COMPSEE Application Stories

      Bar Code Tracks
      Maintenance And Repair

      A New York curtain and drapery manufacturer has realized significant maintenance savings by using portable data collection terminals to record work as it is performed. Customized software running on a PC lets the company track maintenance and repair for machines in its cut and sew departments. The terminals use integrated laser scanners to read bar code labels identifying machines, pans, and specific maintenance operations. The computer tracks time, costs, and other information that helps the Louis Hornick Co. of Haverstraw, NY, identify possible problems and opportunities for cost savings.

      Integrated Bar Code Systems, Totowa, NJ, designed and implemented the system based on input from the manufacturer's information systems management group. Screen prompts on the Compsee Apex II handheld portable data terminal aid technicians in scanning the appropriate asset tracking bar code labels to record maintenance for each machine.

      Maintenance technicians enter their identification number and password then scan the identification bar code on the machine. A bar code repair manual contains labels representing the start of the repair, about 15 standard maintenance solutions, and replacement parts.

      As the technician completes each step, he scans the appropriate bar code. When the operation is complete, the technician scans a stop-work label and the program automatically records the elapsed time as well as all work performed and materials used.

      At the end of the shift, the data stored in the Apex II portable terminal is uploaded to the personal computer. The data can be accessed in report form by machine, problem, solution, parts used, repair mechanic, or date.

      Manny Valvo, technical services manager, reports that with more data, the manufacturing services department has been able to improve maintenance operations. "We've been able to identify repetitive problems. Now, when we see we're changing conveyor belts every week on a certain machine, we know look to see if some pulleys are out of line." With such information, the department has been able to better track and reduce mean time between failure and mean time to repair.

      Reprinted from:

          Maintenance Technology Resource Guide
          July/ August 1998

      © 1998 Compsee, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Please read our disclaimer.


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