Order Status with Single Barcode Scan

Follow the steps in the video below to collect order status throughout the manufacturing process.Once you do that, you can find the location of any order on the shop floor, and the employee who touched it last. (scroll down for video)

Here’s how it works.

Employees scan order numbers (just once) at each workstation on the stop floor. Those scans go into the Standard Time software in real-time. Managers can then type in an order number and know exactly where it is.

This all happens because each barcode scanner has a unique prefix programmed into it. (Consult your user’s guide) The prefixes contain several user-defined values that indicate where that scanner is located in the organization. You set which building, department, assembly line, workstation, or stage the scan originates from. When employees scan order numbers, all that information is available to you. You now know exactly where any order is.

This order status feature is not related to time tracking. You could also track time if you wanted to, but that is optional. You could simply track order status, as a minimal effort, and then later begin tracking time for each scan.

Barcoding in Manufacturing is Easy!

Barcoding is easy. Just slap a barcode or RFID on every box. If that box holds materials, you’re tracking what’s used in manufacturing. If that box holds a product, you’re tracking time spent manufacturing and developing it. Easy. Scroll down for the video below.

Barcodes and RFID tags let you collect these ten things:

  1. The time each employee spends on the factory floor or the warehouse
  2. The time each product takes to manufacture, package, and ship
  3. The time each task takes
  4. The time you spend on each kind of work
  5. How many items pass through your assembly line, building, department, or whole operation
  6. How many times you touch a single item
  7. The times of day you’re doing most of the work
  8. The materials you’re putting into products
  9. The expenses you’re incurring
  10. The percent complete each product is currently at

Wouldn’t you like to have that information? If so, watch this video and then go out to www.stdtime.com/barcode.htm.  You’ll find resources to help. To start, you’ll see the very basics of time tracking with RFID and barcode labels. Then, you’ll step up to more advanced techniques that let you collect time and materials, and use percent gauges to motivate employees to finish up jobs quickly.