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Minotaur has developed an inventory control solution using
handheld computers (HH) or PDA equipped with a bar code
scanner. The wireless port of the HH is used to make the
connection to the server. The user logs in using terminal
server and then initiates a special Minotaur HH Interface.
This interface is essentially a modification of the new
GUI II interface with the menu bar across the top removed.
A screen shot of this interface is shown in Figure 1.
The explorer menu is available but in most instances users
would simply use the explorer screen to define Short Cut
icons. It is expected that most users will use the shortcut
icons to start various programs. New Menu items will be
added for screens intended for the HH. These options will
have the screens reduced to fit the HH screen thus eliminating
scrolling whenever possible. In general the HH specific
programs are designed to require a minimum of typing by
the user. The majority of information will be entered
by tapping buttons or will be scanned in using the barcode
scanner. |
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| Depending on requirements,
the user would have screens for picking of raw materials
for production, picking/shipping sales orders, inventory
counts, inventory adjustments, warehouse transfers, and
receiving. Relevant paper work is also modified to include
bar codes defining important fields. For example a bar
code version of the sales order number will be printed
on the picking slip. The user can scan this code to identify
the sales order being processed reducing the possibility
of errors and the need for the user to key information
into the program. The HH would have access to the resources
of the server. For example, once the user has scanned
the product picked for a shipment, the packing slip could
be printed on any printer accessible from the terminal
server session. This can be accomplished from anywhere
in the warehouse or plant with wireless access |
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| The initial development program
has been directed towards data entry. That is the scanning
of information into Minotaur in live time from any location
in the warehouse or plant. Figure 2, right, shows a scan
screen waiting for scan codes to be entered. This particular
screen is designed for the manufacturing module but similar
screens would be used by the shipping module. To ship
product the user would scan the relevant labels and then
tap OK to save the information. The program validates
each scan immediately. If the user should accidentally
re-scan a label or scan a label not registered in the
program a warning will be given immediately and the scan
rejected. In some screens there will be a report button.
If the report button is selected the program will display
a simple report showing the part code and quantity scanned
as well as a product description. The screen is small
and the user will have to scroll if they wish to view
the full description. |
We will also be exploring the usefulness of this technique
for extracting information. Possible uses would be to
provide users direct access to Minotaur while away from
their work station. For example a picker might use this
feature to determine a suitable alternate lot when a specified
lot simply cannot be found or a shipper might verify a
customer's address. In general the user could access any
Minotaur screen. However, a considerable amount of scrolling
may be required to view the required information. In general
once a requirement is defined a HH screen would be designed
to deliver the information. |
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