"Let's Get Technical" Short Video Series: Carrier Tracking Feature in RunCard MES

Originally inspired by wafer carriers in foundries, the carrier feature in RunCard has evolved to handle a variety of applications.  Some notable uses include the following:

• Tracking chips or modules on waffle trays,  gel packs, etc.
• PCBA locations on a board panel
• Utilizing RFID tags
• Managing Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) for inventory movement around the factory
• Tracking material location via fixture, socket,  or conveyor slot identifiers

Let's Get Technical!

Watch this video to see a technical walkthrough using the carrier feature in RunCard.   Please see below for additional 'How To' instructions.

Overview

1. Easy Set-Up Process
2. Flexible Carrier Management
3. Automation and Integration

Easy Set-Up Process

Setting up carriers in RunCard is straightforward.  First, users define the array structure of the carrier and set parameters such as default pick and fill algorithms and carrier serial expressions.  Second, users can configure the carrier assignment, allowing you to set up multiple types of carriers simultaneously.  During production, operators can easily assign or unassign products to or from any configured carrier.  Users can then select multiple serials and fill them all at once, depending on the defined fill algorithm.

Flexible Carrier Management 

Instead of unassigning a product from one carrier to assign it to another, RunCard offers a convenient option to change carriers directly.  Operators can change carriers at any process step and as many times as needed.  They select from which x-y position the product should be picked from the previous carrier and filled into the new carrier's x-y position.  

The full history of carrier transfers are accessed from the application as well as via an ODBC connection.  This history provides an audit log of all product and or inventory movement.

For products like modules received in carriers or trays from vendors, where each x-y position has specific categorical characteristics, RunCard provides the option to assign color-coded part bins to each location.  This visual highlighting of categorical information in the carrier view on the operator terminal prevents errors during assignment, un-assignment, or carrier changes.

Automation and Integration

RunCard provides SOAP and REST API functions to query carrier status, transact using carrier IDs, and assign or remove parts from carriers.  These functions enable full automation of processes throughout the factory.

Benefits of Carrier Assignment

• Enhanced Material Tracking: Track material movement at a carrier level for precise logistics management

• Minimize Errors and Operator Time: Perform transactions at the carrier level, reducing transaction errors and saving operator time

• Efficient Data Tracking: Track serial data based on x-y positions, especially useful when labeling each product is challenging

• Advanced Analytics: Identify yield signatures based on physical product location within carriers

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