Handheld Computer in Automobiles / Transport Equipment Insudtry

High quality and accuracy are required in the manufacturing of automobiles / transport equipment: a minor defect may lead to a major accident. For example, including small bolts, it is said that an automobile is made of over 30 thousand parts, and this count continues to grow as automobiles become more and more multifunctional. It is extremely difficult to inspect these parts perfectly and manage their information.

Furthermore, if an automobile / transport equipment recall occurs, it is necessary to immediately identify and collect all the affected products. In recent years, End-of-life Vehicle Recycling Law has also been enacted, which has led to requirements for traceability not only at manufacturers of completed vehicles but also at part manufacturers and car dealerships. To meet all these needs, there are limits to what people can physically do. Hence, in addition to the automation of manufacturing processes, the automation of information management with a handheld computer system installed is key.

Installing handheld computers makes it possible to read barcodes and similar items provided with parts and immediately convert the receiving information into data, which prevents careless mistakes caused by visual inspections. When parts are used on a manufacturing line, inventory is moved automatically, which eliminates the recording and data entry performed by personnel, thereby enabling correct inventory management. This greatly improves the accuracy of the inspection of receiving goods/incoming inspections.

If mistakes occur in visual inspections during warehousing, confusion will arise during the picking of the parts required for the manufacturing line, and the subsequent processes will be greatly delayed. Also, the dispensing process, in which parts are lined up in the order in which work is performed, will also be thrown off. By using handheld computers and barcodes to associate product information with shelf information, this work can be made faster and more accurate. This enables accurate picking work, efficient inventory management, and major improvements in the speed of verification work.

Handheld computers can be used to perform overall operation management, work-hour management, insertion checks, and tool management in real time, which makes it easy to manage the progress of processes. In turn, this can be expected to lead to improved product quality. In addition to information on parts and products, the usage situation and consumption situation of consumables, equipment, and tools can also be determined, which is effective in the preventative maintenance in equipment management.

Assembly mistakes are the typical problem that can happen easily in this process. Handheld computers can be used to check parts and to show the work procedure on the display just by scanning the codes on products and parts, thereby creating an assembly environment that anyone can understand easily. It is easy to mistake parts and products that have similar product numbers and shapes, but assembly mistakes can be reduced by performing management with items such as barcodes. In addition, the work record can be obtained automatically, which is effective for traceability.

One of the advantages of installing handheld computers is that integration with the system makes it possible to simplify the registration of product serial numbers. Product traceability is also dramatically improved, so it is possible to immediately identify the process that was the cause of problems such as defective workpieces. Inspection results and repair results are converted to data on the spot, which makes it clear how to work toward quality improvements.

Finished products are brought into the company's warehouse where they wait for delivery. Erroneous shipments can be greatly reduced by performing shipping inspections that do not rely on visual checks. Also, handheld computers can be integrated with the system to improve the efficiency of inventory management and inventory counting.