The following article comes from Lao Xie Chat Zhizao, the author Lao Xie
I remember more than 10 years ago, when a Hong Kong-funded printing enterprise in Dongguan used MES for the first time, from the perspective of user embodiment and the role of production management, to be honest, it did not feel very ideal. With the development of information technology in recent years and the improvement of data collection capabilities, the role of MES in improving production management has become more and more obvious, especially the maturity and cost reduction of electronic tag technology such as QR code and RFID, which has further improved the practicability and convenience of MES production management. Today, let's talk about the application of QR code technology in MES and the promotion of MES development.
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This article is quoted from the official account: Lao Xie talks about intelligent manufacturing, and the digital enterprise is authorized to publish.
01
The principle of QR code technology
and development profile
QR codes play an important role in modern society as a fast and convenient information delivery tool. The origin of QR codes can be traced back to the early 90s of the last century. At that time, engineers from the Japanese company Denso Wave invented the QR code to solve the problem of limited storage space for barcodes. In contrast, QR codes have a higher capacity and reliability, so they quickly gained a lot of attention and became an important tool for messaging.
The technical principle of QR codes is based on the process of encoding and decoding. A QR code is a pattern made up of a series of black and white squares that contain the information being encoded. During the coding process, the information is translated into a specific pattern, which is then mapped into a QR code pattern. The decoding process is to convert the QR code pattern into readable text or other forms of information. This principle of encoding and decoding allows QR codes to store more information and can be read quickly and accurately.
The technological development of QR codes has undergone constant innovation and improvement. With the popularity of mobile smart devices, the application range of QR codes continues to expand. People can get product information, pay bills, visit web pages, and more by scanning QR codes. Moreover, with the advancement of technology, QR codes also incorporate more features such as support for dynamic QR codes, encrypted QR codes, and custom styles, etc. These innovations have made QR codes more flexible and diverse, and they provide a better user experience. Aside from their wide range of applications in personal life, QR codes also play an important role in the commercial and industrial sectors. Businesses can use QR codes for product promotion, data storage and reading, and more. The technology and development of QR codes has also brought more possibilities for enterprise management and enhanced the efficiency and competitiveness of enterprises.
In summary, the development process of QR codes is full of innovations and breakthroughs, which bring convenience and opportunities to our lives and business management. It is believed that in the future, QR codes will continue to grow and play a more important role in various fields.
02
Application of QR codes in MES
QR code technology also plays a very key role in promoting the development and popularization of MES, and the application modules are also very high, and the commonly used modules include:
1. Production process management
QR codes can be applied to various aspects of the production line, including equipment, raw materials, semi-finished products, and finished products. By scanning the QR code, the operator can get relevant information such as product number, production date, process parameters, etc. Such real-time data collection helps to achieve the control and traceability of the production process, and improves production efficiency and quality management.
2. Material management
QR codes can be used to identify and track materials. In the supply chain, by adding a unique QR code identification to each material, the inbound, outbound and inventory management of materials can be automated and accurate. In addition, when the material enters the production line, the operator can scan the QR code to quickly confirm the use and placement of the material.
3. Quality management
QR codes also play a key role in the quality management process. By marking the QR code on the product, the quality inspection results and quality parameters of each process can be recorded. When conducting quality inspection, operators only need to scan the QR code on the product to obtain relevant data, improving the accuracy and efficiency of quality management.
4. Maintenance and maintenance
Manufacturing equipment often requires regular maintenance and upkeep to ensure its proper functioning. QR codes can be used for equipment maintenance management, recording equipment maintenance history, maintenance dates and repair records, etc. When maintenance personnel need to overhaul the equipment, they can simply scan the QR code on the equipment to obtain relevant information, improving the traceability and efficiency of maintenance work.
5. Process optimization
By analyzing the data provided by QR codes, manufacturing companies can optimize their production processes. For example, based on the time and efficiency data of each process on the production line, bottlenecks and unreasonable links can be identified, adjusted and improved. Such real-time monitoring and data analysis help improve the overall efficiency and resource utilization of the production line.
