Richard Mason

Predictive maintenance, autonomous robotics, and data analytics - explore how harnessing AI in manufacturing can transform assembly process efficiency and precision.

Understanding the Impact of AI in Manufacturing

Breaking new grounds, AI emerges as a transformative power reshaping the industrial production landscape. It's a trailblazer, influencing procedures with profound efficiency improvements, superior quality control, and streamlined supply chain management.

Every AI advancement echoes across shop floors, cutting-edge software systems, and beyond, bringing modifications to existing manufacturing guidelines. An impressive orchestra of tech-enhancements instigating a prolific influence on output quality and speed.

Enhancing Efficiency and Productivity

The pervasive infusion of AI technology into the manufacturing landscape has greatly amplified efficiency and productivity. Notably, AI has transformed the assembly process, charting new territories in manufacturing speed and precision.

• Use of AI-enhanced systems for faster, improved product assembly
• Employment of AI algorithms for optimizing production scheduling
• Adoption of AI for continual refinement of manufacturing tasks

Improving Quality Control and Precision

Artificial Intelligence plays a crucial role in promoting ultra-precision and quality in fabrication, setting a new standard in manufacturing. By harnessing this technology, advanced flaw detection and quality management become more achievable, thereby enhancing product reliability.

• Utilize AI-driven machines for fine-tuned and accurate component modeling
• Employ AI algorithms for to monitor and identify fabrication defects not detectable to the human eye
• Incorporate AI-based analysis for comprehensive quality checks
• Leverage AI-powered systems for predictive analysis of product lifespan and performance
• Adopt AI-enabled inspection techniques for reducing human error and increasing objectivity

Streamlining Supply Chain Management

AI has evolved as a game-changer in managing production logistics and supply chains, effectively orchestrating operations to ensure smooth, optimized processes. The application of AI in supply chain management has brought about unprecedented efficiency, visibility, and responsiveness, elevating the standards of the manufacturing sector.

• Maximization of efficiency through AI-enabled forecasting and decision-making
• Improved visibility with real-time data analysis and tracking
• Increased responsiveness by autonomously adjusting to changes in demand or supply
• Reduction of waste and oversupply through predictive analytics
• Enhanced supplier relations through automated communication and negotiation
• Lower operational costs by identifying bottlenecks and improvement areas

Key Applications of AI in Manufacturing

Artificial intelligence is infusing the manufacturing spectrum with promising applications like predictive maintenance, driving cost efficiency by predicting machine breakdowns before they occur. Meanwhile, autonomous cobots are revolutionizing floor operations, increasing throughput and reducing the risk of workplace accidents. Intelligent inventory management systems, built on AI algorithms, cater to timely procurement, optimized stock levels, and forecasting demand. Furthermore, the uptake of AI-enabled data analytics tools is facilitating manufacturers to unearth deep insights, make informed decisions, and uplift performance metrics.

Predictive Maintenance

The use of AI in predictive maintenance is redefining the manufacturing landscape. Through data-driven predictions, AI can identify maintenance needs before they cause downtime, markedly improving production efficiency and reducing repair costs.

The AI-enabled predictive maintenance is a groundbreaking solution, turning data into powerful preventative strategies, optimizing workflows, and slashing repair costs.

AI-driven predictive maintenance is revolutionizing manufacturing. By transforming vast amounts of data into actionable insights, it allows for unprecedented efficiency in catching potential issues, eliminating guesswork, and ensuring smooth operation of equipment at all times.

Autonomous Robotics

Artificial Intelligence is steering the course of Autonomous Robotics, crafting a revolutionary manufacturing paradigm. With capabilities ranging from seamless assembly to precise welding, AI-powered robotics enhance speed and accuracy, reducing human-induced errors.

Unleashed by AI, Autonomous Robotics is redefining the shop floor experience, serving as a testament to enhanced productivity and efficiency. Advanced sensory perception, responsive actions, and adaptive learning promise a future where these robots become manufacturing teammates rather than mere tools.

Intelligent Inventory Management

Unleashing AI innovations in inventory management has transformative benefits, reshaping the traditionally slow, manual logistical processes into automated, intelligent systems. The ability to anticipate, adapt, and maintain optimal inventory levels is a game-changer for manufacturers.

