Cell Configuration Guide
Learn how to configure and manage production cells in Attainment Tracker for optimal tracking and analytics
Production cells are the foundation of Attainment Tracker. This guide will walk you through setting up, configuring, and managing cells for accurate production tracking and analytics.
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Cell configuration dashboard showing multiple cells
What is a Production Cell?
A production cell is any defined work area where manufacturing takes place. In Attainment Tracker, a cell represents:
- A specific workstation or machine
- An area with consistent workflow
- A trackable unit of production
- A point where operators record data
Examples of cells:
- CNC machine #5
- Assembly line station 3
- Welding booth A
- Packaging workstation
- Quality inspection area
Cell Management Overview
Accessing Cell Configuration
- Log in to Attainment Tracker Admin Dashboard
- Navigate to โ๏ธ Settings โ Cells
- View list of all configured cells
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Navigation path to cell configuration
Cell List View
The cell list shows all configured cells with key information:
- Cell Name: Identifier for the cell
- Status: ๐ข Active, ๐ก Idle, ๐ด Down, โช Offline
- Assigned Operator: Current operator (if any)
- Current Part: Part number being produced
- Todayโs Output: Parts completed today
- OEE: Current OEE percentage
- Last Activity: Timestamp of last recorded action
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Cell list with multiple cells showing different statuses
Creating a New Cell
Step-by-Step Cell Creation
Step 1: Click โ+ Add Cellโ
- From the Cells page, click + Add Cell button
- Cell configuration form opens
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Add cell button highlighted
Step 2: Basic Information
Cell Name (Required)
- Unique identifier for the cell
- Keep it short and descriptive
- Examples: โCNC-05โ, โAssembly-A3โ, โWeld-B1โ
- Best practice: Use naming convention (Department-Type-Number)
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Cell name input field with example
Cell Description (Optional)
- More detailed description of what the cell does
- Example: โ5-axis CNC machining center for aluminum partsโ
- Helps new operators understand the cell purpose
Department (Required)
- Select from dropdown or create new:
- Machining
- Assembly
- Welding
- Packaging
- Quality Control
- Custom departments
Location/Facility (Required if multi-facility)
- Select which facility this cell belongs to
- Important for multi-site deployments
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Basic information section of form filled out
Step 3: Production Configuration
Target Cycle Time (Required)
- Expected time to complete one part (in seconds)
- Used for OEE calculations and pace tracking
- Example: 120 seconds per part
- Can be part-specific (configure later)
Shift Schedule (Required)
- Select the shift pattern for this cell:
- Single shift (8 hours)
- Two shifts (16 hours)
- Three shifts (24 hours)
- Custom schedule
Capacity (Optional)
- Maximum parts per hour
- Used for capacity planning
- Example: 30 parts/hour
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Production configuration section
Step 4: Quality Settings
Quality Tracking (Toggle)
- โ Enable to track scrap and rework at this cell
- Configure acceptable scrap rate threshold
- Example: Alert when scrap rate >5%
Inspection Required (Toggle)
- โ Enable if parts require quality inspection
- Sets up quality hold workflow
- Notifies quality team
First Article Inspection (Toggle)
- โ Require FAI when starting new job
- Ensures quality before full production run
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Quality settings toggles and thresholds
Step 5: Downtime Configuration
Downtime Reasons Enable relevant downtime categories for this cell:
- โ Machine Issues
- โ Tooling
- โ Material Shortage
- โ Operator (breaks, training)
- โ Changeover
- โ Quality Issues
- โ Maintenance
- โ Custom reasons
Downtime Thresholds Set alert thresholds:
- Alert after: 10 minutes of unplanned downtime
- Escalate after: 30 minutes of downtime
- Notify: Supervisor, Maintenance (select roles)
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Downtime configuration with categories and thresholds
Step 6: Device & Operator Settings
Operator Assignment
- โ Require operator login at this cell
- โ Allow multiple operators (if team-based cell)
- โ Track operator-specific metrics
Device Configuration
- Number of devices assigned: (auto-populated after enrollment)
- Preferred device type: Tablet / Smartphone / Desktop
- Offline mode: โ Enabled (recommended)
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Operator and device settings
Step 7: Integrations (Advanced)
Machine Integration (if available)
- Connect to machine PLCs or controllers
- Enable automatic part counting
- Configure I/O mappings
Barcode Scanning
- โ Enable barcode scanning for part numbers
- โ Enable barcode scanning for operator badges
- Configure scanner type (camera / dedicated scanner)
ERP Integration
- โ Sync work orders from ERP
- โ Push production data to ERP
- Configure sync frequency
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Integrations section showing options
Step 8: Review & Create
- Review all settings
- Click Create Cell
- Cell is now active and ready for use
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Review summary before creating cell
Configuring Existing Cells
Editing Cell Settings
- From Cells list, click the cell you want to edit
- Click โ๏ธ Edit Configuration
- Modify any settings
- Click Save Changes
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Edit cell button and configuration panel
Part-Specific Settings
Some settings can vary by part number:
Configuring Part Numbers
- Open cell configuration
- Navigate to Parts tab
- Click + Add Part
For each part, configure:
- Part Number: Unique identifier
- Part Description: What is it?
