Sena Düzgün (Writer)
24 April 2024
Why do you need push notifications?
Push notifications are notifications that come instantly to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Today, accessing information quickly has become almost as important as information. Access to information at home, at work, on the street, anywhere you can think of has started a new era. Smartphones, the most popular technologies of today, are a tool for us to access this information quickly. The importance of push notifications that notify the user about the types of events happening on the machine is increasing day by day. Because there is a rapid evolution from technologies that notify via vibration when an e-mail arrives to push notifications on smart TVs and even wearable technologies.
As trex, we send instant notifications to the management and necessary personnel at the right time according to the types of events experienced in the machines, for example, when downtime starts, for many situations experienced in the machine (shift changes, when new work starts, changes in performance values, OEE changes, quality controls, etc.). These notifications can add one more point to the action to be taken instantly. It is also a chance to improve the quality of your product.
By directing the notifications correctly, it helps companies to position themselves correctly and take the right steps quickly. Regardless of the sector of the company, the results of time-sensitive push notifications will be very effective for you.
Can you tell us about instant notification methods?
One of the biggest features of MES Systems is the real-time monitoring of production processes. In order to underline the concept of real time, MES Systems must keep up with today's fast life. MES Systems that monitor production processes and all machine resources in real time are expected to transfer the data generated to authorized and responsible personnel in real time. Of course, as asked here, what kind of instant notification methods can be used? The following notification methods are common and more economical methods.
- NOTIFICATION METHODS INSIDE THE FACTORY / IN THE PRODUCTION AREA:
- Instant notification can be shown to the employees in the production area by displaying messages on the giant screen Andon systems to be installed inside the factory in a way that attracts attention and by making a sound with a siren.
- If it is necessary to make this form of notification a little more personalized, operator-specific push notifications can be displayed on the panels we use to collect data by displaying messages on the screen.
- Personalized push notifications can also be sent with vibration or messages to be displayed on the screen via smart watches, etc., which have recently become widespread due to their reduced cost.
- NOTIFICATION METHODS THAT CAN BE USED OUTSIDE THE FACTORY:
- Push notifications called Push notificaion via mobile phone are most commonly used, visual objects or graphic images can also be added to these notifications. Thus, even if you are out of the factory, a situation that you need to know in a practical way is delivered to you regardless of where you are thanks to the MES system.
- The SMS method is a method frequently used in SMS, especially in short warnings due to the character limit. However, since sending SMS is paid, this method is gradually being switched to the push notification method we just mentioned.
- Smartwatches can also be used to send push notifications via smartwatches, especially when we cannot use our cell phones, for example during a meeting.
E-Mail is also a method that can be used if necessary.
From which departments of companies do you receive requests for push notifications?
Receiving notifications about the situations experienced in the machines is requested from the factory management, planning department, maintenance department and quality department shift supervisors and many departments from almost every department regarding the creation of SMS, E-mail and report alerts. Instant information will create decisions such as planning changes, operator information, repair/repair work orders, new planning, emergency alerts, and provide the opportunity to share information with the necessary units.
With SMS and mail alert services, users can easily create templates according to the conditions they want. Each company that uses it can send the e-mail alert with the e-mail information defined in the system as desired. After defining the system with an SMS package to be received, SMS sharing can be done instantly.
What types of notifications are made and in which areas are these notifications used in the field?
In fact, theoretically, every data collected can be transformed into meaningful reports and sent as push notifications to the person or persons who need to be informed. So there is no limit to the question of what type of notifications are made.
However, the most frequently requested data or reports can be given as examples:
- OEE-APQ, i.e. productivity information. These can be customized on a shift basis, weekly basis or work center basis, and instant notifications can be sent to the relevant personnel according to the method they have requested.
Postures, especially the types of postures we call unplanned postures, are among the most demanded data.
What do push notifications bring us?
The wheels that trigger the system on the platforms of all applications start with the users. The biggest advantage of push notifications is first of all, it will increase the panel usage rate significantly.
The instant alert feedback sent is a very effective tool that can help you improve quickly. If it is used effectively. Regardless of the sector of the company, the results of time-sensitive push notifications will be very effective for your company.