Through real-time warehousing data analysis and smart forecasting algorithms, AI is enhancing how manufacturers handle stock and supplies. With AI assisting to reduce overstock, shortages, and supply chain mishaps, manufacturers respond more efficiently to market demands while effectively minimizing costs.

Advanced Data Analytics

The rise of advanced data analytics in AI-powered manufacturing presents an array of opportunities to extract valuable insights from high-volume manufacturing data. Use of AI algorithms allows for automating data interpretation, identifying patterns, and delivering actionable intelligence leading to informed decision-making.

AI dramatically augments the role of data analytics in manufacturing. It enhances processing and correlation of multifaceted data elements, elevating predictive capabilities. As a result, manufacturers can better anticipate equipment failures, adjust operations accordingly, and potentially save on maintenance costs while improving customer satisfaction.

Overcoming Challenges and Risks of AI Implementation

Implementing AI in the manufacturing sector involves a set of crucial challenges and risks. These range from securing data privacy and managing the workforce transition to grappling with ethical considerations related to automation. Preparedness and thorough understanding are essential to navigate this new landscape.

For manufacturers, following a systematic strategy can help mitigate the risks associated with AI implementation. This includes comprehensive workforce training, ensuring rigorous cybersecurity measures, and planning for ethical implications of AI, ultimately fostering a seamless transition to AI-powered manufacturing processes.

Ensuring Data Security and Privacy

As we integrate AI into manufacturing, data security becomes crucial. Advanced authentication measures, encryption methods and secure AI algorithms help ensure data integrity and confidentiality in this new era.

The AI revolution necessitates a balance between innovation and data privacy in manufacturing. Ensuring best practices of anonymizing data, and utilizing privacy-preserving AI models, we can propel the industry forward while safeguarding privacy.

Addressing Ethical Considerations

In regard to navigating ethical complexities in AI-driven manufacturing, it's imperative for companies to employ AI responsibly and transparently, thereby avoiding any misuse. Ensuring equitable decision-making processes becomes paramount when implementing AI in manufacturing.

When incorporating AI into manufacturing, organizations must address ethical implications ranging from equal employment opportunities to potential biases in AI algorithms. Not only does this contribute to a fairer work environment, but it also enhances the company's reputation.

Managing Workforce Transition

To facilitate the workforce transition in the manufacturing sector, AI technologies, such as skill mapping and intelligent automation, are being leveraged. They not only make the process seamless but also ensure that human resources retain their value amidst the automatization.

In the era of AI, managing workforce change requires a promising synergy between humans and AI. Keeping human expertise at the core, AI can be instrumental in enhancing human efforts and decisions, thus mapping the future of manufacturing.

The Future of AI in Manufacturing and Its Competitive Advantage

The future of AI in manufacturing promises a new horizon, packed with limitless potential and transformation. Leveraging advanced technologies can result in predictive analytics, process optimization, and improved product quality, opening up avenues for a competitive edge.

Unlocking the power of AI in the manufacturing industry can give firms a substantial competitive advantage. By digitizing operations and deploying AI solutions, manufacturers can offer exceptional service, tailored product offerings and seamless customer experiences.

• The emergence of hyper-automation - a blend of AI and automation
• Boosting green manufacturing practices with smart, optimized energy usage
• Integration of IoT with machine learning for real-time analytics and decision-making
• Deployment of autonomous robots to ensure precision and workforce safety
• Adoption of advanced data analytics for predicting consumer trends, personalizing products and reducing operational costs

In this training session, we will introduce you to Dashboards and guide you on how to access them.

Accessing Dashboards

Dashboards is an application found within HQ (http://hq.scout.systems). To access it, you will need to have an HQ Account with Report access enabled. Use the email and password associated with your account to log in to HQ.

After logging in, click on the green button located at the top-left corner to access the navigation menu. The white icons indicate the applications you have access to, while the shaded icons indicate applications you don't have access to.

When you click on "Dashboard", it will lead you to the application where you'll get to select which Dashboard and Work Area you would like to review.

Production KPI

Updating every minute, the Production KPI Dashboard provides a comprehensive overview of a factory, featuring a range of industry-standard Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). At the top of the screen, you'll find a row of snapshot statistics, offering information on the total number of Parts and Jobs completed, along with metrics such as First Pass Yield and Overall Equipment Effectiveness. Additionally, the dashboard displays the current status of Active and Paused Stations on the right-hand side.