- Target Cycle Time: Time per part (overrides cell default)
- Target Quantity: Expected output per shift
- Work Instructions: Link to documentation or upload PDF
- Quality Requirements: Specific inspection criteria
- Tooling Required: List of tools needed
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Part configuration form with multiple parts listed
Cell Templates
Save time by creating templates for similar cells.
Creating a Template
- Configure a cell with all desired settings
- Click โฎ More โ Save as Template
- Name your template (e.g., โStandard CNC Configurationโ)
- Select which settings to include in template
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Save as template dialog
Using a Template
- Click + Add Cell
- Select Use Template
- Choose from your saved templates
- Customize cell-specific details (name, location, etc.)
- Click Create Cell
Templates save time when setting up multiple similar cells!
Cell Status & Monitoring
Understanding Cell Status
Cell Status Indicators:
๐ข Running (Green)
- Operator logged in
- Actively producing parts
- No active downtime
๐ก Idle (Yellow)
- Operator logged in but not producing
- No active work order
- Waiting for job assignment
๐ด Down (Red)
- Active downtime recorded
- Production stopped
- Requires attention
โช Offline (Gray)
- No operator logged in
- Device not connected
- Outside of scheduled shift
๐ต Setup (Blue)
- Changeover in progress
- Not yet producing
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Cell status indicators in different states
Real-Time Cell Monitoring
View live cell data from the dashboard:
Production Metrics
- Parts produced (current shift)
- Target vs. actual
- Pace (ahead/behind schedule)
- Cycle time (actual vs. target)
Downtime Tracking
- Current downtime duration
- Total downtime (shift)
- Downtime by reason (Pareto chart)
Quality Metrics
- Scrap count and rate
- Rework count
- First pass yield
Operator Info
- Who is currently working
- Shift start time
- Efficiency rating
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Cell monitoring dashboard with real-time metrics
Cell Groups & Organization
Creating Cell Groups
Organize cells into logical groups for easier management:
Examples of Cell Groups:
- By department (Machining, Assembly, Packaging)
- By product line (Product A cells, Product B cells)
- By shift (Day shift cells, Night shift cells)
- By building/area (Building 1, Building 2)
Creating a Group:
- Go to Cells โ Groups
- Click + Create Group
- Name the group
- Select cells to include
- Save
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Cell group creation interface
Using Cell Groups
Benefits:
- Filter dashboards by group
- Run reports for specific groups
- Apply bulk settings changes
- Compare group performance
Advanced Configuration
OEE Calculation Settings
Customize how OEE is calculated for each cell:
Availability
- Planned production time vs. actual runtime
- Exclude planned downtime (breaks, changeovers)
- Include/exclude setup time
Performance
- Ideal cycle time vs. actual cycle time
- Factor in minor stoppages
- Small losses threshold
Quality
- Good parts vs. total parts
- Include scrap and rework
- First pass yield calculation
๐ธ Screenshot needed: OEE calculation settings
Alert Configuration
Set up automated alerts for each cell:
Production Alerts
- Behind schedule by: 15 minutes
- Cycle time exceeds target by: 20%
- No activity for: 10 minutes (during scheduled shift)
Quality Alerts
- Scrap rate exceeds: 5%
- Consecutive scrap parts: 3
- Rework rate exceeds: 10%
Downtime Alerts
- Downtime duration exceeds: 10 minutes
- Specific downtime reasons (e.g., machine breakdown)
- Recurring downtime patterns
Who to Notify:
- Supervisor (email, SMS, in-app)
- Department manager
- Maintenance team (for specific alerts)
- Operator (on-device notification)
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Alert configuration with multiple alert types
Shift Configuration
Define shift schedules for accurate tracking:
Standard Shifts
- Navigate to cell configuration
- Go to Shifts tab
- Select shift pattern:
- Day Shift: 6:00 AM - 2:30 PM
- Afternoon Shift: 2:30 PM - 11:00 PM
- Night Shift: 11:00 PM - 6:00 AM
Custom Shifts
- Define start and end times
- Configure break times (excluded from production time)
- Set lunch periods (planned downtime)
- Weekend/holiday schedules
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Shift schedule configuration calendar
Cell Performance Analytics
Viewing Cell Analytics
- Select a cell from the list
- Click ๐ Analytics tab
- View comprehensive performance data
