In today’s manufacturing environments, digital forms known as Smart Forms have become indispensable. Fortunately, these forms offer numerous possibilities and benefits. Wondering what they entail exactly? Allow us to enlighten you in this ‘smart’ blog!
What are Smart Forms?
Smart Forms are digital forms or documents that work to improve efficiency, accuracy, and automation in a production process. They are also referred to as intelligent forms. Smart forms are considered ‘smart’ due to their ability to dynamically process, analyse, and validate data. In many cases, Smart Forms are aided by technology. For example, the Internet of Things, data processing systems, and sensors assist in collecting and analysing data. Because digital forms can provide significant support during audits, they are also known as Smart Inspection Forms.
Example of a Smart Form
A Smart Form can take various shapes. An example of a Smart form is a quality control form for production batches. This digital form can be designed in such a way that operators can input data related to various parameters, such as weight, dimensions, and visual results of the batch. A Smart Form can then immediately issue a warning if the entered data falls outside the specified requirements. If desired, the quality control form can also be linked to sensors to collect real-time data. This enhances the accuracy and speed of data collection. Ultimately, the Smart form will generate a comprehensive report, which can be analysed to identify the right improvement opportunities. Essentially, you are working with a ‘Lean Form.’
Benefits of Smart Forms
Implementing Smart forms in a production environment offers various benefits, all of which are related to data collection, analysis, and efficiency. The key advantages of Smart Forms are as follows:
- Automated data collection
With Smart Forms, you can avoid the need for extensive manual data entry. These forms can automatically gather data from various sources, including machinery, sensors, and human input. This saves a significant amount of time and reduces the risk of typing and input errors.
- Real-time monitoring and analysis
Operators and production managers can make informed decisions based on real-time data. Smart Forms facilitate this by enabling the collection, analysis, and visualization of data in real-time through technology.
- Intelligent feedback from Smart Forms
By incorporating validation rules into Smart Forms, data input becomes precise and consistent. Checklists and forms work seamlessly in this manner. It also means that employees receive notifications if data is missing or entered incorrectly. As a result, data is always complete and digitally retrievable.
- Efficiency improvement
Benefits number one and three go hand in hand with this fourth advantage. By automating routine tasks such as data entry, a significant amount of time is saved. This allows employees to focus on other valuable tasks in the production process, leading to reduced lead times.
- Integration with existing systems
By combining Smart Forms with existing systems such as MES and ERP, data exchange becomes seamless. This improves consistency across different operational processes. Integrating Smart Forms into the organization goes beyond simply entering and analysing data.
- Flexibility and customizability
A Smart Form can be adjusted as needed. For example, if there’s a change in the production process, the steps an operator must follow during machine checks, or the requirements associated with the process. By implementing changes digitally, all stakeholders are immediately informed.
How to create Smart Forms?
To create Smart Forms, you first need to determine the data that’s actually required. Then, there are various software providers, including Microsoft Forms and Google Forms, that allow you to create the form. You can implement data entry methods and validation rules within these forms. Where possible, integrate sources and sensors that can provide additional data.
Create Smart Forms with the EZ-GO platform
Do you want to make your Smart Forms visually appealing, accessible, and organized right away? Our EZ-GO platform offers a solution. This innovative platform allows you to create and make available Smart forms, such as checklists. This helps operators work efficiently and always have access to real-time data. Curious to see how your Smart Forms could look soon? We would be happy to demonstrate it to you!