Defining Tracking Points

 

A tracking point is a physical location where unit information, such as job number, serial number or product/model number, is captured. You need to set up these tracking point items:

●       Tracking Point Type – a category for types of tracking points, such as bar code reader, transponder or manual entry.

●       Tracking Point – a physical location where unit information is collected.

●       Tracking Point Group – a collection of tracking points. You create tracking point groups to capture the sample size required for reporting. For example, if the assembly plant is building a model on two separate lines, it is possible to capture the entire sample size and all of the quality data from both lines through a tracking point group.

●       Group/Point Relationship – a relationship assigning tracking points to a tracking point group.

Every inspection station must have a tracking point defined. Several stations may share the same tracking point. For example, a unit passes a bar code reader. This bar code tracking point is used to capture unit information and pass it along to the Inspect system. Thus, Inspect knows the specific unit that must be displayed to the inspector.

Note: Tracking points are critical in the station configuration process; they are required in order to obtain the correct reporting data. Any data reported in concerns per thousand or defects per unit, for example, cannot return the correct value without the correct tracking point (sample size).

Two simple rules should be applied; a tracking point should exist anywhere a unit needs to be “tracked”, and before an inspection station if the inspector needs to have the unit displayed automatically without typing the unit identifier number.

Tracking Point Example

In the example pictured below, note that there are three tracking points displayed:

●       Tracking Point 1 – This tracking point gets its data from a bar code reader that feeds Data Collect Stations 1 and 2.

●       Tracking Point 2 – Since only some units go offline, in order to determine which units are in offline repair, Unit IDs are manually entered in Tracking Point 2.

●       Tracking Point 3 – Some units continue down the line from Data Collect Stations 1 and 2 and are scanned into Tracking Point 3 using a bar code reader.

 

Setting up tracking point types

1.     Click Stations > Tracking Point > Types.

2.     Click Add.

3.     Type the unique tracking point type name.

4.     Click OK.

5.     Click Close.

Creating a tracking point

1.     Click Stations > Tracking Point > Points.

2.     Click Add.

3.     In the first field, type the unique tracking point name. Since this description aids the administrator in knowing which tracking point this is, be as descriptive as possible.

4.     Use the Code field to enter a unique code to identify the tracking point.

5.     Use the Plant field to select a plant.

6.     Use the Production Area field to select a production area.

7.     Use the Tracking Type field to select the type of tracking point.

8.     Use the Inspect Type field to select the type of production process:

9.     Click OK.

10.  Repeat as necessary to define other tracking points.

11.  Click Close.

Create a tracking point group

1.     Click Stations > Tracking Point > Groups.

2.     In the first field, type the unique tracking point group name.

3.     Select whether the Inspect Type is serialized or batch.

4.     Click OK.

5.     Repeat as necessary to define other tracking point groups.

Assigning tracking points to groups

1.     Click Stations > Tracking Point > Group/Point Relationships.

2.     Use the Tracking Point Group field to select a tracking point group.

3.     Use the Tracking Points checkboxes to assign the desired tracking points to the selected group.

4.     Repeat as necessary to select other groups and assign tracking points.

5.     Click Close.