awareness as a culture and tracking the unfolding situations are the first steps towards increasing productivity. Tracking machines via Machine History, giving feedback to the operators and releasing of outputs play a crucial role in the formation of a culture in a factory through increasing awareness. Taking rapid actions in line with these pave the way for the prevention of losses intuitively and manufacturing operation in high quality and low cost.