Aran Research and Development prints parts in 3D. More than 32 years. A single model, and a series too.
They have large machines, paint, and machining. The work is certified to ISO 9001 and AS9100D.
The Challenge
They already sold, printed, and sent parts to paint or to machining. Sales and printing worked. There was no one process between them.
One print job can include parts from several orders. One order can split across several print jobs. At the end you need to see that the customer got everything they ordered.
The person running production counted parts on a page, crossed numbers out, corrected them, and passed the page on.
The Solution
We connected the accounting system. They press there, and the order opens in monday with the part numbers. From there they open a print job.
Paint and sorting went onto the order as a part number, like any other part. So you see those too, not only the part that came off the machine.
Technologies
A print job and an order are not the same thing
A print job can hold parts from several customers. A large order does not come out of one print. Some come out now, and the rest on the next job.
In the system you see how much of each order is already printed, and what is still missing.
Paint and sorting on the order
After printing, some parts go to sorting, paint, or machining. That used to sit off the order.
Now each of those steps is a part number. It opens with the order, and you can see if it is done.
Results
One print job can mix several orders, and one order can split across several print jobs. At the end you see the order went out in full, including the paint and the machining.