Process Execution

Solumina radically improves the efficiency of your shop. Operators will spend more time doing the job they are trained to do, and less time looking for documents, waiting for corrections, or waiting for repair instructions. Learning curves and potential for mistakes are greatly reduced with enhanced work instructions. Managers can make quicker decisions and assignments using the graphical view of the work schedule, resources and constraints. As-built history is instantly available for reports and analysis.

Complete and Current Job Information

All the information required to do the job is "kitted" for the operator. Work instructions contain links to pictures, slide shows, drawings and process specifications. The operator always views the correct and latest version of drawings, specifications and parts. Required parts and tools are also listed. An operator is always alerted to conditions holding up a job.

Enhanced Work Instructions

Solumina provides the operator with easy to follow instructions that reduce the learning curve and errors. Instructions for simpler jobs can be text descriptions complemented with links to illustrations and bookmarked drawings; instructions for more difficult jobs can be intricate animated slide shows that incorporate marked-up drawings, 3D models or videos, and prompt the user for data collection when required.

Paperwork Reduction

Solumina eliminates the need for most of the paper documents used on the shop including books of standard procedures, work orders, amendments to work orders, printed work instructions, drawings, and nonconformance documents. A paper-lite phase is supported to help transition to a paperless process.

Straightforward Operation

Solumina configuration optimizes the user interface for different types of work centers. Some work centers require employees to work on assigned jobs and other work centers allow operators to assign jobs to themselves. Some centers work units in batches, others one at a time. The user interface is configured to surface only those options required for the current job and work center, and provide speed buttons for most-used commands.

Online Data Collection

Data collection is launched directly from the work instructions. A data collection form with a spreadsheet feel is optimized for data entry. Solumina lets you know what data is still required to complete the job. The operator is alerted when entered data is outside specified control limits.

Buyoff Signatures

Operators and inspectors "stamp" work completion and approvals online. These buyoff stamps are stored as part of a unit's history. Inspectors can point out an oversight or initiate discrepancy reports directly from a buyoff point in the work order. Solumina is compliant with FDA Title 21-CFR-Part-11 regulations on electronic signatures.

Certification Verification

Solumina ensures that the operator has the required certification for the job. The operator is also warned about certifications close to expiration.

Planned Routing Decisions

An operator or supervisor has the option to choose among alternate routings planned into the work sequence. Alternate sequences provide flexibility to divert units to different work centers, or to handle additional steps based on test results.

Discrepancies and Defects

A discrepancy report can be initiated directly from a work order and can also be initiated independently for incidents not tied to a specific job. For example, completed parts could be damaged in transit, and require discrepancy documentation and rework. Discrepancies are automatically routed for disposition to the appropriate personnel. The job is placed on hold until disposition instructions are approved. For more information on discrepancies, please refer to the description of Solumina's Process Quality functionality.

Supervisory Tools

To manage the shop, you need visibility of schedules, resources and constraints. The Solumina graphical dispatch brings all this information together for the supervisor using Gantt charts, histograms, alerts, and tabbed pages with additional information about each job. The supervisor knows which jobs are ready and which jobs are held up, and can easily assign and reassign jobs to accommodate unplanned absences or machine downtime.

• Gantt charts show priorities, the master schedule, the revised schedule and actual dates. Authorized production personnel can make adjustments to the schedule to accomodate constraints.
  
  
• Histograms graphically display the assigned load for each employee. You can assign employees by dragging jobs from the Gantt chart to the employees on the histogram.
  
  
• Alerts are displayed for job contraints, such as liens or delays for parts or tools.

Liens

Liens act as virtual red tags on the units identifying open discrepancies and rework. Special authorizations can be given to specific units allowing work to proceed up to a certain point with these lien conditions. Visibility of the liens is never lost throughout the process, even when liens are inherited from installed subassemblies.

As-Designed, As-Built, As-Maintained

Solumina stores all history on each unit, including work instructions, data collection, buyoff signatures, discrepancies, rework, and complete product genealogy. Product genealogy keeps track of materials, components and subassemblies used for each unit. The complete tree of nested components is available. Solumina not only maintains installation records, it also maintains removal records. History for a subassembly and its components moves with that subassembly when it is removed.

Product genealogy is maintained for products tracked by serial number, lot number or work order number, and is preserved through work order splits and lot splits