Moving to the second row, you'll encounter two distinct blocks. The first block showcases Production Output figures, including Parts, Jobs, and Scrap. Adjacent to this, you'll find the Applied Hours section, which highlights the allocation of labor across different tasks. Directly beneath these sections, the Overall Effectiveness of the Work Area is displayed, with arrows indicating whether the metrics are trending in a positive or negative direction.

On the far right of the dashboard lies the visual representation of weighted sources of Production Stops. The size of each block corresponds to the amount of time lost due to that particular reason. If these categories have further sub-reasons configured, clicking on the respective box enables users to zoom in, revealing the sub-reason weights presented in a similar visual format.

ANDON

Updating every minute, the ANDON Dashboard offers users a real-time visual representation of Production Stops. Users have the option to specify a Work Area and can choose to display all stations or solely those that are currently halted. This dynamic tool serves as a visual aid to promptly assess and address any interruptions in production.

The tiles on the ANDON Dashboard are color-coded to indicate their respective statuses. Green tiles signify that value is currently being created, while gray tiles indicate that the Station is in Setup. Blue tiles represent stations with missing materials, and default paused Stations are displayed as orange. HQ Administrators have the capability to configure pause reasons for each Work Area, enabling the setting of unique color codes that will be displayed on this dashboard.

Paused tiles are designed to expand in size, making them more prominent on the ANDON Dashboard. When clicked, these tiles will flip over, revealing additional information related to the specific Work Order associated with that station. This feature provides a convenient way to access detailed insights about the paused production process, aiding in timely decision-making and troubleshooting.

The left side of the screen displays essential metrics related to the support and performance of the production floor, and these metrics are reset every 24 hours. The "Availability" metric represents the overall percentage of time during which value is being created in the Work Area. "Total Down Time" represents the cumulative duration of time lost due to various production stops.

Directly beneath these metrics, users can access information about the "Top Problem" area or issue that has caused the most significant disruptions in production, and the "Lowest Performing Station" that has experienced the lowest efficiency or effectiveness. This information is valuable for support staff as it enables them to prioritize their efforts and interventions effectively to maximize value creation and optimize production processes.

In this training session, we will introduce you to HQ Reports, giving you the knowledge to access and understand the various types of production reports available.

Accessing Reports

Reports is an application found within HQ (http://hq.scout.systems). To access it, you will need to have an HQ Account with Report access enabled. Use the email and password associated with your account to log in to HQ.

After logging in, click on the green button located at the top-left corner to access the navigation menu. The white icons indicate the applications you have access to, while the shaded icons indicate applications you don't have access to.

When you click on "Reports," it will lead you to the application where you'll find four distinct categories of report types.

Unit Reports

Unit Reports are commonly used by users seeking general production data about a specific unit. These reports provide insights into the production cycle times across multiple stations and users. The data retrieved from Unit Reports is highly valuable for enhancing billing and scheduling estimates.

Station Reports

Station Reports are frequently utilized by users aiming to enhance their production processes by gaining detailed insights. These reports offer more granular information and often necessitate the selection of a particular station and operator to delve into precise data for analysis purposes.

Operator Reports

Operator Reports are primarily employed by Production Supervisors and Leads, as they offer insights into the Operators themselves, rather than focusing on specific Units or Stations. The data extracted from these reports aids in cross-training improvement and waste reduction efforts.

Equipment Reports

Equipment Reports are centered around the equipment integrated with Compass, providing performance metrics linked to it. These reports aid companies in optimizing equipment usage for specific units and identifying high-performing Operators who possess valuable tribal knowledge on effectively operating the equipment.

In this training session, we will go over the process of creating and modifying the production schedule using HQ Live Production.

ADD Job

In HQ Live Production, authorized users will notice an "ADD" button located next to "Active Jobs." Clicking this button opens advanced controls, allowing users to create a new job and assign it to a specific station.

To begin creating a job, the initial step involves specifying the Unit that Operators will be responsible for building. Clicking inside the text box triggers a drop-down menu containing all Units with Digital Work Instructions. If the desired Unit is not present in the list, manually entering the name is an option, and the job will be loaded without Instructions. After ensuring the correct Unit is entered, proceed by clicking the green "CONTINUE" button.

