Highlight Features in Shop Floor Integration (SFI)

An orange brick with a wrench and screwdriver, above it a smaller grey brick and a mobile device with a gear, symbolizing the integration of the production level into business processes.

Transparent, reliable, labour-saving: finally track & trace in intralogistics

The new release includes numerous new automation functions for your SAP processes. From now on, e-Kanban, automated incoming and outgoing goods and production confirmations are also possible.

The new track & trace initialisation app for handheld and PC can be used on mobile and stationary devices. This allows SAP business data to be manually assigned to tags* very quickly. Tags can even be initialised automatically in static processes. The API interface for third-party systems also makes it easy to transfer tag assignments from platforms such as moneo or Localino. Automatic and therefore seamless logging of all activities is of course also included.

Another key component of the new track & trace is the visualisation of object positions. This makes it possible to determine and display the exact storage location or the current transport position of materials, containers, production resources or production orders at any time.

*Tag = Labelling

The right track & trace solution for your infrastructure

Whether you work with QR codes, barcodes, RFID or even RTLS systems, we can provide you with the right solution – because the ifm solution Shop Floor Integration works independently of technology.

Shop Floor Integration with Localino

This RTLS-based high-end solution offers ground-breaking possibilities in the tracking of materials, production aids and other tag-capable products. Modern RTLS tags enable localisation via antennas. This means that the system is not tied to fixed transport routes and can even be used outdoors.

Shop Floor Integration with moneo

moneo is based on fixed reading units for detecting optical or electronic tags (RFID). These tags are often inexpensive and therefore suitable for bulk goods and one-way processes. Using the moneo platform, the various types of tags can be easily integrated into the SFI Track & Trace system. This technology is easy to use for clearly defined transport routes.

Hybrid solution is all the rage

To be able to implement localisation throughout the plant and still keep an eye on and control costs, we at ifm also offer a hybrid track & trace solution.

The systems are combined: RTLS tags are then installed on forklift trucks, for example, which can then be localised without restriction in the open area. The pallets and containers, on the other hand, are labelled with a low-cost RFID tag. These tags could then be read by a sensor attached to the stacking fork. With this small workaround, you always know exactly where your forklift truck is and, as a result, where the transported pallet or container is located.

In SFI Track & Trace, the RTLS and RFID signals are processed and stored as combined data. This also enables an expost view of the transport routes, transport times, lay times and intermediate stations.

SFI Check:

Software configured correctly? Everything installed correctly?

With the new Shop Floor Integration installation and configuration check, you can find out at the touch of a button whether your system is ready for use.

How does it work?

This functionality is installed automatically. The "check button" appears directly and clearly visible in the dashboard. The check is then triggered with a click of the mouse.

Real-time localisation for perfect control!

With the real-time localisation platform, or RTLS platform for short, from our partner Localino, you can track containers, pallets, tools and other "tag"-capable products seamlessly and in real time. A big plus point: tracking works indoors and outdoors! This allows you to digitalise and visualise your intralogistics material flows from goods receipt, through all production processes, to delivery.

Localino e-paper tags – small information wonders!

Flexible helpers in intralogistics can be so-called e-paper tags. These are small displays that serve both as a localisable tag and also offer a dynamic display of texts and symbols.

E-papers are therefore a two-in-one solution and offer advantages if, for example, the result of a quality inspection is to be transferred to a container that is stored at a different location.

SFI is able to transfer SAP information to these e-paper tags or to be supplied with location information about the object by them.

SFI Track & Trace can eliminate many manual SAP postings in intralogistics processes and create a high degree of transparency. Time-consuming searches are a thing of the past.

Nikolaj Schmitz Product Manager SFI

Graphical representation of the system architecture

More productivity, less frictional losses

Processes help to create transparency and give everyone involved the certainty that they are doing the right thing and acting within the scope of their authorisations and responsibilities. Processes should therefore be documented, practised and monitored.

Nevertheless, many processes today depend on people entering the right data at the right time. To reduce this error factor, many data entries in intralogistics processes can be automated using track & trace.

The e-Kanban, goods receipt, goods issue and production feedback processes are briefly described below:

e-Kanban process

Goods receipt process

Goods issue process

Brief description

The process can also be used in a similar way for goods issue: containers or pallets are fitted with tags on which important information such as delivery number, position and quantity is stored in the SAP system.

For example, the outbound delivery can be recorded automatically by passing the pallet/container past a recording station and reading it automatically. All relevant information about the pallet and the goods could be automatically displayed on a screen and the SAP goods issue posting could be carried out automatically. It is also conceivable to automatically check whether the correct goods are loaded onto the corresponding lorry.

Benefits

No time offset
High reliability
Reduction of manual effort
Controlled packing and loading processes

Production feedback process

Brief description

Before the start of the production process, the containers for the goods to be produced are prepared. The containers, or accompanying clipboards, are each fitted with an RFID tag. The tag is assigned to the production order and, if applicable, a container ID. The material, batch or planned quantities can also be assigned. The container is transported to the work centre of the first production process and production is started. If the quantities produced deviate from the planned quantities (e.g. due to rejects), the quantities for the day can be overwritten via a mobile application. The containers are then transported to the next work centre for the next production order operation. The arrival is detected via recording devices installed there and the quantities assigned to the day are automatically recorded as feedback for the previous operation.

Benefits

No time offset
High reliability
Reduction in manual labour
Full transparency of container locations
Full transparency about the status of the production order