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Golden Macadamias Upgrade

Product News Monday, March 28, 2011: Multi-Weigh Technologies

Get the ENTIRE picture! A True Success Story

Below is the chronology of a successful system implementation done by Multi-Weigh at a leading macadamia nut supplier/processing facility.

Winning the contract

After two years of being frustrated by using an ERP system from one of the leading brands, the members of the board opted for a custom designed system.  Following months of research on prospective suppliers, management awarded the contract to Multi-Weigh Technologies.

Scope
The deliverable was determined by department managers listing their minimum requirements. Senior stakeholders then compiled this information into a specification document. Amongst others, the scope included the following;

• Multi-Weigh to supply both software and hardware solutions. The user interface to be written in VB.net and a SQL database to be used.
• Hardware to include includes 13 control stations on the shop floor; interfaced to the server via a wired Ethernet network and 2 portable computers with Wi-Fi connectivity.
• The control station to comprise of graphic, full colour, touch screen controllers interfaced to barcode scanners, scales and label printers.
• Additionally, users with a desktop PC (with security access to various levels of the program) should be able to run and view transactions and generate reports.
• The data in new system should be centralized, eliminating the need for staff to work with Excel spreadsheets.
• Standardise methods, input and outputs according to Standard Operating Procedure.
• Allow external suppliers (growers) to access relevant data on a web-based platform, via secure user log-in. The data includes delivery scheduling, invoicing, payments made and due (“voorskot” and “agterskot”) and other administrative information.

Barcoding

Multi-Weigh was tasked to implement the effective use of barcoding throughout the operation and process with a view to:

• Significantly improve the accuracy of data collection.
• Improve productivity by eliminating the need for users to capture data manually.
• Facilitate comprehensive traceability by introducing serialised labelling.
• Introduce a user-defined HACCP control solution.

Data Quality and Availability

Management required a significant improvement in data quality in order to enhance decision making capability. Furthermore, up-to-date information was required by line managers to improve monitoring and control capability. Some of the innovative solutions implemented by Multi-Weigh included;

• Real-time data validation to the central database forcing operators to do it right the first time.
• Optimizing the benefits from using barcoding and scanning technology.
• All transactions are logged with a date and time stamp.
• All transactions are logged by user password and name to ensure full accountability.
• Provide full transparency of real-time data on structured tier level. This allows all stakeholders access to relevant information, allowing managers (amongst others) to practice pro-active intervention.

The System

As mentioned above, data is collected dynamically throughout the process by using different technologies. The data is structured in our software application and the main outputs include the following;

• Historical production data for growers including yield by hectare, specific orchard and cultivar.
• Production forecasting to assist growers with planning.
• Delivery scheduling for growers (based on factory production capacity analyses).
• Goods Received Notes with mass and moisture content data.
• Raw material stock control with full traceability to the GRN.
• Sampling lab reports
• Processing weights screened by grading and sorting.
• Quality control process and historical data.
• Final packaging configuration and information.
• Warehousing function (bin location, rotation etc.)
• Order picking function.
• All export documents are generated automatically according to user specification.
• Management of end-user agreements and contracts
• Management reports, including, productivity, cost, stock and yield analysis.

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