Personalization for the Manufacturing Plant Floor

It’s no surprise that different roles in a manufacturing business require different information. As manufacturing adopts technology, there is an opportunity to consider those differing needs and, thus, reap significant benefits. Yet, despite the use of technology and associated collection of data, Gartner reports that, on average, 70% of factory-generated data is unused.*

In our quest for information transparency, manufacturing staff are navigating through an onslaught of information every day. While information is valuable, it can also become increasingly difficult to filter in a way that is actionable. In manufacturing, the goal is to maximize operations management, improve production performance, and drive product quality. But, the data to manage this is not one-size-fits-all and, with so much going unused, data that could help is not getting the scrutiny it needs. Let’s take a look at the different roles of operators and supervisors, and the types of information that benefits them.

Supervisors tend to take a broad view

Supervisors need information to optimize product flow, machine and operator efficiency, and manage safety incidents because their end goal is to keep customers happy and ensure on-time delivery of quality products. To do this, they focus on key performance indicators (KPIs), such as OEE, uptime, plant benchmarking, and production performance. Their dashboard should escalate issues to the top of the list so they can act quickly without significant time needing to be spent interpreting the dashboard. And, because they may access from various devices, they need a responsive design that scales to the device they’re on that doesn't require installation, just a login.

Operators view is narrower

Operators, on the other hand, focus on increasing monthly and quarterly manufacturing efficiency and reducing non-value-added steps in manufacturing. This means they need to hyper-focus on the equipment on their line and compare it to past performance and ideal performance. Their view is narrower than the supervisors’; extraneous information slows them down when they need to be able to comprehend data and decide quickly. Their KPIs typically include OEE, availability, and loss categories and, due to the nature of their responsibilities, they have a need to edit events for losses and configure views based upon the equipment they are associated with. Because they are often on the move, they also need to be able to access the information that organizes their day - their equipment, their work, and their performance - in one place, accessible on a mobile device. 

The good news is that this breadth of needs is recognized and has driven the launch of new technology capabilities to answer the call. Today’s hybrid manufacturing execution systems (MES) is being built with standard and ad-hoc reporting by role, as well as the ability to configure personalized views. 

For example, Proficy Manufacturing Execution Systems (Proficy MES) offer multiple options for enabling the ultimate UX flexibility. By providing an out-of-the-box application that is designed for tablets, but also works well on desktops, users have access to view by role and can add human-machine interface (HMI) mashups through “cards”, bringing the functionality of the out-of-the-box screens to HMI. Their views can be extended by adding new screens or even building a custom dashboard. Extensive enhancement can be built out as needed using REST APIs and Open Sourced client code, offering the best in class flexibility.

You now have options

When it comes to manufacturing technology, you now have options that offer personalized views and maximize the use of data by role. When considering MES technology, make sure you look for OEE visibility for operators and supervisors, as well as tools to make them more efficient. The various roles in your business will be best served if you select a MES that provides:

• Personalized views based on the role of the user (operator, supervisor, etc.)
• UX with configurable views to make users more productive and ability to create their own environments
• Built in and ad-hoc reporting by role.
• Extensibility to create highly customized interface, if desired. 

To learn more about how GE Digital's MES can help you provide vital data to the various roles in your manufacturing operation, visit our Manufacturing Execution Systems page.

*"Predicts 2016: Opportunities Abound for the Factory to Reach Its Potential", Gartner, 2015