When I saw Apple’s presentation on the iPad I was very excited. I also own an iPhone privately and I find it very useful. So I am definitely interested in having one for me. 🙂 But then I also started thinking about other more business-like usages for that device. One obvious use case is for mobile CRM where a sales agent would have all his data right in his hand without the need for a (still heavy) notebook to carry with him. But what about tasks in a manufacturing environment?
Several years ago I did an implementation for a pharmaceutical customer. The scope was about weighing and all other manufacturing related tasks to be captured in a PI Sheet. For the weighing part it was obvious that the users are always at the same place in a weighing room so the computer terminal could be right there. But most of the other manufacturing stations were pretty much spread around but still the customer wanted that all data has to be captured accurately on the spot. They did not have the money and the space to put a stationary PC at every place so they first thought about a tablet PC as a replacement for the stack of papers that they used until then as the batch record.
However back then there was no device with a battery that would last for a whole shift so the idea was dropped and we decided to go back to paper (defined by and printed from process instructions though). Now with this wonderful device from Apple with 10 hours of battery life I wonder whether such a device would be suitable for mobile manufacturing. Of course there is currently no support for a PI Sheet type of application that runs on such a machine (and I don’t say that there will be such a support – please keep in mind that these are only my private thoughts).
Another thing that comes into my mind is the possibility to add another dimension to the electronic batch record. With the built-in GPS you could also track the position together with the time when an action is confirmed. Of course this is not possible with GPS in closed rooms but there I believe you could use the WiFi signals signature and strength to capture the position.
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So here are my pro’s and con’s:
Pro’s:
- Lightweight (680 or 730 gram)
- 10 h battery life
- Cheap (499$)
- WiFi or 3G → Even remote areas could be coverd
- GPS (3G only) or WiFi tracking
- The users would love it (I’m sure)
Con’s:
- No ‘tough’ device
- Probably not suited for areas with explosion hazzard
If you have any additional thoughts or pro’s and con’s please comment on this!
Apple's iPad: Is it also good for Manufacturing?,| Please rate the article: |
Hi Susanne,
when I posted this question on the iPad I had primarily in mind to check whether such a device would work in principle for SAP customers. (e.g. price, stability, explosion safety, regulatory compliance,…)
I just checked the CO60 in a webGUI environment úsing the internet explorer and that worked OK. However you must understand that the PI Sheet in principle only works with Microsoft Internet Explorer, so trying to access the PI Sheet Web Gui via iPad’s Safari browser is not likely to work.
I am somewhat of an apple nut myself. If SAP and Apple could partner up on making some mobile apps for the iPad, I think it would be a goldmine and a game changer as far as the ease of generating electronic batch records (and other stuff too). We initially explored using tablets in our mfg areas during our first go-live, but ended up using laptops on carts instead because of the tablets’ drawbacks at that time. Being able to use a device such as the iPad would be a monumental improvement from where we are today.
I totally agree to this! Maybe if customers are asking SAP for such a solution a lot it might become reality 😉
We are in process of implementing Xsteps based PI sheets and looking in options to use netbook in the manufacturing lines. We may also look into possibilities of using iPad and any development on usage of IPad in manufacturing from SAP and Apple will be great help and big change in the way manufacturing plants executes the manufacturing orders.
I tried to use XSteps with a iPad, using the App SAPPLAPP.
Unfortunately the transactioncodes CO60XT and CO55 do not work within the webgui-environment.
Does anybody solved this problem ?
Do SAP offer a solution for this ?
Kind regards, Susanne
I thought whether CO60 and PI-Sheet were able to be used with SAPPLAPP. it inquired of the development origin.
The answer below returned.
=============
Hello,
Sorry, but the transaction is not supported (till this date i never heard
about this tcode).. Sorry.
My suggestion: Can you don’t write your own transaction ?
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me..
Best regards / Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Thorsten Esser
Am 17.01.11 03:22 schrieb “Yuuji Oosawa” unter :
> Hello My name is yuuji oosawa from TOKYO JAPAN.
>
> I am transmitting mail from SAO.INFO.
> However, when contacting your supports was good, the desire was E-mailed.
> I am a consultant of SAP in Japan.
> Especially, it specializes in the PP area.
> SAPPLAPP that you made in that is verified, and iPAD is used and verified.
> I want to use SAPPLAPP in the PP area.
> Especially, it is thought that the effect is high in PP-PI.
> Therefore, it wanted to confirm the function about SAPPLAPP and it E-mailed.
>
> Because TRANSACTION VALIANT of SAPPLAPP cannot be executed, TR-CD:CO60 cannot
> be executed.
> Moreover, PI-Sheet cannot be similarly executed.
>
> To execute these, is the upgrade executed?、Or, please teach it if there is a
> solution method.
>
> It is convinced that iPad can be used in the packing line of the medicine
> manufacture manufacturing if this function can be achieved.
>
> Please teach to me by all means.
>
>
> ***************
> Yuuji OOSAWA
> ***************