This guide is to assist the users with Assembler, Packer , Inspector and Driver Roles understand their home screens in the Home module.  The home screens for each of these users have similar features with the only difference being the status tab options.


Custom crating companies have varying procedures when it comes to how they handle the entire process of crating.  The use of the home screens for different users is flexible.  Home screens allow staff members to get and give information on the status of orders without having to make calls or physically go to another staff members location. Monitoring the status of an order can also ensure its not late or missed when it's busy. 


Your company may not need to use every user home screen,  or even use all status tabs in a particular users home screen. These are decisions you and your company will make. You may arrange an online session with our support team and get suggestions as to best use the Home module within you company.


And at any time you can change how you decide to implement the home screens as you and other staff become more comfortable with using these features.


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Home screens show the status that each design is at. The status is the step they are in in the crating process.  Home screens for production staff show the manufacturing status of the designs, whereas other user home screens may include a status of invoiced and/or paid. Home screens are assigned to a user based on their responsibilities.


When crates are created in a design, and the design is put into production, that design is now referred to as a 'design group',  whether the design has a single crate or multiple crates. Within a single design group, all crates are identical in construction, dimensions, materials and packing components. 


A user may be given access to multiple home screens,  which allows that user to access additional status tabs


Example:

The image below shows the status tabs on the Foreman's home screen. These status's are based on the steps generally used during the production of the crates.  His home screen includes all the status tabs that are on the home screens of the sawyers, assemblers, packers, inspectors and drivers,  who have a reduced number of the same status tabs.  From left to right design groups will go through some or most of these tabs towards completion.  


(shown here is the Foreman Home Screen)




All home screens include a Dashboard tab, which is an overview of the status of the design groups.


Shown are the home screen tabs for Assembler, Packer, Inspector and Driver. Note that there is an overlap of the status tabs on the different home screens.


*note: All tabs in the Packer home screen are included in the Assembler Home screen.  





The DASHBOARD tab


Each home screen has a Dashboard tab showing the quantity of design groups on each tab in your home screen. Remember that each design group may include one or multiple quantities of crates, which is not shown on the dashboard tab.



Example 1: Packer Home Screen: This user role is to pack content items into the assembled crates and in some cases, to assemble panels after packing content.

  • The step prior to this role as a packer is 'Assembly'. In this example there are no design groups currently in the status of assembly
  • There are two design groups that are in the status of being packed.  As a packer, these are what I am expected to be working on
  • I have completed the packing  process for 22 design groups and I have moved them to the status of Inspection. The user who's role is to inspect the crates will see these design groups on the Inspection tab on their home screen 


Example 2: The Inspector Home screen: If you have the job of Inspector, you have many responsibilities to ensure the crate is manufactured correctly, the items are packed correctly , as well managing documentation that may be required for transport or shipping.


  • In the inspector home screen you can see the design groups that are currently in the packing status
  • There are 22 design groups to review as an inspector. 
  • For each design group, after completing the inspection , the inspector can move the design group to one of the other three available status tabs (Complete, Storage or Shipping) 
  • Currently there are 6 design groups in the status of  'Complete' 
  • Currently there are  2 design groups in the status of 'Storage'


Your company may not store completed items, in this case you might not use the 'Storage' status tab.  You might move designs from Inspection directly to Shipping status if this is your company policy.




Finding the quantity of crates in a Design Group:


Design Groups -A design that has been moved into one of the production status'


No matter the quantity of items: crates, skids,  or pallets in that design, it equals one design group.  All items in an individual design group are identical.


In each status tab except the Dashboard tab, each line item has a QTY field indicating the number of items in that design group.  It's important to check the tabs with the design groups to know the actual quantity of items in each design group. 




Based on your user home screen(s),  all but the first status tab include the ability to change the status of each design group.  The first status tab for most home screens is to allow you see what the previous group is working on and expected to send to your home screen.


The tab color and the line on the left side of the window help you identify the active tab.


Important: Even though you have multiple status tabs on your home screen, it does not mean that you will perform all the functions of each tab. Based on your job requirements, you are responsible for completing the work required for one or a couple status tabs. 


The additional tabs on each users home screen allow users to change the status of a design group. Other staff may be responsible for those tasks when the design groups reach their home screens. There is always overlap of the status tabs between home screens.



Multiple home screens and Closure Condition



In the image below, this user has been given access to multiple home screens. Change the home screen by using the drop-down at the top of the window. You will only need to change the home screen if the status tab you need is on another home screen.


*note: All tabs in the Packer home screen are included in the Assembler Home screen.  If you complete both roles you don't need to add the Packer home screen to your user account.





It's important to be aware of the 'Closure Condition' and other information that the designer may add to the cut lists. The 'closure condition' indicates which panel(s) are not to be assembled initially, to make the packing or loading of the content easier. Assembly of the final panels are typically completed after loading the content items. The closure condition may also indicate that a different fasteners will be used for the unassembled panels.


The closure condition information is located on the upper right side of the cut lists. (See attached pdf samples) 



Example: 

  • Closure TO  (TO is top off) All the panels are assembled with the exception of the top panel. This assumes the content items are being loaded in from the top.
  • Closure EO (End off). All the panels are assembled except for one end panel. You might see this when you have to roll the content item into the crate from one end


The closure condition is also important as it relates to fasteners. In a TO crate (top off) you may use 2" nails to assemble all the panels together, but the designer wants you to use screws to attach the top panel after packing. This allows the customer to easily remove the panel once the crate gets to the customer site.  The designer will indicate this by the closure condition and by including the preferred fastener for the panels on the cut list.



The cut lists contains a lot of information about that design group. Number of designs, and many and more. It's important to know which of the optional fields your company will use.





Changing the Status of a Design Group & Printing


Example: Once the design group has been moved from Cutting to the Assembly status, there are options for assemblers:


> If the assemblers identify any errors in any of the cut materials,  they can move the design group back to 'Cutting' status by clicking on the 'Cut' button at the end of that design group.


> The assemblers can start assembling the crates in the design group using:


  •  the cut lists provided by other staff
  • or by printing a cut list or other report



> To print a different report, check what report you want to print, then check the checkbox at the end of the design group(s) you want the reports for.  Then click on the printer icon.  Attached to this article are samples of the reports available to print

  • a pop up preview of each report will come up and your printer selection box. Select the printer you want and continue.
  • reports can be saved as PDF as well for attaching to emails or saving as a file




When you have completed the work in a  design group, click on the appropriate colored box at the end of that line to move that design group to another status.


The Assembler home screen allows assemblers to move a design group back to the Cutting status or forward to either the Packing status or Inspection status.  Other home screens provide similar options to change the status of a design group.


Note: An user may perform both assembly and packing. To save time they might chose to complete the assembly and packing at one time and move the entire design group directly to Inspection status.




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The use of the Home screen feature for staff is based on your companies decision to use the Projects module which allows users to change the status of the design groups through the production process. 


The status of each design group is also shown displayed in other modules and feeds data for other features such as the ISPM 15 reports and material usage reports. 


This image is from the Projects module shows how the design groups status is reflected on the Project that design group is on. This allows for better communication with customers.


Users with access to the Projects module are also able to change the status of any design group directly within the Project.