Johnson Controls.

Annalise Pope

Factory digitalization, beginning with Shop Floor Control, has a number of advantages for garment and consumer products manufacturers, as it improves efficiency

 Automated cutting and sewing were introduced during the last industrial revolution. Equipment speed increased as a result of the automation, but nonproductive time management and process visibility limits remain obstacles. The most recent industrial wave, which the industry is currently riding, incorporates a higher level of digitalization. Factories and machinery now have better internet and supply chain software connectivity, allowing for more seamless communication between trading partners. The primary function of shop floor control (SFC) technology in integrating the digital and physical worlds is crucial.

Since better information enables associates, managers, and executives at all levels to evaluate progress on a specific machine, a production line, an entire plant, or multiple factories—and make faster, better-informed decisions that improve productivity and competitiveness, the digital transformation is critical for the factory floor. The important aspect of this factory floor digitalization is real-time data, which may be accessed via an SFC solution.

What are the Benefits of SFC as a part of digitization in a factory?

Operators are empowered with the tools and knowledge they need to be their most productive with smart, connected production workstations. On computerized touchscreens at their workstations, they may self-serve to address numerous difficulties, monitor construction information, and check their pace. As a result, they have less downtime since they receive responses and assistance more quickly. It also increases quality since clear assembly instructions in their native language, along with 3D instructive graphics and films, make them less likely to make mistakes.

Mechanics can see machine usage and downtime in real-time with Shop Floor Control. When a machine requires attention, they are notified, along with advice for which jobs to prioritize if numerous machines are offline. They also utilize SFC to keep track of machine repairs and components utilization, giving them a better picture of equipment reliability and lifespan. Engineers may now focus on value-added activities like optimizing production planning and line configurations rather than gathering and organizing data, thanks to increased digital connectivity. SFC assists them in promptly analyzing production data in order to troubleshoot issues with specific activities and incentive pay rates.

Supervisors can better control absenteeism, quality, and off-standard time issues using real-time Shop Floor Control alerts. They can see when and where production line imbalances emerge, and they can prevent bottlenecks from becoming worse. They are armed with information to fix imbalances since they have a rapid insight into operator strengths and shortcomings. Plant managers make more strategic production decisions in a digitally connected factory since they are working with real-time data rather than historical data. They can monitor the current state of production and staff utilization in real-time.