Automated Production Work Queue
Blog Post 9.01.01 - Process Daily Production without Human Intervention
Eliminate the manual processing of daily production with an Automated Production Work Queue. Read More ...
Global Edge Video Blog-9.01
Process Daily Production without Human Intervention
Global Edge Engineering Assistant is an innovative engineering tool that automates many of the labor-intensive workflow tasks associated with preparing information for the shop floor. This starts with the automated generation of DXF Flat Files from SolidWorks Sheet Metal CAD Models including the incorporation of extended data to facilitate Automated CAM Bend Program Generation. This also includes Manufacturability Testing to determine if sheet metal parts can be successfully fabricated before leaving engineering.
This also includes an Automated Production Work Queue that integrates daily ERP production orders with engineering to automate Manufacturing Engineering process.
This also includes an Automated Production Work Queue that integrates daily ERP production orders with engineering to automate Manufacturing Engineering process.
- Automates Manufacturing Engineering Workflow Process
- Provides Shop Floor with Accurate and Timely Information
- Helps Reduce and Eliminate Shop Floor Rework
- Increases Engineering Capacity without Adding Additional Staff
Transforming Daily Production with Automated Work Queues: Eliminating Manual Processing
How Global Edge Engineering Assistant Revolutionizes Manufacturing Engineering Workflows
Introduction
In today’s fast-paced manufacturing environment, the ability to process daily production seamlessly and without human intervention has emerged as a critical factor for operational excellence. Manual processing of daily production—once the backbone of shop floor management—now presents significant bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and potential for error. The evolution of automated solutions marks a pivotal shift, unlocking new levels of productivity, reliability, and data-driven decision-making.Among the innovative tools leading this transformation is Global Edge Engineering Assistant, a sophisticated engineering solution designed to automate labor-intensive workflow tasks, enhance shop floor accuracy, and boost engineering capacity—all without requiring additional staff. This document explores the system’s core functionalities, the strategic value of automation, and the tangible benefits realized by adopting an Automated Production Work Queue.
Manual Processing: Challenges and Limitations
For decades, manufacturers relied on skilled personnel to handle the daily production queue—interpreting production orders, preparing CAD models, generating flat files, assessing manufacturability, and organizing shop floor information. While essential, this manual approach introduced a host of challenges:
- Time-Consuming Operations: Manual data entry and file preparation often consume hours that could be better spent on value-added engineering work.
- Risk of Human Error: Transcription mistakes, missed updates, and incomplete data can lead to costly rework and delays.
- Limited Scalability: As production demands grow, capacity is bound by staffing levels, not by throughput potential.
- Reactive Problem-Solving: Manual workflows make it difficult to proactively address manufacturability concerns, resulting in issues discovered too late in the production process.
- Data Silos: Fragmented manual systems inhibit cross-functional visibility, slowing collaboration between engineering, shop floor, and management.
The Automated Production Work Queue: A Paradigm Shift
The Automated Production Work Queue is at the heart of Global Edge Engineering Assistant’s value proposition. By seamlessly integrating daily ERP production orders with engineering workflows, it eliminates manual touchpoints and delivers automated, high-fidelity information directly to the shop floor.
Seamless Integration with ERP Systems
By linking the Automated Production Work Queue to the company’s ERP system, daily production orders are ingested electronically, parsed, and prioritized. This automated flow ensures that engineering and manufacturing teams are immediately notified of new work, with all relevant data pre-populated and ready for action.
- Real-Time Order Processing: No more waiting for paper orders or emails—new jobs appear in the queue as soon as they are released by planning.
- Automatic Prioritization: The queue can be configured to sort by delivery date, complexity, customer priority, or other metrics, ensuring urgent jobs receive prompt attention.
- Elimination of Manual Intake: Engineers no longer need to manually check for new orders, freeing them to focus on problem-solving and process improvement.
Automated Generation of DXF Flat Files from CAD Models
One of the most labor-intensive steps in sheet metal fabrication is preparing flat pattern files from 3D CAD models. The Global Edge Engineering Assistant automates this process, extracting geometry, flattening parts, and generating DXF files directly from SolidWorks Sheet Metal CAD Models.
- Extended Data Incorporation: The system can append bend lines, cut details, and metadata needed for downstream processes, including Automated CAM Bend Program Generation.
- Consistency and Accuracy: Automated file generation ensures every part is documented according to engineering standards, reducing the risk of shop floor confusion or misinterpretation.
