Tame Out-of-Control Production Activities with the Kechie Production Module

Manufacturing finished goods from raw materials can be a challenging process.  The key to running your business more efficiently is to limit errors while saving time and money.  It is imperative to have the right software to help automate this process for you.

The Kechie Production Module is the perfect software solution for even the most complex of production environments.  This module has several great features that allow you to schedule, prioritize, track, and report on job status.  What’s even more impressive is that the module allows you to view and control your production in real-time on a 24/7 basis from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.  This provides you with the flexibility to oversee your project easily, even if you are not physically on the factory floor.  Here are some of the key features within the Kechie production module.

Complete Item Master and BOM Management

You cannot manufacture finished goods without a Bill-of-Materials (BOM).  Kechie’s version is both easy to use and flexible.  It can support complex BOMs (hierarchical) and product bundles.  Individual components are associated with Purchased, Manufactured, and Tools (PMT) codes.  You can quickly edit BOMs while the production module documents each movement.  An audit trail will log who changed the BOM and when.  BOM management works with your inventory control module to show how many units are in stock, along with the costs of each component selected.  Kechie offers Last-In, First-Out (LIFO), or First-In, First-Out (FIFO) costing methods.

Job Creation

With a BOM in place, a job to manufacture a certain number of pieces can be created.  A new job can be assigned a start date, a planned completion date, and the destination warehouse.  Also, each job is assigned a job number which can include a prefix.  Users can use that prefix to note the manufacturing line used, month built, or any other code that might be useful. A job may require a special temporary deviation or substitution from the standard BOM, and Kechie also provides this capability.  Jobs can be classified as either inside or outside jobs.  The latter is used for those situations where an outside contractor performs the job.  Once the job is created, the production module will display key information about the jobs.  Jobs are assigned a status in New, Waiting, Ready-to-Pick, All Picked, and Completed.  Completed jobs will have their product put into finished goods.  And if there is any leftover material, it can be scrapped or put back into the raw material inventory.

Component Pick Function

Before a job can start, a manufacturer must collect all the required raw materials and make them available for production.  This function is called Picking.  Kechie’s production module can pick, track, and automatically adjust the inventory levels, avoiding over or under allocation issues.   Also, Kechie’s built-in barcode reading capability is fully integrated and can make picking a fast process.

Job Release and Build

Once all the raw materials have been collected, the job can be released, and the build started.  Any special instructions or issues that arose during the job can be noted in a data field associated with the job. When the job finishes, the job will show the Completed status.  Completed jobs will remain in the system database.  So if there is any question later on about what happened during the build, a user can go back to the record and find out.

The Kechie production module shares many of the same interface commands as our other modules.  For example, when running a report that provides a list of jobs, one can filter the report to only show certain jobs or jobs for specific part numbers.  Because of its logical and intuitive user interface, users in the factory can learn the software quickly, and they will want to use it as much as possible.  Diligent traceability of all your production activities will create a more efficient process and allow your factory to be more effective.

To learn more about our Production module and how Kechie can help you, schedule a demo or contact us by phone at (714) 486-1487.