When used correctly, push notifications can contribute to strengthening the bond between the user and the application. For this, it is important to analyze user data well and make a good planning to create the right notifications with the right templates. It is a good approach to see the errors and mistakes made on the machine.
Push notifications help to take action on the status of the machine when the data is shared with a reminder notification through the warning reports sent. Therefore, it will help the data to arrive and form healthier over time.
The fact that the push notification reaches the necessary people helps to take the necessary action by making the necessary analyzes afterwards. They allow you to always keep the use of the machine alive for the operator.
If you manage your push notifications correctly, your application will be able to share a new and important development at any time, and the necessary improvements will help to take the necessary improvements quickly.
Will it contribute to increased productivity? How?
The answer is yes.
Elimination of losses should be the main goal in every field where productivity increase is aimed.
By analyzing the data from the push notification, it is possible to identify the main causes and eliminate or improve them. Since this improvement is an improvement to the machine, its effect on productivity is inevitable.
Together with notifications
- Reductions in delays,
- Reduction in failures,
- Reductions in waste and errors,
- Setup times will be reduced.
Outgoing warning SMS and mails will have an impact on the reduction of downtime, correction of product cycle times in the reports sent, correction of data on the product quantities produced for stock, and thus increase productivity.
Can users define and customize their own notifications?
Of course, the notification settings screen has to offer users a wide range of customization options. Because each sector has its own focus points. Production processes and therefore the types of data that will increase production quality may differ. A company producing automotive spare parts cannot be expected to look at the same data as a company producing beverages or food. For this reason, an MES system with a flexible structure that can adapt to all sectors offers a wide range of customization options to its users. First of all, the user's ability to define notifications should depend on authorization. In other words, each MES system user should be able to define notifications for the data they are authorized to see.
- Users should be able to select the reports they want to receive notifications.
- Users should be able to select the lower and upper limits of the reports they want to receive notifications. For example, let me be notified when my OEE value falls below 75, or let me be notified if a machine is down for more than 5 minutes, etc.
- They should be able to enter filter and grouping for the report they want to receive notifications. In other words, only the stops in the CNC work center should be sent to me, the notification of the stops in the welding workshop should go to X person, etc.
The user should be able to choose which method they would like to receive notifications.
With the digitalization of production sites, what will be the new areas where push notifications will penetrate?
It is very difficult to predict which technologies will enter our lives in the future. We did not know 15 years ago that smart cell phones would be an indispensable part of life. We cannot predict which devices will enter our daily lives 15 years from now. However, this question can be answered by considering that the use of technologies that are in their infancy today or that have not yet become widespread due to their total costs will increase.
What are these technologies?
1-Artificial intelligence and machine learning
2-VR / Virtual Reality glasses
How can these 2 technologies contribute to the efficiency of MES Systems? All push notification methods are realized after the desired notifications reach the limits or after the problem is experienced. For example, if my OEE value falls below 75, I can be asked to send me a notification, or when my machines are down, I can be asked to send me a notification.
Thanks to artificial intelligence and machine learning technology, notifications will be sent to the relevant and responsible people before these things happen, and problems will be solved before they start. Now, before your OEE value reaches the minimum level you want to be notified, all signals will be analyzed by artificial intelligence and you will be notified in advance. Thanks to machine learning, perhaps it can be learned with instant notifications that machines will fail within the specified time before they fail. Our R&D studies on this subject are ongoing.
It is not difficult to predict that VR or virtual reality glasses will be used effectively in the industry when these technologies become accessible.
Thanks to a VR glasses, detailed 3D modeling of factories can be made and you will be able to walk around the factory even if you are outside the factory. The data collected from MES systems will also be shown to you on the glasses. Thus, you will be able to see which work order is currently in production at a workstation, completed and remaining values just by looking at it without being connected to any device.
When you look at the special QR barcodes to be affixed on the machines with virtual reality glasses, we will have the chance to see all the data, performance, the part produced, the amount completed, and similar information about that machine. In other words, instead of receiving instant notifications, in a few years it will come to a point where we will be able to see the desired data instantly regardless of the location.