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In principle, a combination of the variants and an individual design of the communication between assembly line and operator is also possible. In most cases, however, certain standard methods are used, which we will discuss in more detail below. Find out more about the modes of operation, advantages and areas of application:
Variant A - collected transmission of data after passing through the complete production process of a plant
In the first variant, most of the data management takes place in the production line itself. The assembly line receives an order from the customer system for the production of a component (number, variants, etc.). The component then passes through the line from station to station until it reaches the component output. All recorded data and evaluations are collected in the plant system and transferred to our customer's system as one package after the production process is completed. On the customer side, only intermediate communications take place during the production process, for example for so-called assembly releases for individual components.
The big advantage of this system is the easy handling for our customer. They receive a complete data record including all relevant data and desired evaluations. Basically, this results in the possibility of making the customer's MES (Manufacturing Execution System) much simpler.
Even if a more extensive MES is just being set up, the process is readily used. In addition, the type of data transfer described is suitable for assembly lines where only a comparatively small amount of production data is recorded. If the component or the integrated processes are more complex and thus the production data more extensive, there is an increasing tendency to use the second transmission variant, in which the plant communicates with the customer system at every station.
Variant B - complete data communication with the customer system at each station
In the second variant, each station is individually connected to the customer's data management system. As the component passes through the production line, it logs on to each individual station, and the customer system then gives the production release. Various information is taken into account here, such as previous O.K. or N.O.K. evaluations, any blocking in the customer system or the need to skip a station due to variant management. After finishing the process, the station reports completion of the machining step and transfers the collected station data to the customer system. The workpiece carrier is then released and moves on to the next station. In the procedure described, the "data sovereignty" lies with the customer. The customer collects all the data, evaluates it and coordinates communication with the individual stations in the plant.
When applying this principle, the modular concept is the main focus. Each individual station is seen as an independent processing module. This means that when a product is discontinued, individual stations can be used again at a different location and reconnected to the data management system.
Another reason in favor of this variant of data management is the ever-increasing volume of data to be processed. This is due on the one hand to the increasing complexity of the components and on the other hand to the fact that the required scope of documentation is also constantly expanding. To prevent communication times from increasing enormously, it is an advantage if each station is connected to the MES individually and the data is transferred in smaller "portions".
Basically, it is up to the individual requirements of our customers which procedure is implemented. We are happy to advise on the design of a plant's data management system and highlight potential advantages and disadvantages. In this way, the optimal solution for each assembly line can be found through detailed consideration and, if necessary, also through special combinations of different variants.
