The Quality Assurance & Line Configuration (Q.A.L.C.) System is set to be released in the next few weeks as a standard product offering from Tactical Controls.
Tactical Controls has developed a standard application used for production lines for any type of manufacturing plant. The system uses a centralized database to extract product data and configure Barcode Readers, Printers and Vision Systems on the labeling lines for operation. While the lines are operating the system is capable of processing barcodes in real time at speeds of up to 3000 Barcodes/Min and calculates statistical information on each line. Wrong barcodes read are time stamped and logged to a Historian Database.
In developing the Q.A.L.C. System, Tactical Controls main goal was to eliminate the possibility of a mislabeled product reaching the consumer. This system has state of the art tracking capabilities. If a wrong barcode is read it is time stamped and logged. The logging of the wrong barcodes allows any facility to isolate the product in their warehouse if a mislabeled product gets off the production line. The Q.A.L.C System allows reassurance to our customers that if for some reason the product gets onto a pallet it can easily be tracked and isolated in a warehouse minimizing the amount of product rework and most importantly production down time.
The Q.A.L.C. System is designed to be configurable to any facility without reprogramming the system. The application can be configured to run any number packaging lines. Each production line can accommodate any number of barcode readers, printers, vision system, and other production line devices. Users configure the system using a maintenance screen to enable or disable lines as needed. Each production line can be independently named to allow for a tailored system to the plants’ specifications.
The system is designed using off the shelf software, Wonderware, to allow for system maintenance and upgrades. The open software platform allows our customer employees to maintain and update the system without having to call Tactical Controls for all modifications.
Tactical Controls has paid close attention to the needs of its manufacturing customers and has put together a system that is flexible. Many custom interface drivers have been developed for communications to a wide array of barcode readers and printers. New drivers can be added if a customer has a device on the packaging line that is not currently supported by our system.
This system uses a custom product database that allows operators to select the product to run on the line. When a line is to have a product change over, the operator selects the product from a dropdown list. A confirmation screen is displayed which shows the operator the product information that will be downloaded to ensure the correct product was selected. After the final confirmation the system then communicates to all the devices on the packaging line to remotely configure them.
Please take a look at the Q.A.L.C. Product card for more information on the system, and feel free to contact Tactical Controls if you have any technical questions.
PRODUCT CARD