The next step is to choose the Work Area to which this job will be assigned. After selecting a Work Area, a list of all recognized Stations in that area will be automatically generated below.

Job Group Number is an optional field that may not be enabled for your selected Work Area. It is often used to represent a Customer, enabling report searches to identify all Work Orders sharing the same number. If this field is visible, it must be filled in as a mandatory input.

After you've entered your Work Order number and specified the Total Units to be built at the Station, scroll to the top of the page and click the "Load Job" button.

Editing a Job

After creating a job, it will show up as an Active Job for the selected stations, and its status will be listed as "Queued." The number following "Queue" indicates its placement in the production schedule. If it's the only job in the queue, it will be labeled as "Queue 1." Only jobs in the Queued status are editable. By clicking on a Queued job, you can reopen the Order Details screen, and the "EDIT" button will be located in the top-right corner.

Reordering a Job

When a station has multiple jobs assigned to it, you'll notice a green "+" sign next to the Station Alias. Clicking on this sign will expand the production schedule for that station. Green arrows will also appear next to all the jobs in the queue. By clicking either the up or down arrow, you can adjust the queued position of a job within the schedule.

In this training session, we will introduce you to HQ Live Production, a centralized platform designed to monitor and manage a factory's operations from a single point of location.

Accessing Live Production

Live Production is an application found within HQ (http://hq.scout.systems). To access it, you need to have an HQ Account with Live Production access enabled. Use the email and password associated with your account to log in to HQ.

After logging in, click on the green button located at the top-left corner to access the navigation menu. The white icons indicate the applications you have access to, while the shaded icons indicate applications you don't have access to.

Understanding Live Production

Live Production offers real-time insights into your factory operations and a summary of the past 24 hours. At the top of the screen, you can view all currently Active Stations or choose a specific work area to narrow down the results to Stations associated with that area.

At the top, you will find details about the Total Stations, indicating whether each station is Active, in Setup, Paused, or Inactive.

Active Jobs

Updating every 15 seconds, the Active Jobs section provides a list of all active stations, showing information about the ongoing production order and its current status. If you see a green "+" icon next to a station, you can click on it to expand the production schedule for that specific station.

Live Production is a self-learning tool, and will begin to predict when production orders will complete.

The displayed Job Productivity indicates the time spent in active production divided by the total elapsed time. Whenever a station pauses, the productivity value decreases accordingly.

In cases where Digital Work Instructions are in use, Compass (the production software) accurately tracks job progress by showing the produced quantity divided by the work order quantity. However, for jobs without work instructions, Compass cannot estimate progress and instead displays the total order quantity

All statuses, except for Pause, are represented by a consistent color. Pause status initially appears in a purple tone, indicating a recent production stop. Depending on the Work Area Auto Alert settings, once the predetermined time has passed, the Pause status will transition to Alert Orange, signifying an extended pause duration for that station.

Order Details

If more detailed information is required, you can click on any listed job to access the Order Details. Scrolling down the page will provide you with precise timestamps and information about the Operators involved in the work.

Completed Jobs

While the information structure in Completed Jobs is similar to that in Active Jobs, it only displays jobs from the past 24 hours. If a job's quantity has been altered, the units will exhibit a strikethrough of the original quantity, along with the realized quantity adjacent to it.

Work Instructions are first created as a Draft and require Publishing to be available to Compass. In this training we will review Publishing a Unit and the Change Log.

Publishing a Work Instruction

At the parent level of a Unit inside Designer, you will find five buttons located at the top-right of the page. The first button on the left displays "Publish Unit" when you hover over it. By clicking this button, you will initiate the Publishing process for the Unit.

Once the Publishing process is initiated, the system will automatically detect any changes made to the Work Instructions for different Station Types. It will then present you with the opportunity to select which Station Types you would like to include in the publishing update.

All changes made during the Publishing process will be meticulously recorded in a new version and displayed in the Change Log. However, since the system cannot automatically determine the reason for the instructions' modifications, it prompts the User to add a description explaining the purpose behind the changes. This ensures that a clear and concise reason is documented for each update, enabling you to review historical changes and understand their context, if needed in the future.

