By James Butcher (B-Eng), Managing Director – Claricom Limited, Claricom Limited - Package Coding Management
SubscribeCLARiNET is the proven and flexible network solution for Package Coding Management from Claricom and it now has enhanced its data collection and reporting capabilities to improve the efficiency of performance recording and analysis. In addition to logging vital throughput and efficiency information, the software now includes data capture for the causes of down-time.
Data access is available through CLARiNET, in the form of a real-time graphical user interface that provides details of factors ranging from equipment status and the current job, to throughput and efficiency. By upgrading CLARiNET to include the Intranet option, this information is available enterprise-wide.
As well as reporting such information, CLARiNET ensures accurate recording of the information. A valuable audit trail tool, it allows users to log the full production history: which products were made on which lines and when. The files also carry the capability to list factors such as the operator ID, printed information such as the Use By date, as well as statistics on throughput and efficiency.
As such, the network can record all necessary data for performance analysis in addition to the benefits of Package Coding Management – and at a lower cost than some dedicated data capture systems.
New E.U. law, coming into force in January 2005, is legislating for one-forward one-back traceability. Manufacturers will be required by law to declare which ingredients, from which batch and from which supplier were used to produce the goods provided to which customer. The key pieces of legislation - EU Food Regulation,Article and EC Directive 89/396/EEC – are designed to establish a pan-European framework to facilitate tracing and identification of products through the food chain, and to put into law compliance of traceability information.
CLARiNET Package Coding Management Control, and now the enhanced recording and reporting capabilities, will aid manufacturers to fulfil the requirements for product traceability.
For increased efficiency, CLARiNET has been designed to allow the data to be batch imported back into the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, a capability that is increasingly recognised as a significant aid to ERP systems. For example, the Gartner Group reports that, “Using real-time automated data capture technology to feed information to a ERP system improves the return on investment for the ERP system by 30% to 50%.”
Claricom has now extended the capability of the CLARiNET SCANPOINT module to allow data capture for the causes of down-time. This is a vital factor in determining efficiency, but the reasons for down-time are seldom logged due to the fact that the infrastructure for doing so is rarely available.
The method of logging used by CLARiNET overcomes this by using a simple, barcode-based system of data capture.When a line has stopped, the user registers the reason by scanning a barcode from a simple menu, listing a variety of possible down-time causes. The list includes factors such as equipment failure or no ingredients.This information is then stored in the log file along with information automatically recorded from the connected coding equipment, such as ribbon break or low ink.
“Successful data capture and reporting are crucial to the long-term efficiency of an enterprise,” comments James Butcher, Managing Director of Claricom. “The enhancements to CLARiNET are designed to maximise its capability in providing accurate, comprehensive and user-friendly recording and reporting of production data.”