Plant Floor Communications

C

Thread Starter

ctr

I'm a controls engineer in a 24/7 manufacturing operation. We are looking for an innovative way to communicate new procedures, changes, improvements and problems to all the members of our 4 shift operation. Many of our employees have limited reading skills or are resistant to reading. Most do not have access to networked PCs on the factory floor. I have thought of things like message boards or even video (but who would be the performer?) Anyone have experience with anything like this?

Thanks
 
K

Kevin Totherow

You know that you have a tough question when you get one response in three months.

Communication on a plant floor has always been a problem. Innovation years ago consisted of hand-signals, light, distinctive horns, or chalk boards
strategically placed in the manufacturing area. Today you could consider: PDA's, thin-client terminals in the operating areas, and vibrating pagers.

When communicating work instruction written format is infinitely better than verbal (you can have a record of it and it is more precise). Integration of any new systems into the plant should be a joint decision between engineering and
operation because it will effect the way operators operate. Perhaps, further definition of the scope will focus on a particular technical solution. Should operators acknowledge reciept of the information? Do you want to keep a record
of information disiminated to operations? Will the information be broadcast to everyone or to smaller areas? Who is responsible for getting the information to the plant floor and how do they want to work?

Hope this helps some anyway,

Kevin Totherow
Sylution Consulting

 
K

Kevin Totherow

You know that you have a tough question when you get one response in three months.

Communication on a plant floor has always been a problem. Innovation years ago consisted of hand-signals, light, distinctive horns, or chalk boards strategically placed in the manufacturing area.

Today you could consider: PDA's, thin-client terminals in the operating areas, and vibrating pagers.

When communicating work instruction written format is infinitely better than verbal (you can have a record of it and it is more precise).
Integration of any new systems into the plant should be a joint decision between engineering and operation because it will effect the way
operators operate. Perhaps, further definition of the scope will focus on a particular technical solution. Should operators acknowledge
reciept of the information? Do you want to keep a record of information disiminated to operations? Will the information be broadcast to
everyone or to smaller areas? Who is responsible for getting the information to the plant floor and how do they want to work?

Hope this helps some anyway,

Kevin Totherow
Sylution Consulting
 
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