WorkInProcessManager 
epcSolutions WorkInProcessManager provides a flexible, configurable tool to track work in process from raw materials to finished goods. WorkInProcessManager takes advance of the serialization of RFID to provide complete life cycle history of everything that occurs to items as they advance from manufacturing to packaging through distribution. Track where things are, at what state they are in and how efficient you are working all in real time without manual intervention.
With a network of readers setup at different work stations, WorkInProcessManager tracks parts or assemblies as the pass through a series of steps from creation to completion of processes providing visibility into when an item or project was started, and when completed. Processes are unique so WorkInProcessManager has been designed so that it can fit into existing processes to easily configure the steps and processes depending on the relationships to each other and the manufacturing process across multiple locations. Work may be tracked in processes independent of each other or sequential steps that have sub steps that must be completed first.
As part of a track and trace solution that turns a product line into a sensor network it is possible to analyze real time data not just historical data from the last shift to optimize processes, monitor bottlenecks, and track process deviations.
In industries were traceability is critical such as food and beverage or pharmaceuticals is critical WorkInProcessManager gives you continuous complete product life cycle history. At anytime during any process with one tag read it is possible to look pull up all the associated information in real time. Which lines did it pass at which times, which components were added at which times from parts belonging to what batch that were received on what date from what supplier, who unloaded it?
START Login
The User Management Function enables the Administrator to control access to WorkInProcessManager and restrict users from changing configurations. The Login Screen will appear after starting the program. Users will have to enter the default passwords provided with WorkInProcessManager. Only Administrators may configure the system.
SET UP - Welcome Screen
epcSolutions has designed the wizard entirely with ease-of-use for the end-users in mind.
Progressing through the wizard takes you to the hardware set up screens. A basic solution kit might include a printer and a reader, either fixed or handheld. But advanced solutions could employ multiple printers and/or readers (both fixed and handheld)
SET UP - Hardware
The first step is to configure the hardware to be used in your solution. The wizard will walk you first through the set up of your solution's printers, then fixed readers and finally all of your handheld readers.
PRINTERS
The first printer set up screen lists the brands supported by the version of WorkInProcessManager that you purchase.
Next, you will select whether your printer is an RFID printer or a bar code printer.
Selection of your printer type will take you to the main printer set up screen, which asks for:
· The IP address for your printer
· The printer port address
· The location name for the printer
· The label size (e.g., 4x6)
Once all information has been entered, the printer can be saved to the configuration database. If you are employing two units of the same brand of printer, you'll be able to enter the same kind of information for the second printer at this time.
FIXED READERS
Setting up your fixed and handheld readers follow a similar course. Select the brand of your reader, then select the reader model, and you are taken to the main reader configuration screen.
You will enter the following information:
• The reader "name"
• The location name for the reader
• The IP address for your reader
• The reader port address
• Antennas and the power setting for each antenna
The Reader Function
Select from the drop down menu.
· CreateProcess – The reader will add tags into the system for the first step
· UpdateProcess – The reader will update the tag read with the next configured step in the process
· FinishProcess – The reader will confirm that the process is completed
Once all information has been entered, the reader can be saved to the configuration database. If you are employing two units of the same brand of reader, you'll again be able to enter the same kind of information for a second reader at this time. Alternatively, you might proceed to the handheld reader set up screens.
HANDHELDS
After selecting the handheld brand and model, and you are taken to the main handheld configuration screen.
You will enter the following information:
· Handheld Name
· Handheld Name
Afterwards the Handheld Reader Server Setup Screen will appear.
You will have to enter the
· Handheld
The handheld server port address identifies an available TCP/IP port which is used to send information from the Handheld to the computer where WorkInProcessManager is running.
SET UP – Label Selection
If a printer was configured the Label Templates Screen Will appear.
WorkInProcessManager Label Library
You can select a label template from the WorkInProcessManager label library which has printer manufacturer specific pre-formatted 4” x 2” RFID Labels.
Label Import
Other sizes or customized labels designed with popular label creation software may be imported into WorkInProcessManager. WorkInProcessManager supplies a list of the variable fields that can be matched to the existing fields in the label creation software’s label template.
SET UP - Encoding Information
WorkInProcessManager can encode new RFID assets tags with GS1 backed standardized encoding schemes for asset tracking - (Global Returnable Asset Identifier for reusable package or transport equipment or Global Individual Asset Identifier for individual assets) or custom encoding to insure each asset has a unique ID or WorkInProcessManager can use pre-encoded RFID tags.
EPCglobal is a joint venture between GS1, formerly EAN International, and the Uniform Code Council (UCC), now GS1 US, which provides a global EPCTM number registry service for electronic product codes in the supply chain.
The Hardware setup is completed now it is time to runtime to setup and configure processes.
RUN – Main Menu
You are ready to run WorkInProcessManager
RUN – Setup Processes
Click on the Setup tab to reveal the Setup screen where a new step maybe added and then configured with any other associated sub-steps or processes. It is also possible to add text associated with the step- such as instructions or descriptions.
Configure A New Step
Configure A Child Step
Once the steps of a process are configured and the network is up in running it is time start tracking work in process through the Active Processes Screen.
Active Processes
The Active Process Screen displays the tags that have been read by the reader and what step they are in the process. All tags in the system will be displayed in the active process until they pass by a reader set at Finish Process. When the tags pass by a reader that is set on update at another process the tags will appear under the new step during the active process. When the tags pass by a reader that has been configured to FinishProcess the tags will disappear from the Active Process Tree.
Clicking on the tag in the Active Process tree will show the name and process of the updated steps.
Clicking down the tree to the initial step will display the time and date stamp of the initial tag read when the process was created.
Adding Information to the Active Step
You can add Information that will be associated with work active at that step. Such as defect or note to check the work because one of the machines in that process ran into a glitch at the time the work passed through.
Active Step Editor
The active Step Editor may be used to associate tag ID’s with each other.
RUN History
The History tab enables you to look at the history of any process steps or tags. Search by date or any of field.
RUN Reports
The Reports tab enables you to view reports on processes and steps.
RUN Reader Status
The reader and the handheld server can be turned on and with the start/stop reader buttons. The current status of the reader is indicated by a color coded reading light. All tags entering the read range will be logged into the WorkInProcessManager database. Tag reads will appear in the Active Process Screen of the selected step.
Change the reader role or step
The reader’s role or step can be changed in the dropdown menus of the Reader Status Screen.
RUN User Management
The User Management Function enables the Administrator to add users and change passwords.
RUN Database Management
The database stores a list of all tags generated by WorkInProcessManager. To insure each tag is unique and EPC compliant WorkInProcessManager generates tags for each Case or Pallet that conform to EPCglobal specs that are based on SGTIN’s. When tags are generated they are stored in the database and each successive tag of each case and pallet will increase sequentially.
It is possible to protect the database against becoming corrupted (and generating invalid or duplicate EPC’s) by backing up and restoring the database to the saved backup.
About epcSolutions
epcSolutions, Inc. is the leading provider of RFID compliance software to the Wal*Mart and DoD supplier community. epcSolutions’ GS1Net3 application suite implements the GS1 System, a series of standards designed to improve supply chain management. The GS1 System includes: BarCodes - Numbering and bar coding; eCom - EDI (Electronic Data Interchange); Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) - data synchronization; EPCglobal - RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). The “Any Asset, One Network” application suite allows users to manage all four asset types found in a typical business: Work in Process, Finished Goods/Inventory, Fixed Assets and People.
Visit www.epcsolutions.com
Phone: (703) 757-4470
email: info@epcsolutions.com
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