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Post by wvengineer on Oct 19, 2014 15:55:57 GMT
Has anyone ever worked with Databases?
Part of my new job is collecting production data and generating several reports for various functions of the factory. This is a very tedious and time consuming process that involve reentering data several times into multiple spreadsheets. I would like to build a way to automate this.
My first thought was to try using Access. I am familiar with Excel and Access is included on our work computers as part of MS Office.
I haven't touched Access since Access 97 in high school, over 15 years ago.
How hard is Access to pick up?
Are there better systems out there?, If so, what?
What resources are available to learn a modern database program basically from scratch?
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Post by the light works on Oct 19, 2014 22:34:59 GMT
Has anyone ever worked with Databases? Part of my new job is collecting production data and generating several reports for various functions of the factory. This is a very tedious and time consuming process that involve reentering data several times into multiple spreadsheets. I would like to build a way to automate this. My first thought was to try using Access. I am familiar with Excel and Access is included on our work computers as part of MS Office. I haven't touched Access since Access 97 in high school, over 15 years ago. How hard is Access to pick up? Are there better systems out there?, If so, what? What resources are available to learn a modern database program basically from scratch? you are more knowledgeable about it than I am. the last database I used was made obsolete when Windows 3.1 came out. |
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Post by GTCGreg on Oct 20, 2014 0:59:10 GMT
Unless you're trying to do something extreme, I'd just stick with Access. You already have it, there's lots of help available if you need it and you can output queries directly into Excel spreadsheets and Word documents. The little I've see of Access, it didn't seem too complicated to set up. If you're looking for something that has automatic data acquisition, you may want to go with something like LabView. |
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Post by memeengine on Oct 21, 2014 16:34:31 GMT
Has anyone ever worked with Databases? Part of my new job is collecting production data and generating several reports for various functions of the factory. This is a very tedious and time consuming process that involve reentering data several times into multiple spreadsheets. I would like to build a way to automate this. My first thought was to try using Access. I am familiar with Excel and Access is included on our work computers as part of MS Office. I haven't touched Access since Access 97 in high school, over 15 years ago. How hard is Access to pick up? Are there better systems out there?, If so, what? What resources are available to learn a modern database program basically from scratch? As an alternative to Access have you looked at SQL Server Express? It's basically a free version of the Microsoft SQL Server database. You can get a download that includes the SQL Server Management Studio, which gives you a GUI tool to create and manage your database. Excel can easily read SQL Server databases and the Microsoft .Net languages have a variety of different ways to access and manipulate the data. Alternatively, if you don't like the Microsoft route, there's also MySQL which is a free open-source database. It has the potential advantage of running on both Unix and Windows. Lots of online resources and code samples are available for both of these databases. |
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Post by wvengineer on Oct 21, 2014 23:25:10 GMT
I want to use the database to automate a bunch of scrap reporting that I do for my new job.
What we currently have is operators write up paper reports for their production work that contains part numbers, scrap, work produced, and other data. I currently manually take their reports and enter them into 4 different spreadsheets that do different things. I have to enter the same thing 4 different places.
1. I take the reports and cross reference part numbers for the component parts that things are built from.
2. Component numbers combined to create a report of what need removed from the inventory system.
3. The production numbers are sorted to generate a report of machine production rates.
4. Production numbers also used to generate a report on how much scrap is produced and what are the various causes.
My idea is to build up something where the reports can be entered into a database and all the various cross referencing, sorting, and calculations can be done automatically to generate the various reports needed. The ideal system would be setup so that we can have a computer out on the shop floor where operators can enter in their reports directly so we can eliminate the paper reports entirely. The system would then generate all the reports I need and all I need to do is to call up the reports and then I can enter the results in the inventory control system which is a completely separate program.
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Post by the light works on Oct 22, 2014 2:31:23 GMT
I want to use the database to automate a bunch of scrap reporting that I do for my new job. What we currently have is operators write up paper reports for their production work that contains part numbers, scrap, work produced, and other data. I currently manually take their reports and enter them into 4 different spreadsheets that do different things. I have to enter the same thing 4 different places. 1. I take the reports and cross reference part numbers for the component parts that things are built from. 2. Component numbers combined to create a report of what need removed from the inventory system. 3. The production numbers are sorted to generate a report of machine production rates. 4. Production numbers also used to generate a report on how much scrap is produced and what are the various causes. My idea is to build up something where the reports can be entered into a database and all the various cross referencing, sorting, and calculations can be done automatically to generate the various reports needed. The ideal system would be setup so that we can have a computer out on the shop floor where operators can enter in their reports directly so we can eliminate the paper reports entirely. The system would then generate all the reports I need and all I need to do is to call up the reports and then I can enter the results in the inventory control system which is a completely separate program. was gonna say it sounded like what you need is an inventory control system until that last line. really, I'd think about integrating the spreadsheets better. |
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Post by wvengineer on Oct 22, 2014 10:12:49 GMT
We do have an inventory control system, but that is the best of 1988.
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Post by the light works on Oct 22, 2014 14:48:24 GMT
We do have an inventory control system, but that is the best of 1988. then maybe you should be leaning on them to upgrade their system. |
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Post by silverdragon on Oct 27, 2014 13:08:33 GMT
Many databases have the option to "Remote lookup", as long as the data is output by one spreadsheet, it can be bought in by another.
Some can be remotely accessed as long as they are in memory, some are programmed to generate an output file of pure data, there are many different ways to share data between sheets....
Is there a way that on the entry of the data to the fist spreadsheet it can be prepared as an output variable to be incorporated by each new sheet on your system...?... if not, why not.
1988 is a long way back, and being able to remember the state of technology way back then, I think I may have been using Lotus back then, and even then that was considered "Old"?......
One headache I had was trying to get 250charaters of data preparation down to one line to generate one cell of information as the limit was 180characters long on that technology...
Took three weeks.
I suggest as part of your "New" job you should have the conversation as to what can be done to improve data flow throughout the whole system.
Making great of the fact of multiple entries of the same data and how risky that is for
mistakes to be made.....
Perhaps they may realise they need to update.
Perhaps you are the catalyst needed to make that call.
Sometimes they dont know they need it until someone tells them they need it...
Case in point, one place I unload at early in the morning has a new floodlight....
All it is, is a simple motion activated security light, that has been set as a low sensitivity... as it in takes something the size of as vehicle to trigger it.
That then triggers a 10 min floodlight that floods the delivery bay (Aimed away from the cab) enough that you can back a truck up without having to do so on Braille alone....
[back---back----back----back----THUMP---That will do...]
The owners had not been there that early and had no idea how dark it was.
A Simple photograph of a very dark nature and "Can we have a new light please?..."
That bought a "Of course you can... is it really that dark there at that time?... I didnt know..."
Perhaps your Boss is unaware of the problem...
....it also may be "Below his pay grade" to know such things?...
I suggest an immediate upgrade of software.
And if you are using a system that is pre-windbodge XP, remind them that even XP is now out of support, and therefore a security risk.
Scare the crud out of them on how hopeless the system is.... spend time collecting what to you may be obvious but to them unknown risks to data and put a good case to them.
Doing that always looks good on your work record......
Plus with new corporate software you may get a "Free" training session on how to use it?...
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