Computers in the Workplace

Computers at Work

    In this post I've chosen to discuss the manufacturing industry and computers at work because I have supported computer systems in this field for the last 25 years. During my tenure, I have seen many advancements utilizing computers, increasing output dramatically. As recently as 15 years ago, we would build inventory up in the winter to provide goods to OEMs when their production ramps up in the spring. Keeping inventory is a thing of the past, and now the focus is on quantities of one. One such process involves roll-forming. This is where you take metal coil stock, a big roll of thin metal, and pass it through rollers on a mill, which bends and folds it to make a shape. This shape is then cut to length as it comes off the mill. The sizes are downloaded to a controller where the operator punches in crucial information based on customer, color, and due date. The criteria entered then queries a MySQL database for all the quantities and lengths for the cut-off. At the end of the mill, the controller uses the query's result to cut pieces to size. The MySQL database is populated based on orders received via FTP and automatically entered into our ERP database. We receive orders based on each item the customer is making. As orders are fulfilled, an advanced shipment notice is sent before the truck even leaves so they know it is on the way. When it arrives, they can scan one barcode to receive the entire semi-trailer of the product into their system. As they produce their parts, they unload the truck and marry our parts with theirs. It is quite a feat and requires everything to go smoothly.

    I started in the middle of the whole process above, so I will try to summarize from the beginning here. The customer receives orders to produce a product of which we make a sub-component. We receive an order from our customer for these components which, could be any of 20 different colors and sizes. We enter the orders, and this feeds multiple databases. Our manufacturing lines query these databases for quantities and lengths to be cut from a mill. We then assemble the components and load them onto a truck in the reverse order that our customer will need on their production line, so the last item on the truck is the first item they will need in their production line. We are already at a point where we can't function without computers, and this requires individuals to be familiar with computers and to interact with them. It also means that you need skilled staff to support programming the various devices to program, troubleshoot, and maintain them. Over the next ten years, I see the most labor-intensive processes being automated to reduce the risk of personal injury a more consistent process flow. All of these dependencies require us to harden and secure our digital borders and internal systems, requiring multiple anti-virus systems, two-factor authentication, and intelligent threat detection systems.

References

“Manufacturing Plant Building.” Norda.com, 2021, www.norda.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/img-fbrc-04-000.jpg. Accessed 1 Oct. 2021.