Case Studies Select Harvests Solves PLC Integration with RF-SMART Automation

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	Select Harvests Solves PLC Integration with RF-SMART Automation

Select Harvests Solves PLC Integration with RF-SMART Automation

Technology Category	Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP) Functional Applications - Inventory Management Systems Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Applicable Industries	Agriculture Food & Beverage
Applicable Functions	Process Manufacturing Warehouse & Inventory Management
Use Cases	Inventory Management Predictive Maintenance Warehouse Automation
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration
Challenge	Before implementing JD Edwards and RF-SMART, Select Harvests automatically recorded product as it arrived in their facility across weighbridges. Production receipts were then generated out of PLCs, and all data was integrated into their production floor as stock moved through their facility. However, the addition of JD Edwards posed a challenge: either replace all automation with systems that would integrate to JDE, or find a way to integrate the existing systems into JDE. In searching for a solution, the team at Select Harvests compared several options, but it was RF-SMART that allowed them to move forward with their JDE implementation and continue using their automation machines. “The value of RF-SMART is that it provides both the automation and data acquisition that we were looking to combine,” said Peter Holman, Group IT Manager. “It simplified the business problem of getting data into JD Edwards.” Read More
About Customer	Select Harvests is one of Australia’s largest almond growers and the country’s leading manufacturer, processor, and marketer of nut products. They also export products globally. A corporate initiative to update to a universally implemented ERP prompted the selection of JD Edwards. Needing a way to integrate their existing automation technology – primarily PLCs – Select Harvests looked to RF-SMART. The company has a significant presence in the food and beverage industry, particularly in the agriculture sector, and is known for its extensive operations and large-scale production capabilities. With a focus on efficiency and innovation, Select Harvests continually seeks to improve its processes and maintain its competitive edge in the market. Read More
Solution	As machine integration was a requirement for go-live, Select Harvests found that implementing RF-SMART was a much simpler project to tackle. “What’s nice about RF-SMART is that we just had to connect it to what’s on our shop floor. There was no in-depth analysis required as to how to handle the data,” Peter said. “It was easy, and it worked.” RF-SMART now receives transactions as they come across the weighbridges. In fact, whether weighing stock as it comes into the plant, handling material issues, or creating work orders in the processing facility, all transactions run through RF-SMART Automation. “Without the automation module, we would be doing manual completions against the work orders in JD Edwards, which would be very difficult to keep up, or we would have to create our own interface,” said Peter. “With RF-SMART, we acquired an entire set of mobile transactions that support our processes.” Aside from the Automation Module, Select Harvests is running RF-SMART at their primary processing and packing facility to control the movement of inventory. Since Select Harvests uses process manufacturing, RF-SMART provides work order completions for by-products and co-products. Using mobile transactions for purchase order receiving, inventory transfers and picking, RF-SMART is allowing Select Harvests to create operational efficiencies. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)

Functional Applications - Inventory Management Systems

Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems

Applicable Industries

Agriculture

Food & Beverage

Applicable Functions

Process Manufacturing

Warehouse & Inventory Management

Use Cases

Inventory Management

Predictive Maintenance

Warehouse Automation

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Challenge

Before implementing JD Edwards and RF-SMART, Select Harvests automatically recorded product as it arrived in their facility across weighbridges. Production receipts were then generated out of PLCs, and all data was integrated into their production floor as stock moved through their facility. However, the addition of JD Edwards posed a challenge: either replace all automation with systems that would integrate to JDE, or find a way to integrate the existing systems into JDE. In searching for a solution, the team at Select Harvests compared several options, but it was RF-SMART that allowed them to move forward with their JDE implementation and continue using their automation machines. “The value of RF-SMART is that it provides both the automation and data acquisition that we were looking to combine,” said Peter Holman, Group IT Manager. “It simplified the business problem of getting data into JD Edwards.”

About Customer

Select Harvests is one of Australia’s largest almond growers and the country’s leading manufacturer, processor, and marketer of nut products. They also export products globally. A corporate initiative to update to a universally implemented ERP prompted the selection of JD Edwards. Needing a way to integrate their existing automation technology – primarily PLCs – Select Harvests looked to RF-SMART. The company has a significant presence in the food and beverage industry, particularly in the agriculture sector, and is known for its extensive operations and large-scale production capabilities. With a focus on efficiency and innovation, Select Harvests continually seeks to improve its processes and maintain its competitive edge in the market.

Solution

As machine integration was a requirement for go-live, Select Harvests found that implementing RF-SMART was a much simpler project to tackle. “What’s nice about RF-SMART is that we just had to connect it to what’s on our shop floor. There was no in-depth analysis required as to how to handle the data,” Peter said. “It was easy, and it worked.” RF-SMART now receives transactions as they come across the weighbridges. In fact, whether weighing stock as it comes into the plant, handling material issues, or creating work orders in the processing facility, all transactions run through RF-SMART Automation. “Without the automation module, we would be doing manual completions against the work orders in JD Edwards, which would be very difficult to keep up, or we would have to create our own interface,” said Peter. “With RF-SMART, we acquired an entire set of mobile transactions that support our processes.” Aside from the Automation Module, Select Harvests is running RF-SMART at their primary processing and packing facility to control the movement of inventory. Since Select Harvests uses process manufacturing, RF-SMART provides work order completions for by-products and co-products. Using mobile transactions for purchase order receiving, inventory transfers and picking, RF-SMART is allowing Select Harvests to create operational efficiencies.

Impact #1	By using RF-SMART for transactions such as Manufacturing Return to Stock, employees just scan and weigh, triggering JD Edwards transactions and maintaining operational efficiency.
Impact #2	The team utilizes Print Suite Bridge to streamline the label process, allowing users to select the label and printer easily, keeping JD Edwards clean and free of modifications.
Impact #3	RF-SMART provides the flexibility needed to meet new challenges as the business evolves, supporting financial transactions and enabling the company to maintain efficiency without extensive modifications.

Impact #1

By using RF-SMART for transactions such as Manufacturing Return to Stock, employees just scan and weigh, triggering JD Edwards transactions and maintaining operational efficiency.

Impact #2

The team utilizes Print Suite Bridge to streamline the label process, allowing users to select the label and printer easily, keeping JD Edwards clean and free of modifications.

Impact #3

RF-SMART provides the flexibility needed to meet new challenges as the business evolves, supporting financial transactions and enabling the company to maintain efficiency without extensive modifications.

Benefit #1	600,000 transactions processed through RF-SMART Automation this year.

Benefit #1

600,000 transactions processed through RF-SMART Automation this year.

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Overview

Select Harvests Solves PLC Integration with RF-SMART Automation

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit