Case Study: PIPS Technology Production Line Graphics

PIPS Technology is an industry leader in the development and manufacture of ALPR (Automated License Plate Recognition) systems. Their broad range of ALPR products provide the next generation of information technology for Travel Time Measurement, Law Enforcement, Tolling, Congestion Charging, Access Control, Traffic Monitoring and Automated Site Security Solutions. PIPS products are manufactured to ISO 9001:2000 standards.

PIPS TECHNOLOGY originally recruited a team of knowledgeable, highly skilled production people to get the production lines working efficiently and keep them focused on quality. PIPS wanted to maintain those attributes no matter how many more people they added to their production staff. They also wanted to take steps to assure the same level of performance and productivity, with a goal to improve both. Realizing that new line workers did not have the experience and insider-knowledge advantages of their initial crew, the PIPS production team wanted to provide every advantage they could to help the new workers achieve those qualities as quickly as possible.

Infographics approached PIPS with the idea of using production line graphics - an easy, visual reference tool and aide for each workstation and worker. On-site references would help in the retention of critical assembly information and avoid costly assembly mistakes.

OBJECTIVES

• PIPS management wanted to make sure the quality of their manufacturing remained, as well as, their control over materials costs.
• Identify the most critical, and potentially costly mistakes that could be made in the process to address with visual aids.
• Use wordless graphics to present the steps and make them easy to view and understand, as well as addressing any future language barriers of a more diversified population of workers.
• PIPS needed the new stations up and running as quickly as possible.

Infographics® APPROACH
Infographics toured the plant and made notes on the environment we found and the opportunities we saw to effectively present information to the assembly line audience. PIPS Technology had documented all the production steps and created temporary manuals for training, but they weren't completely convinced they were going to be an effective reference for the expansion of workstations, the new workers, or daily use.

Infographics implemented our own learning process by taking a hands-on approach. A member of our information design staff went through all the assembly process using the actual parts and tools to better understand the final product and to help our client identify the most critical and costly chances for mistakes. Infographics concluded that small full-color posters could be displayed strategically throughout the production areas to address the most "critical" steps.

Infographics presented a list of proposed visuals and together with the PIPS key production personnel concluded that we could address just two critical steps in the assembly of these products and create potential time and cost savings.

infographics® SOLUTION

• Develop wordless assembly steps and the graphics in poster form to give workers the information they need at a glance.
• Create a template for future applications that addresses four critical categories:

1. Orientation: An image or images that assure the worker he has the right part and is using it in the correct orientation for the assembly
2. Parts: These images give the workers a visual check point for the parts needed.
3. Assembly: Simple visual directions broken down into simple step-by -steps when necessary.
4. Details: Simple reference to key details for clarity.

For more information, please visit info-graphics.com or call 865-588-9888.