Effective production management is a critical strategic factor in ensuring both performance and competitiveness in the industrial sector. Among the essential tools for managing this process, the work order (WO) holds a central place. It helps to structure and organize production tasks while providing precise visibility and control over every step of the process. But what exactly is a work order, and how does it contribute to optimal production management? Let’s break it down.
A work order is a document, often digital nowadays, that formalizes the production of a product or a batch of products within a factory. It contains all the necessary information for creating the product: the raw materials to be used, quantities, machines to be employed, deadlines to be met, and specific instructions for operators.
The WO is generated from customer orders or demand forecasts. It transforms these needs into concrete actions on the production floor, ensuring that each task is executed in the right sequence and according to defined specifications.
A work order is not just a document; it’s a real production management tool, fulfilling several key objectives:
🗓️ Planning and Scheduling
It helps to plan production based on priorities, machine availability, operator schedules, and customer deadlines.
🧩 Traceability
Thanks to the WO, every step of production can be traced from start to finish. This provides better visibility on progress and makes it easier to detect any anomalies.
📈 Performance monitoring
By integrating data such as actual production times and machine stoppages, the WO offers a basis for analyzing team and equipment performance.
❌ Error reduction
By centralizing all information related to a specific production, the WO limits human errors associated with communication gaps or lack of information.
In many industries, work order management is still done manually or with isolated systems such as spreadsheets or non-integrated software. This approach can lead to several issues:
⏱️ Time wastage
Manually entering and tracking information requires significant time and resources.
👷 Human error
Paper or spreadsheet-based management is prone to data entry errors, omissions, or duplications.
👀 Lack of visibility
It’s difficult to track the real-time status of each work order and react quickly to unforeseen events.
🤝 Coordination difficulties
The absence of a global WO tracking system complicates coordination between different production teams.
With KEYPROD, companies benefit from a complete digital solution that allows for efficient work order tracking, while directly connecting this data to the actual performance of machines.
KEYPROD allows real-time monitoring of every work order’s progress. By collecting machine data directly to your interface, you get a clear view of the progress of your WOs.
By combining work order data with machine performance, KEYPROD helps identify bottlenecks or inefficient production stages. This analysis optimizes workflows and improves scheduling, thereby reducing lead times and production costs.
By automating WO management, KEYPROD significantly reduces human errors. There’s no need for manual data entry: everything is automated and updated in real-time, ensuring optimal accuracy and preventing costly errors.
Whether it’s production, logistics, or maintenance teams, everyone accesses the same real-time information. This transparency improves collaboration and allows for better responsiveness to production challenges.
🚀 Increased productivity
By optimizing your processes and reducing interruptions, KEYPROD helps you boost overall productivity.
💡 Enhanced responsiveness
With real-time visibility into work order progress, you can adjust priorities and quickly respond to unexpected events.
💸 Cost reduction
By minimizing errors, time wastage, and bottlenecks, you reduce costs associated with suboptimal production.
🎯 Continuous improvement
Thanks to the data collected by KEYPROD, you can continuously identify opportunities for process improvements.
Work order management is a crucial issue for industrial companies seeking to stay competitive in increasingly demanding markets. By digitizing and automating this management, KEYPROD enables smoother, more responsive, and better-optimized production. Whether you're looking to reduce errors, increase productivity, or improve communication between teams, KEYPROD is the ideal solution to revolutionize your work order management.
Unlock your industrial potential with KEYPROD and transform your work order management today!