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Evo-ERP and DBA Classic >> Manufacturing >> Bar Code Use
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Message started by Ed Lewis on 02/10/05 at 12:38:30

Title: Bar Code Use
Post by Ed Lewis on 02/10/05 at 12:38:30

Hi!

Is there anyone out there using a barcode system in conjunction with TAS6 EVO?

We really want to employ bar codes on our products but I do not know which systems integrate or what special programming I need.

Thanks.

Title: Re: Bar Code Use
Post by penz on 02/10/05 at 12:45:19

We collect labor data with units from American Barcode Systems. We use the wands and they seem to work decent. We're also looking to incorporate a barcode system for inventory.

Title: Re: Bar Code Use
Post by cathyh on 02/11/05 at 08:14:07

I am interested in bar code reading for labor especially also. Penz, could you tell me how many units you have and how do your employees share them?

Title: Re: Bar Code Use
Post by Karen Mason on 02/11/05 at 09:58:34

How do companies handle barcoding and/or data collection when one employee works on 2 parts or 2 machines at one time, but they have different cycle times? (Usually in CNC applications).

Title: Re: Bar Code Use
Post by Ed Lewis on 02/11/05 at 10:13:26

Hi Penz,

Did you need custom programming to support your bar code use? Did ISTechSupport provide this programming?

Title: Re: Bar Code Use
Post by aricon on 02/11/05 at 12:16:49

Ed,

No, you do not need custom programming for this. All a bar code reader does is to provide a substitute method of entering keystrokes (usually multiple at once). Just connect the wedge in between the keyboard and the tower and the gun (FARRRR better than the pen or wand style) to the wedge and away you go.

Karen,

DBA has a setting in the defaults that allows one employee to log in simultaneously to 2 work orders and it will split the time evenly. The second scenario (multiple machines/work centres) it does not deal with, especially different cycle times.

Title: Re: Bar Code Use
Post by Karen Mason on 02/11/05 at 12:48:35

...so, very rarely do times for different operations or different jobs split evenly. How do other companies deal with it?

Title: Re: Bar Code Use
Post by aricon on 02/11/05 at 12:55:24

There IS no way in DBA to deal with it. The data collection simply does not allow for it. One of my former clients (a 35 user site) used a custom program with a good deal of user definable calculation parameters and a HUGE amount of code to do some background auto-calcs and then Al created some custom TAS middleware to interface it DBA and bring in and post the data.

Title: Re: Bar Code Use
Post by Ed Lewis on 02/11/05 at 13:10:57

Thanks Lorne.
Any recommendations on bar code systems?

Title: Re: Bar Code Use
Post by Lynn Pantic on 02/14/05 at 07:31:31

As far as hardware recommendations, see http://www.istechsupport.com/ts_mq8.asp for a list of some models that othe DBA users have recommended.

As for the different cycle times - this is the way DBA works:

Worker comes in and logs into WO #1 and begins work. Once a few parts have run through and he is happy with the flow, he logs into WO #2. Then after that is running, he logs into WO #3. An hour or so later, WO #1 is finished so he logs out of WO #1 and reports a quantity complete.

For the first block of time, 100% of his time goew to WO #1 as that is all he is logged into. When he adds WO #2, the system automatically clocks out of WO #1 and reclocks back into both #1 and #2 so this next increment of time is divided by 2 jobs. Then when he adds WO #3, it clocks him out of #1 and #2, then clocks back into all 3 and this next increment of time is diided by 3. When he finishes #1 and clocks out, it actually clocks out of all 3 then clocks back in to # 2 & 3 so they are charged now at the 2 job rate.