Work-in-Progress in a Metal Finishing Factory
SWD is a leader in metal finishing and fastener sorting. Their 200,000 square foot facility processes up to 500 work orders a day and runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The facility is a heavy industrial setting where metal bins and parts move to and around various finishing and sorting stations in the densely packed facility.
THE PROBLEM: LOST WORK ORDERS
The SWD facility operates in a challenging RF reflective industrial environment. Every day, thousands of metal parts arrive for finishing and must be promptly shipped to customers once completed. The parts come in various container types, including large rigid steel containers, and are moved throughout the facility to different finishing and sorting stations. With such a high volume of work orders, it was difficult for SWD to keep track of the location and progress of each part in the finishing process, as some require multiple stages of finishing.
To address these challenges, SWD implemented the WISER ATLAS system. The system allows for instant association of work-order or part numbers with tags and real-time tracking throughout the entire manufacturing cycle. This enables SWD to effectively manage up to 3,600 parts per day and reassign 500 work orders with ease and precision.
THE SOLUTION: WISER’S ATLAS SYSTEM
The SWD facility was equipped with the innovative WISER ATLAS system, which has revolutionized their manufacturing processes. The system enables instant association of work-order or part numbers with tags and real-time tracking of the tags throughout the entire manufacturing cycle.
This allows authorized users to easily monitor the movement of all tags in the facility through the WISER mobile/desktop app. The app's user-friendly interface also makes it simple to log items as assets and locate any tag in real-time with its efficient search function.
Other tracking systems have proven inadequate in heavy metal environments like SWD's facility, either not working at all or requiring a substantial amount of costly infrastructure to function properly. The WISER ATLAS system, on the other hand, provides reliable and efficient tracking capabilities with minimal additional infrastructure required.
THE RESULTS: IMPROVED WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT VIA IMPROVED WORK ORDER PROCESS VISIBILITY
Real-time data enables manufacturers to optimize a range of processes. With location data, they can pinpoint areas of inefficiency and eliminate bottlenecks in manufacturing and shipping. The enhanced visibility also strengthens quality control, ensuring that every essential component is available when needed and minimizing the risk of loss, misplacement, or improper handling of manufactured parts. WISER's asset tracking technology provides manufacturers with data-driven insights and enables them to make informed decisions in real-time.