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Cell analytics dashboard
Key Metrics Displayed:
OEE Trends
- Daily/weekly/monthly OEE
- Trend line (improving/declining)
- Comparison to facility average
Production Output
- Total parts by shift/day/week
- Target attainment percentage
- Output variance analysis
Downtime Analysis
- Pareto chart of downtime reasons
- MTTR (Mean Time To Repair)
- MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures)
- Planned vs. unplanned downtime
Quality Performance
- Scrap rate trends
- Top defect types
- First pass yield
- Cost of poor quality
Operator Performance (aggregated, not individual)
- Average cycle time by shift
- Efficiency by shift
- Most common issues by shift
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Each analytics section (OEE trends, downtime pareto, quality metrics)
Troubleshooting Cell Configuration
Common Issues
Problem: Cell not appearing in operator interface
Solutions:
- โ Verify cell status is โActiveโ
- โ Check that device is enrolled to correct cell
- โ Ensure cell is assigned to correct facility
- โ Refresh operator device
Problem: OEE calculations seem incorrect
Solutions:
- โ Verify target cycle time is accurate
- โ Check shift schedule configuration
- โ Ensure planned downtime is properly categorized
- โ Review quality settings (scrap counting)
Problem: Alerts not triggering
Solutions:
- โ Verify alert thresholds are configured
- โ Check notification recipients are set
- โ Ensure email/SMS settings are correct
- โ Review alert history for delivery issues
Problem: Data not syncing to ERP
Solutions:
- โ Verify integration is enabled
- โ Check API credentials are valid
- โ Review sync logs for errors
- โ Confirm network connectivity
Best Practices
โ Cell Configuration Doโs
-
Use consistent naming conventions across all cells
- Good: โCNC-01โ, โCNC-02โ, โASSY-01โ
- Bad: โMachine 1โ, โNew CNCโ, โThe assembly stationโ
-
Set realistic target cycle times
- Base on actual data, not theoretical ideal
- Update as processes improve
- Use part-specific times when possible
-
Configure appropriate downtime categories
- Enable only relevant categories
- Train operators on when to use each
- Review and refine based on actual usage
-
Set meaningful alert thresholds
- Not too sensitive (alert fatigue)
- Not too loose (miss important issues)
- Adjust based on experience
-
Document cell-specific requirements
- Add work instructions for complex cells
- Include troubleshooting guides
- Link to equipment manuals
-
Regular review and optimization
- Review cell performance monthly
- Update settings based on changes
- Archive inactive cells (donโt delete)
โ Common Configuration Mistakes
-
โ Using same cycle time for all parts
- Different parts have different processing times
- Leads to inaccurate OEE and pace tracking
-
โ Not configuring shift schedules properly
- Breaks and lunches count as downtime if not excluded
- OEE calculations will be incorrect
-
โ Too many downtime categories
- Operators wonโt use them correctly
- Data becomes meaningless
- Stick to 5-8 core categories
-
โ Forgetting to assign devices after cell creation
- Cell configured but not usable
- Operators canโt log in
-
โ Not testing configuration before going live
- Problems discovered during production
- Frustration for operators
- Always test with dummy data first
Cell Configuration Checklist
Use this checklist when setting up a new cell:
Pre-Configuration
- Cell location identified and named
- Department determined
- Shift schedule known
- Target cycle times researched
- Downtime categories identified
- Quality requirements understood
During Configuration
- Basic information entered
- Production settings configured
- Quality tracking set up
- Downtime categories enabled
- Alert thresholds set
- Operator assignment rules configured
- Integrations connected (if needed)
Post-Configuration
- Test cell with dummy data
- Enroll device to cell
- Train operators on cell usage
- Verify data appears in dashboard
- Test alerts trigger correctly
- Document cell-specific procedures
- Add work instructions/drawings
- Review initial week of data and adjust
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Printable configuration checklist
Need Help?
Configuration Support:
- Documentation: /docs
- Video Tutorials: Cell setup walkthroughs
- Support Chat: In-app support
- Email: support@swiptools.com
Tips:
- Start with one cell and refine before rolling out to all cells
- Use templates to maintain consistency
- Involve operators in configuration process
- Review and adjust settings based on real usage
๐ธ Screenshot needed: Support resources quick reference card
Screenshots