Enhancing truss builder efficiency will increase productivity and result in more truss production at lower cost. The most cost-effective way of enhancing truss builder efficiency is to put TVs up over each truss jig as a visual truss assembly aid. Enventek PlantOne TV/Projection is compatible with all connector plate software, making it an easy-to-use cost-effective visual truss assembly assistant. It features a standardized paperless system that keeps the manufacturing process organized for all to see and is a powerful tool that emphasizes Quality.
PlantOne can enhance any truss station from manual to fully automated tables. PlantOne is even more cost effective on manual tables and jigs as it adds a degree of automation and office integration by reading truss files directly from your engineering fileserver. It’s a total plant solution for manual jigs, automated puck tables, SL-Laser laser projection, Virtek laser projection, or any combination thereof. We do the seamless integration and synchronization so that, at the tables, PlantOne simply follows the automation, or on a manual table a wireless mini-keyboard or a WiFi tablet is used to load the next truss to build. PlantOne can’t eliminate all the paperwork from the office to the plant floor, however it will reduce the amount of paper required at the tables significantly. [For all photos, See PDF or View in Full Issue.]
Truss Plants Have a Mix of Truss Jigs
Most truss plants have more than one type of truss jig. Some jigs may require manual setup, some may have automated or semi-automated jigging, some may even have the truss template projected by lasers, and the laser projection may even supplement automated jigging. The mix of jigs is a training and labor issue in itself. Technical drawings are still key when setting up the first truss, with or without automation. The dimensions help less-experienced employees quickly learn how to set up. With the shared information, the team can all work together without having to share a piece of paper. PlantOne enhances teamwork and facilitates training.
The Lead Hand is the “Keeper of the Paper”
In all cases, no matter what type of truss jig(s) you have, whether there are two or more in a crew, the “lead hand” is usually the “keeper of the paper” and this limits the effectiveness of the rest of the build crew. For new workers being 2nd or 3rd “from the paper” can be a training and motivational issue even with automation.
Cross Train so “Anyone” can be a Lead Hand on “Any” Jig
Transform all your truss builders into lead hands by utilizing PlantOne to pervasively cross train everyone on all your jigs. PlantOne standardizes truss setup and truss build information for all to see above each and every type of jig.
PlantOne Productivity Features
- Truss Setup dimensions – for faster setup and better teamwork
- Truss Squaring dimensions – to save office time and create better build quality
- Plate Placement – to ensure better build quality
- Elapsed Build Time – having this on every truss helps motivate builders, and shift managers can track the progress of any job to assess the speed of multiple crews and identify potential problems in workflow
- Push Times for Setup and Assembly – to help motivate builders
- Truss Counter – lets everyone track progress and helps with motivation
- Look Ahead to Next Truss – to facilitate material staging
- Cutting Information – to minimize table downtime.
PlantOne comes with Collated Plate Picking that will further enhance truss build efficiency by eliminating plate picking huddles.
Optimize Your Existing Labor Force First with PlantOne
With PlantOne above each of your various truss jigs, everyone “gets to train and be trained,” and everyone gets up to the same level faster, and more importantly everyone gets to rotate through your mix of jigs. What better way is there to improve truss build productivity and ensure consistent truss quality across all your jigs?
For more examples of the benefits of PlantOne, see my December article, One Size Can Fit All. When you’re ready to Feed Your Beast and see these efficient and effective systems for yourself, let us know! Inside and out, LimTek Process Organization Technology will help you squeeze out more truss production and deliver quality trusses with shorter lead times to better service your customers by organizing your truss fabrication processes to maximize your investment in automation. https://limteksolutions.com/#solutions