Uninterupted Shop Floor Data Collection

Shop floor data collection done in real time with seven day a week 24 hour a 
day shop floor availability is the goal of every transaction based system.  

Most AS/400's running BPCS are down daily for system back ups, and day end 
processes to resync inventory, clean up allocations or for some reason that is 
routine enough to be done daily or weekly like MPS/MRP.  Most systems like BPCS 
are down monthly for period rolls in addition to daily processing.  While the 
AS/400 is active 24/7 it isn't available for transaction processing.  A 
manufacturer requiring high availability transaction processing must either 
have a high availability solution for their entire AS/400 like MIMIX, or be 
able to process and validate transactions off line.

DistinctRF by Distinct Solutions uses the AS/400 and an NT server to maintain 
uninterrupted transaction processing.  With BPCS, CIM in older versions and 
SMG's in 6.04+, transactions are collected and validated in real time and 
processed real time when the AS/400 is available.  Or the transactions are 
stored when the AS/400 is not available and processed when the AS/400 becomes 
available.  The data validation occurs on the NT box using tables created using 
FTP from the AS/400.  Critical data elements from files like ILI, ILM, ILN, 
IWM, etc. are replicated continuously with net change data with little load on 
the AS/400.  Transaction sets (menus)  are loaded on the RF scanners using 
DistinctRF.  These menus are user created and maintained, and eliminate the 
load on the AS/400 that terminal emulation would create.  When the AS/400 is 
not available, the user with an RF scanner is still able to process 
transactions uninterrupted unlike terminal emulation. 

Unlimited facilities can be tied to the NT server using 14.4 telephone lines 
supporting hundreds of RF devices.  The ability to administer the entire RF 
network centrally is a benefit to most AS/400 support groups.  The ability to 
load the RF device over the RF network with its transaction set is a benefit 
for the user eliminating carting it back to the computer room for 
reprogramming.  

DistinctRF is a functional and economic answer to high availability transaction 
processing and RF network administration.  If you have some interest or 
questions about DistinctRF or Distinct Solutions, my contact information is 
below.

Jim Raper
Distinct Solutions
804-914-3212
jraper@distinctsolutions.com
-----Original Message-----
From:   jeff stevens [SMTP:jstevens@gssolutions.com]
Sent:   Thursday, October 14, 1999 12:09 PM
To:     'BPCS-L@midrange.com'
Cc:     'jstevens@gssolutions.com'
Subject:        Data Collection

We are an SSA AS/400 business partner and are currently working with a 
client locally who is interested in evaluating data collection software 
packages that can interface with BPCS and preferably runs native on the 
AS/400.

Our company sells data collection hardware, but we do not get involved 
selling or implementing data collection software packages.

We are familiar with DCServ a potential solution.  Can anyone suggest 
additional software packages that my client would be interested in 
evaluating?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Jeff Stevens
G/S Software Solutions
Ph:  (616) 956-1121
Fx:  (616) 956-6681
jstevens@gssolutions.com


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