Automated order processing and material supply
Line Management allows the entire filling and packaging process to be coordinated from a central position – from the definition of the order-specific production route to pallet labelling.
Seamless integration with Krones machines and other IT systems such as the ERP enables precise control of production along the entire line. To do so, the software considers your line to be a coherent system but not a row of isolated individual machines.
At a glance
With Line Management you can
- process orders automatically and keep changeover times consistently short.
- automate material requests and returns, which improves quality and avoids material losses.
- reduce manual effort and errors, as the system parameterises the machines and takes over communication and monitoring tasks.
- integrate label printers and coding devices into the line in order to automatically print important product information and best-by dates.
How Line Management works
- Creating or importing work orders and Bill of Materials
- Precise processing of individual orders with different batch sizes and short reaction times
- Online routing: Determining the optimal route of the product within the line
- Automatic parameterisation of all affected lines and machines including the printer and coding devices
- Automatic termination of orders as soon as the tank is empty or a defined product quantity has been reached
- Flying batch changes: Smooth transitions thanks to automatic empty runs, controlled start of the next order and controlled gaps between orders to avoid mix-ups
- Timely request and tracking of the right materials
- Standardised interface for seamless integration of third-party machines and customer IT systems
Module overview
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Order ManagementCentral order specifications and planning for all machines
- Used for centralised planning, creation and adjustment of orders in the line
- Determines the machines to be used for an order based on the routes, SKUs and BOMs
- Online routing: Makes it possible to change the route of the product in the line while the order is in progress
- Combines orders per machine to avoid downtimes
- Continuously displays the order status and progress as well as all completed orders
- Enables order transfer and feedback from and to higher-level systems (ERP, PPS) via standardised interfaces
- Stainless steel Line Management Panel for operation in the line optionally available
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Order ExecutionCoordination of orders and changeovers and control of peripheral device
- Distributes, controls and co-ordinates the line orders on the individually involved machines and line components
- Avoids incorrect entries thanks to automatic parameterisation and reduced operator interaction
- Ensures tank- and container-exact production with automatic emptying
- Speeds up article changeovers thanks to parallel production with a minimum distance between orders (flying batch changeover)
- Provides the printers with order-related information for coding pallets, packs and containers
- Automatically adjusts target quantities, taking rejects into account
- Enables the automatic rejection of random samples
- Automatically manages empties, crates and new glass in returnable glass lines
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Material ManagementOrder-specific supply and removal of materials including material validation
- Organises material requests/returns in the line
- Requests raw materials and supplies based on planned orders and current requirements in the line
- Calculates consumptions and suggests residual quantities for return transfers of processing, operating and raw materials
- Enables validation of the materials used
- Supports the operating personnel when ordering materials by suggesting orders on the machine's touch-screen and through fully automatic orders via an interface to the warehouse
- Manages the storage locations in the line
- Provides additional displays for the material display (e.g. for forklifts)
- Records and documents order-specific material consumption and ensures traceability
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Material Management App (MM App) for scanner 1/2The functions in detail
Line overview
- Supplies the operators with detailed information on the products, progress indicators and bills of material for a line
- The bill of material shows which materials have already been assigned to an order
Material requests/returns
- Material orders from the production line to the warehouse
- Quantity-related automatic ordering or time-related manual ordering
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Material Management App (MM App) for Scanner 2/2
Material labels:
- Reduction of work to be performed by the operators on the line or in the goods receiving area
- Creating the required number of labels possible
- Creating and changing material data
- Initiating printing orders
Material consumption:
- Allows the operators to assign material to an order or equipment (depending on the type of consumption)
- Enables time-related or quantity-related consumptions
- Consideration of the consumption sequence
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Tracking and TracingEnables tracking and tracing of materials
- Comprehensive tracking and tracing report with all order and material information
- End-to-end visibility – from raw material to finished product
- Overview of production and material consumption
- Search and reverse search as well as drill-down mechanisms
- Quick reaction to quality problems
- Recall campaigns and measurement of the supplier quality possible
- Integration of other systems (e.g. warehouse and process control systems)
Providing support in all areas of production
Benefits to you
Saving production costs
You optimise your consumption of resources by requesting all processing and operating materials always at the correct quantity and time.
Speed
Line Management optimises order processing. You benefit from reduced SKU changeover and cleaning times - even during the night shift.
Quality assurance
By automating and controlling production tasks, Line Management helps to significantly reduce your error potential and minimise rework.
Line availability
You benefit from maximum utilisation of your line thanks to parallel order processing with flying batch changeovers and batch aggregation per machine.
User-friendliness
Line Management impresses with its clear operator guidance, HMI and scanner integration and reduced manual labour.
Traceability
The software exactly records the production processes for each batch. You can exactly trace back each individual batch, even within quite complex product lines.