- Accelerated Turnaround: What once took hours or days can be accomplished in minutes, supporting just-in-time manufacturing goals.
Automated Manufacturability Testing
Sending untested parts to the shop floor is a recipe for rework and lost productivity. Global Edge Engineering Assistant performs manufacturability testing on every sheet metal part before it leaves engineering.
- Rule-Based Validation: The system checks that bend radii, material thickness, hole sizes, and other critical parameters conform to shop capabilities and tooling constraints.
- Proactive Issue Identification: Potential fabrication issues are flagged for engineering review, ensuring parts can be successfully manufactured the first time.
- Continuous Improvement: Feedback from manufacturability tests can be used to refine design standards, further reducing downstream issues.
Automated Production Work Queue: Shop Floor Delivery
Once parts pass manufacturability testing and flat files are generated, the Automated Production Work Queue assembles all necessary documentation, work instructions, and CAM programs, delivering them directly to the shop floor.
- Timely Information: Operators receive up-to-date engineering data, eliminating guesswork and minimizing delays.
- Digital Accessibility: All files are delivered electronically, accessible from shop floor terminals or mobile devices.
- Feedback Loops: Shop floor personnel can provide feedback or flag issues directly through the system, supporting continuous improvement and rapid response.
Strategic Benefits of Automation
Global Edge Engineering Assistant’s Automated Production Work Queue delivers transformative benefits across the manufacturing organization:
- Reduced and Eliminated Shop Floor Rework: Automated processes dramatically reduce the incidence of errors, miscommunication, and incomplete documentation, slashing rework rates and associated costs.
- Increased Engineering Capacity: Automation allows a lean engineering team to handle larger volumes of work, respond to urgent requests, and tackle complex jobs without increasing headcount.
- Accurate and Timely Delivery of Information: Shop floor staff are empowered with the information they need, exactly when they need it, supporting efficient production and on-time delivery.
- Enhanced Data Integrity: Automated systems ensure data consistency, supporting traceability and compliance with industry standards.
- Scalability: As demand grows, the Automated Production Work Queue can be expanded or reconfigured to support additional product lines, facilities, or customers—without the bottleneck of manual processing.
Case Study: Real-World Impact
Consider a mid-size sheet metal fabrication shop adopting Global Edge Engineering Assistant. Prior to automation, engineering staff spent hours each day preparing flat files, creating CAM programs, and verifying part manufacturability. Shop floor operators frequently encountered missing bend data or ambiguous work instructions, leading to rework, scrap, and missed deadlines.Post-automation, workflows are transformed:
- Production orders are automatically ingested and assigned in real time.
- Flat files and CAM programs are generated within minutes, ready for fabrication.
- Manufacturability issues are caught and resolved before any material is cut.
- Shop floor receives complete, actionable documentation for every job.
The result is a measurable reduction in rework, higher engineering throughput, and improved customer satisfaction.
Implementation Considerations
Transitioning to an Automated Production Work Queue involves several key steps:
- System Integration: Connect ERP, CAD, and CAM systems for seamless data flow.
- Process Mapping: Identify manual bottlenecks and design automated workflows to address them.
- Validation and Testing: Pilot the system with select jobs, gathering feedback and refining rules.
- Change Management: Prepare staff for new processes, providing training and support to maximize adoption.
- Continuous Improvement: Monitor performance metrics and iterate workflows for optimal results.
The Future of Automated Manufacturing Engineering
Automation is not a destination, but a journey. As technologies evolve, the Automated Production Work Queue can incorporate new capabilities—AI-powered design validation, machine learning for process optimization, predictive maintenance, and more.Global Edge Engineering Assistant positions manufacturers to thrive in a competitive landscape, where speed, accuracy, and flexibility are paramount. By eliminating manual processing, organizations unlock the full potential of their people and systems, driving growth, innovation, and success.
Conclusion
The manual processing of daily production is rapidly becoming a relic of the past. With tools like Global Edge Engineering Assistant and its Automated Production Work Queue, manufacturers can automate engineering workflows, deliver accurate and timely shop floor information, reduce rework, and maximize capacity—all without expanding their workforce.
As competition intensifies and customer expectations rise, the advantages of automation will become ever more compelling. Embracing this transformation is not merely a technological upgrade—it is a strategic imperative for manufacturers seeking to lead in the digital age.