Know exactly what goes on the buck and where the buck is? 

Paperless work in a digitized workshop is the ultimate in business process optimization for frame manufacturers. Matrix Software has stood by window frame manufacturers for years with advice, assistance and the right software to make this possible. 

In a conversation with Hans Storms, industry manager at Matrix Software, we highlight one component of this digital workflow, namely buck registration with MatrixProject MES. "The production process naturally starts with the creation of the delivery in MatrixProject," Storms outlines. "Once the frames are manufactured, they need to end up on the trestle for transport to the customer. The whole process of buck loading and shipping is done using MatrixProject MES."

A buck cannot carry unlimited weight. Therefore, it is important to make sure you do not exceed the maximum weight while loading the buck. 

Storms: "MatrixProject MES knows from the system what the weights of the frames produced are. The employee in the shipping department first scans the code of the buck he is going to load and then each frame before it goes on the buck. When the maximum is reached, it is automatically indicated. Then the employee on the shop floor spins out a delivery note. This is done automatically using MES after which it is scheduled on the buck and scanned ready. The buck is transported to the customer and from that moment on, it is known in MatrixProject that the buck in question is with the customer. When an empty buck returns, it is scanned back in and is again available for new loading."

Bucks are thus loaded in the most ideal way. Window frames that protrude beyond the trestle in terms of dimensions are also recorded: "This allows the planner to take account of responsible loading of the truck to prevent damage to the protruding window frames." 

So all stickers and receipts are printed using MES in the workshop itself, at exactly the right time. "This prevents errors that can arise from lying around delivery lists and pre-printed labels coming from the office," Storms said.

With MatrixProject, the frame manufacturer has complete control over the process, from the arrival of raw materials to delivery to the customer. "As with all other activities, time recording is linked to the loading of the trestles," Storms explains. "This way you know how long it takes to load a buck and also by which employee the buck was loaded, should any questions arise about this later."

With MatrixProject as a basis and buck registration with its own place within MatrixProject MES, Matrix Software facilitates yet another piece of paperless production. "By optimizing the entire production process with our software you not only work more efficiently with less failure costs, but also more sustainably," says Storms in conclusion.