Manufacturing Software Selection
Not all companies require a full blown ERP system. For your business, an inventory control system or scheduling program may be a better solution. Our manufacturing software selection services can help you determine the most effective approach and select the system that best satisfies your requirements.
We can also provide assistance in selecting and integrating automated data collection — by either bar coding or RFID — which can dramatically improve speed and accuracy in manufacturing as well as sales, inventory tracking, shipping, and receiving.
Data collection technologies
Bar coding permits the machine-readable encoding of information for fast, easy retrieval. Bar coding applications often seen in manufacturing operations include:
- Material identification
- Asset tracking
- Compliance labeling
- Labor tracking
- Document tracking
- Job and inventory status tracking
- Lot and parts usage tracking
Radio-frequency identification (RFID) relies on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. The most common method involves storing a serial number that identifies a person or object, often with other information, on a microchip equipped with a small antenna. The chip and antenna together are called an RFID transponder or RFID tag. The antenna enables the chip to transmit information to a device called a reader, which converts the signal into digital information that can then be passed on to a computer. RFID tags can be updated with new data, offering the ability to track each transaction that involves the object. Since RFID tags communicate by radio, the reader does not need a clear line of sight to record data. RFID applications related to manufacturing include:
- Inventory control
- Container and pallet tracking
- ID badges and access control
- Fleet maintenance
- Equipment tracking
- Product tracking through manufacturing and assembly
Benefits
Our manufacturing software selection service can help you:
- Choose the most appropriate software for your application
- Reduce warehouse and distribution labor costs
- Reduce inventory costs and out-of-stock conditions
- Increase productivity by eliminating manual processes