The difference between automatic data collection and having data stored on a computer. You can have computerized data without automated data collection. You cannot have automated data collection without having computerized data. Everyone has their accounting on a computer. Many facilities have manufacturing programs on a computer, some have statistical programs, and there are also many companies with ERP programs. These are all data hungry programs. How do you feed yours? Data gets into a computer in some form or fashion. The most common way is manually. A person sits at a keyboard and types away. However, in the interest of public health, FoodHorizon has the remedy for carpal tunnel syndrome. FoodHorizon collects data in 3 different modes - The preferred mode is automatically where the data is taken directly from a piece of manufacturing equipment or from an installed sensor. The second preferred method is semi-automatically where a button is pressed or a switched is activated, such as the print button on a scale. The least preferred method is manually. Although manually has a different context here than input with a keyboard. Manual entry may be a field(s) on a PDA, or a touch of a field on a touch screen monitor. We may use keyboards, but only when it is absolutely the best way to go, and it is not a person sitting at a keyboard pecking away. In all aspects of the data collection, it is part of the process. It is not the writing of data on a paper form, collating the forms, reviewing the forms and then having someone sit at a keyboard and transfer the data from the paper forms to a digital form. Then to be on the safe side, the paper forms are filed--just in case. Heckuva lotta work. I recently had a person tell me that they had an ERP system that did their lot tracking among the other operations it performed. However, they had to go through six (6) different screens for input. This is where automated data collection pays for itself immensely. There is a times saving for data input, a savings for error transcriptions and a savings for having information Real-Time. Using the same ERP system, the data needed for lot tracking is derived by the FoodHorizon program and input at the point of production by default, barcode, RFID or manual entry. Take your pick. It is part of the process and not a job in itself. This is true of many other operations. Some plants use employees to collect data. They are not called Data Collectors for some reason. Often they are called QC Technicians, or it becomes part of the line employee's job to carry a clipboard full of forms in search of data. I realize that sounds facetious, but stand back and take a serious look at the process of data collection in your facility. How many people are involved? Is there a better use of their time? What can be done to eliminate the paper from the floor? How many man-hours can be saved? How many transcription errors can be eliminated during data transfer? How many errors of omission can be eliminated? How many steps are involved in that paper/data trail? How valuable is real-time data? What would it be like to not have to worry about data collection and entry each and every day?

November 1, 2005