The painless approach to phasing out paper

There are many good reasons for phasing out paper in your glass business. It’s not just about the high cost of paper and printing. It’s about flexibility, accuracy and control. 

For example, when customer orders change or production schedules get moved around in a paper-based system, staff can’t even be sure that work instructions or job details are still correct.

Obstacles to going paperless

Moving to a digital system makes a lot of sense, but for some businesses it’s hard to justify the investment in dedicated barcode scanners, big screens for production boards, or specialised displays installed next to workstations.

What’s more, these specialised devices become a critical part of your operation. If they break then you need to have replacements readily available.

The alternative: low-cost handheld devices

Over the last few years there has been a trend towards using lower cost ruggedised tablets and handhelds in factories. These are fairly standard Android or Apple devices which have been adapted to withstand dust, heat and the occasional drop or knock. 

They tend to come in two types: small handhelds which are perfect for updates and for scanning barcodes; and larger tablets for displaying work instructions and details of jobs.

Aside from a substantially lower purchase price, they are incredibly flexible. The same device can be used at different workstations and by different people with just a simple login. This means you can swap them out easily if they go wrong and they are cheap enough to keep one or two spares on-site. 

And if you manage your glass business with a system like Gtrak, there is an app which gives you access to the information and functionality that you need in different parts of the business.

Introducing Gtrak GlassAPP

The Gtrak GlassAPP is designed to complement the desktop system, providing a carefully selected set of information and functionality for each different user and/or workstation.
Each of these views is configurable, including the initial set of information on the dashboard and the extra details that you can drill down into. You can also configure what functionality is available to different people and at different workstations. This ensures that it is quick and easy to use, without unwanted clutter to slow down the workflow.

Low-cost barcode scanning

Because most ruggedised devices have a high-quality camera you can use them to scan barcodes on stillages, slot carts and individual pieces of glass. This means that your staff can easily update the status of items as they move through the factory, so you can monitor the progress of each order and be alerted to potential delays.

Your staff can also use the GlassAPP to log rejects, instantly triggering the process for scheduling a re-make.

More control in batch production

If you are an insulated glass manufacturer, or you have linear production which includes batch focused production, the Gtrak GlassAPP allows your staff to manage batches, A-frames and slot carts and ensure that everything on the system is updated and synchronised. 

With a simple handheld device your team can view and update production progress, focusing right down to batch or slot cart level.

Simply streamlining dispatch

In dispatch, the Gtrak GlassAPP allows you to maintain total control of what is loaded into each stillage and onto each vehicle. Detailed loading lists by day, customer and stillage with full drill down into order progress and product location is available providing live and instance visibility. 

The app keeps track of each customer order, counting down the items required for the full delivery. If anything is missing then your staff can simply tap the item to see where it is right now in the factory.

Using a ruggedised handheld, your staff can scan each piece of glass as it is loaded onto vehicle or stillage.

Reducing paper, cutting costs

The Gtrak GlassAPP is being used by larger manufacturers to phase out paper, in one part of the factory after another. And in smaller businesses it is providing a fast, cost-effective way to introduce the benefits of automation and tracking.

To find out more about the benefits of going paperless or how you could use the Gtrak GlassAPP within your business, contact us or call us on +44 1386 793415