Databases in Manufacturing

Introduction

Databases are the backbone of many manufacturing software information systems. It is in these databases that information for each raw material, product, and components can be archived and retrieved for further evaluation, tracking, and quality control in the manufacturing process. Usually there are many databases in the manufacturing process in which they would become integrated with one another. Primarily they can broken down into three major components in the manufacturing databases. These are Supply Chain Databases, Production Item Databases, and Inventories Databases Each and every one of these databases work together in order to have a fully integrated information system.

 Manufacturing databases, Source: https://repozytorium.biblos.pk.edu.pl/

Supply Chain Databases can come in many forms but it is the all-encompassing term used in the database manufacturing. They include the production item database along with its manufacturing execution system, the production items database, and the inventories of items database. All these databases together along with customer requirements, purchase orders, and supplier management form the supply chain databases and the management software. One of many supply chain databases is made by oracle which is now being integrated into the cloud. Being integrated into the cloud allows these databases to tap into the global supply databases of suppliers that are spread across different countries and regions.

Production Item Databases are databases that are part of the production process. A good example of this database is the bill of materials. The bill of materials is a list of raw materials. These items usually include components, parts of the components or sub-components, and assemblies which are all used to form the final product or end item. These parts that are contained in these databases and provide integrated and intimate information for each part. These can include what kind of part, the part number, the purpose of the part, what its made of, the dimensions of the part, its weight, and any other factors that can help describe the part. Its database management system makes it easier to determine which parts and components and what quantities are needed. They can also be used to Production databases can be used to keep track of all the items that are needed.

Sample Bill of Material, Source: https://www.openbom.com/

It is usually integrated into production systems such as a manufacturing execution system. These manufacturing execution systems provide tracking of real time changes in the productions process. With the database involved it can help to reduce waste, and minimize scrap materials. It minimizes the downtime that is involved in the manufacturing process by increasing the decision-making time in ordering and valuing each part of the process. It can also offer insight into the trends of products that are in stock and help control in its inventory.

Inventories of Items Databases are used for tracking of inventories, orders, delivers and sales. They are also used for work orders. They are usually used in warehouses or in manufacturing locations to keep track of all the items that are involved in the manufacturing process. Some of the advantages of inventory databases include cost savings that eliminate unnecessary or underused parts. As well as parts that most used which can be ordered right away. There is increased automation which increases the efficiency and organizes the items in their perspective locations. Work orders can be used to generate order fulfillments. These can be further broken down into categories such as an Engineer to Order, build to order, and Assemble to order. An Engineer to order is a product that is entirely built to custom design by the customer and their own specifications. Specifications made by the customer is inputted into the database which then helps keep track of the custom specifications in case the customer orders it again or there is a similar product and parts that can be used in the final product. A build to order is a standard base design product that is further manufactured on top of a customer’s specifications. Databases help ensure that base parts are in inventory and can be utilized to made the final product.

Databases in manufacturing helps manage the parts, components, and inventories of specific assemblies. It stores a large amount of information that is needed to provide the necessary information for efficiency, automation, and quick decision making in the manufacturing process. The supply chain database is the ecosystem that is used to provide the information about the whole process of the manufacturing system. The inventories database is primarily used for the exact parts and inventories of each part and what needs ordering. Together these systems help a business maintain efficiencies in order to help it grow and maintain a competitive advantage.