Features

• Uses RF Intermec® hand-held laser scanners to record creation of work-in-process skids, and then tracks their location and contents in real-time.

• As skids are loaded with signatures as they come off the press or folder configurations, a bar-coded skid tag is created with an assigned skid number. The label also includes job number and description, customer, form and version, quantity and the next planned production operation.

• Any time the skid is moved, or quantities are added or deleted, the RF units are used to record that change.

• Several inquiries within Primac® show the real-time location of all skids related to a particular job.

• Skids coming in from outside sources, such as inserts or covers, can also be entered into the system, associated with a job, and tracked thereafter in real-time.

• When skids are needed in the bindery, transactions are submitted that inform the warehouse staff to get skids xxx and deliver them to production location yyy.

• Customers also use this system to label skids of finished items.

The WIP Skid Content/Locator System is particularly useful for book, catalog and direct mail printers, especially if they are producing multiple versions of a printed item.

It provides real-time tracking of work in process skids as they come off press, are moved around in the plant and are eventually consumed in binding or other finishing operations, or when they are scrapped. Warehouse forklift operators now have an excellent tool for finding skids and moving them to the next production operation promptly.

All of our users tell us this system paid for itself in six to twelve months, by eliminating time spent manually keeping track of such skids, re-runs to reprint signatures that were on ‘lost’ skids, and reducing disruptions to always tight job schedules.