Mobile Supply Chain Applications Overview

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Overview of Mobile Supply Chain Applications
• Mobile Supply Chain Applications User Interface
• Mobile Manufacturing
• Mobile Quality
• Mobile Materials Management
• Enterprise Asset Management
• Shop Floor Management

Overview of Mobile Supply Chain Applications

The demand for accurate, real-time information throughout the supply chain has created mobile computing for manufacturing. Oracle Mobile Supply Chain Applications supports the interface of a mobile client device with a networked computer system. This application provides the ability to perform shop floor and warehouse transactions from any location in a facility using wireless radio frequency devices that can be hand-held, wearable, ring scanner systems, and lift truck mounted. You can perform data entry functions both manually and with a barcode scanner.

Default values enable ease of use and accuracy and while performing supply chain and shop floor transactions. Transactions entered through mobile applications can be processed either immediately (on-line transactions) or asynchronously.

As shown in this illustration, Oracle's Internet Computing Architecture supports mobile Internet devices by providing a user interface for wireless devices that support a Telnet client.

Internet Computing Architecture

Through the use of standard Internet technologies in concert with Oracle Internet platform products, Oracle Mobile Supply Chain Applications has the following features:

• The Mobile Server enables you to perform Oracle Application transactions using the Telnet Protocol Server. Information is sent from mobile industrial devices to the Telnet Listener. The information is processed and updated in the application database.

• You can create Work in Process shop floor transactions such as moves, issues, and returns using mobile devices. You can also view job, line and material status.

• Mobile devices enable you to enter inventory transactions at the point of use. Recording transactions in this way avoids duplicate data entry, and mobile device scanning can improve data entry accuracy.

• You can perform quality collection plan queries, enter data, and record the results of tests in a single business process. You are able to query up any specification created in Oracle Quality whether it is an item specification, supplier specification, or a customer specification.

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Mobile Applications Server

The Oracle Mobile Supply Chain Applications Server enables you to perform transactions using the Telnet Protocol Server. The Mobile Supply Chain Applications Server module has two sub-modules:

• Telnet Protocol Handler— functions as the communication module between the client and the rest of the Telnet.

• Presentation Manager—implements the telnet protocol that actually renders the user interface on the connected telnet client.

The Oracle Mobile Applications Server can be configured to fit the needs of your organization including starting the server on multiple nodes, specifying the ports used, and specifying the database.

Mobile Supply Chain Applications User Interface

You can view all mobile windows with either the graphical user interface, or the character- mode interface. This guide uses both interfaces interchangeably. The interfaces display the same information, and the graphical user interface displays information similar to the desktop application. The following figures depict the mobile user interfaces.

Mobile Manufacturing

Oracle Mobile Manufacturing provides Oracle Work in Process transactions using mobile devices. You can execute shop floor transactions and business functions including:

• Moving assemblies

• Completing assemblies

• Scrapping and rejecting items and assemblies

• Issuing, returning, and scrapping material

• Work orderless completions and returns

• Flow completion, return, and scrap transactions

• Charging resources

You can also view transaction information including job and line status, material and move transactions, component requirements, job instructions, and resource and component shortages.

Mobile Quality

The Oracle Mobile Quality provides Oracle Quality transactions using mobile devices. You can query any quality collection plan, enter data directly into it, and view specifications. You have the ability to do the following tasks and business functions:

• Collect quality data

• View specifications

• Work in Process transactions

• WIP Work orderless completions

• Flow Manufacturing completions

Mobile Materials Management

Oracle Mobile Materials Management provides Oracle Inventory, Oracle Purchasing receipts, and Oracle Shipping Execution transactions using mobile devices. You have the ability to do the following material functions:

• Receiving

• Inventory transactions and inquiries

• Kanban transactions and inquiries

• Cycle Counting and Physical Inventory

• Pick Confirm

• Ship Confirm

• Intra-organization replenishment

Enterprise Asset Management

Oracle Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) provides the ability to perform material transactions using mobile devices. You have the ability to perform the following material transactions using MSCA:

• Component Issue

• Component Return

• Negative Component Issue

• Negative Component Return

Shop Floor Management

Oracle Shop Floor Management (OSFM) provides the ability to perform material transactions using mobile devices. You have the ability to perform the following material transactions using MSCA:

• Material Issue

• Material Return

• Negative Component Issue

• Negative Component Return