Hello,

My name is David and I am doing a small informal survey in manufacturing data monitoring and collection. I am trying to find out the issues that manufacturer's face in today's global competitive environment. More specifically, how are manufacturer's tracking plant floor data (data from the machines), and using this data to increase the productivity and overall equipment efficiency (OEE) in their plants?

The company I am working with is called Integ Process Group. We have developed a system that can monitor and collect data in real-time. Currently, we are mostly working in metal stamping. However, our system can be connected to any machine (injection molding, or any other machine) to monitor the data. The main advantage of this, is that you can fix problems right away (since the data is live), and also do analysis of the data at the end of the day, week, etc. The system also connects to practically any ERP system, and is much cheaper to implement than you would expect (with no programming is required).

Are manufacturer's thinking about these issues?

I have attached a copy of the survey. If you have 3 to 5 minutes, please answer some of the questions of the survey, and email it back to me. I have also included a free excel tool that helps calculate some efficiency messures (OEE).

Thanks
David Blanchard
MBA Class of 2008
Tepper School of Business
Carnegie Mellon University
dblancha at andrew dot cmu dot edu

Integ Process Group

Please note that although the OP list his name and title as an MBA student - there is an apparent commercial connection to Integ Process Group. This is what we always call the grey area of advertising on the Cove. The comments I received about the tool are positive - and asking to fill out a survey form is no big deal, so the post remains with the commercial advertising removed.

I hope that dblanchard will share his results with us - and will contribute to the discussions here.

Thank you CarolX. I want to simplify the survey into two main questions that I am trying to find out:

Are manufacturer's tracking real-time plant floor data from their machines?

Is it an issue that concerns them?

That is all I need to know.

David Blanchard

PS. A publication and/or articles will be publish at the end of the study. You may be asked if you mind to have your name and comments included in the publication/article at a future date.