In summary, QR codes are widely used in manufacturing execution systems. It can be used in production process management, material management, quality management, equipment maintenance and process optimization. Through the application of QR codes, manufacturing enterprises can realize the digitization and visualization of the production process, improve production efficiency, quality management level and resource utilization. With the continuous development of technology, it is believed that the application of QR codes in manufacturing execution systems will be further expanded and deepened.
03
Based on QR code technology
A control model for material turnover
Personally, I think that the most effective application of QR code technology in MES should be the control of material turnover, which reminds me of the use of QR code technology during the national "epidemic" a year ago, so that the national epidemic prevention department can achieve accurate epidemic prevention in a country with a population of 1.4 billion. The following describes a process based on QR code technology for material turnover control:
1. Marking and Registration
Each item is assigned a unique QR code and registered in the system. This QR code can contain key information about the material, such as the material number, specification, supplier, etc.
2. Warehousing management
When the material arrives at the warehouse, the warehouse manager uses a scanning device to scan the QR code on the item. The system records the time, quantity, and location of the item, and updates the inventory data for the warehouse.
3. Outbound management
When the material needs to be taken out for use, the operator scans the corresponding material QR code and enters the information such as the outbound destination or the use process. The system records the outbound time, quantity, and destination of the item, and updates the inventory data accordingly.
4. Traceability and inquiry
By scanning the QR code of the material, anyone can trace the source of the material, the time of warehousing, the time of delivery, and the relevant quality information. This helps ensure material compliance and quality traceability.
5. Inventory management
The material turnover control model based on QR codes makes inventory management more accurate and efficient. By updating the inbound and outbound information of materials in real time, the system can provide accurate inventory data to help manufacturing enterprises carry out reasonable material procurement and inventory control.
6. Supply chain collaboration
The 2QD-based material flow control model can be integrated with the supply chain partner's system to enable real-time material flow and information sharing. Suppliers can scan the QR code to understand the usage of materials, and then make corresponding production and supply plans.
Through the above process, the material turnover control model based on QR code technology can realize real-time monitoring, traceability and management of material flow. Such a model can improve visibility and transparency of material flows, reduce inventory costs, reduce scrap and avoid inventory shortages. At the same time, it can improve supply chain collaboration and responsiveness, enabling more accurate material supply and production planning.
It should be noted that the specific material turnover control model may vary from industry to industry and enterprise, so it is necessary to customize the design and system integration according to the actual situation before implementation.
04
QR codes have limitations in MES applications
Although QR codes have a wide range of applications in MES, there are some limitations. Here are a few limitations of QR codes in MES usage:
1. Information capacity limit
Although QR codes can store more information, their capacity is still limited. For complex production environments and large-scale data requirements, QR codes may not meet all the information storage requirements. This can lead to the need to use multiple QR codes or other higher-capacity encoding methods to meet data storage needs.
2. Scanning speed and stability
The scanning speed and stability of the QR code are critical for real-time MES. On high-speed production lines, QR codes that are slow to scan or are easily disturbed by factors such as light, contamination, or damage to the surface of the material can cause scanning failures or delays in the production process. Therefore, when choosing a QR code scanning device, you need to consider its performance and adaptability.
3. Environmental adaptability
The readability and durability of QR codes can be challenging in different environmental conditions. For example, in harsh working environments, such as high, low, humid, or chemical-laden places, QR codes may be subject to abrasion, blurring, or fading, etc., resulting in failed or unrecognizable scans. Therefore, when choosing and applying a QR code, you need to consider its adaptability and durability.
4. Human factors
The effective use of QR codes also involves the skill and accuracy of the operator. If the operator does not scan the QR code correctly or enter the relevant information, it may result in incorrect or invalid data. Therefore, the training and supervision of operators is an important part of ensuring the smooth application of QR codes in MES.
Despite these limitations, QR codes are a practical and cost-effective identification and traceability tool that can improve the visualization, automation, and information capture capabilities of manufacturing execution systems. With the continuous development of technology, more advanced, high-capacity, and adaptable to a wider range of environments may emerge in the future to further enhance the application of QR codes in MES.