COMPUTER-INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING -- Out With the Old?

The drawback to this approach is that information about the processing of a job typically isn't entered until after a step is completed, Walsh notes. Even so, he still sees a need for this type of portal as the industry moves toward direct connectivity via JDF with real-time reporting. As long as human operators are still involved in the process, they will want a means to provide explanations for why a job goes off schedule, Walsh believes.