Furthermore, if your organization utilizes a 3rd party documentation system and you have Engineering Change Orders or similar identification protocols, you can include those details in the Publishing notes. By entering this information in the "Change Order" input box, you can maintain a comprehensive record of all relevant documentation associated with the updates.

Press the "PUBLISH" button when ready to start the processing.

Change Log

At the parent level of a Unit inside Designer, you will find the secondary navigation at the top-center of the page labeled as "CHANGE LOG." By clicking on this option, you can access and load all historical activity associated with the Work Instruction management of that specific Unit.

In the "CHANGE LOG" section, all changes will be conveniently organized by Station Type. To the left of each Station Type's name, you will find a green "+" or "-" sign, allowing you to expand or collapse the information associated with that particular Station Type.

In the "PUBLISH DATE" column, you may encounter additional green "+" or "-" signs. These symbols indicate that a unit was rejected by Reviewers during the publishing process. By expanding these entries, you can access additional information related to the specific publishing process and the reasons for the rejection.

When a Unit is successfully published, the version number will increment by an integer. For instance, if the initial version is labeled as "v1," it will turn into "v2" after successful publishing.

However, if a Unit is rejected during the review process and requires subsequent attempts, each new version will increment by 0.1. For example, if the initial version is "v1," the first revised version will be "v1.1," and any subsequent revisions will follow a similar pattern.

Every successful Publishing operation will automatically save a historical representation of the previous version as a PDF Engineering Print. These PDF Engineering Prints serve as snapshots of the Unit's Work Instructions before each successful update.

To access these historical PDF Engineering Prints, you can click on the "Print Preview" icon located to the far right of the Change Log. By clicking this icon, you can view and download the PDF Engineering Print associated with the previous version of the Unit's Work Instructions.

Print Preview

Work Instructions can exist in multiple stages: Published, Under Review, Draft, and Historical Versions. Depending on the specific stage you are reviewing, you will have access to a Print Preview option. This option allows you to create a PDF Engineering print of the Work Instructions for various purposes, such as 3rd party document control systems, internal reviews, or sharing with customers.

• Published: Matches the Work Instructions availalbe for Production
• Under Review: Work Instructions currently undergoing review
• Draft: Early versions or work-in-progress not yet ready for review or publication
• Historical Versions: Previous versions of Production-level Work Instructions

By utilizing the Print Preview option, you can generate a clear and printable representation of the Work Instructions at each stage, ensuring proper documentation, compliance, and effective communication throughout the Work Instruction management process.

This training session is a continuation of Part 3, focusing on all non-image elements of a Basic Work Instruction. Before proceeding with this training, please ensure you have completed Designer Part 3 ('Basic Step Instructions') and have a Unit created in HQ Designer.

Instruction Details

Inside the Step Editor, to the right of the Step Image, you will find 9 tiles. Each tile represents additional methods to enhance your Digital Work Instructions further. These tiles provide a range of options and tools that enable you to create comprehensive and visually engaging instructions, ensuring a smooth and efficient workflow on the production floor.

Instructions

To add Text Instructions select the top-left tile and press the green button below "ADD INSTRUCTION".

With the editor open, you can type in your instructions while editing the text size and colors. Once the text is ready, press the "COMPLETE" button to have it generate on the Step Image.

The Text Instruction will be displayed at the top-left of the Step Image in the Step Editor. To resize the text box, click on the bottom-right corner of the text box and adjust its size as needed. Additionally, you can click and drag the text box to place it in the desired location within the Step Image.

To Edit or Delete an existing Text Instruction hover over the box on the right side of the screen, below the 9 tiles. A pencil (Edit) and trashcan (Delete) icon will appear.

To add multiple Text Instructions to a single step, press "ADD INSTRUCTION".

Tools

For Steps that require the usage of a Tool, it is recommended to embed the tool directly into the Step. To access your Tool Library, click on the "Tools" tile located at the top-center of the tile grid. From there, click on "ADD TOOL" to open the Select Tool Module.

If you have existing Tools in your library, they will appear on the Select Tool Screen. You can simply click on the Tools needed for this Step and press "ADD TOOLS" to embed them into the Step.

In case the required Tool does not exist in the library, you can create a new one by clicking on "CREATE NEW TOOL" and providing the relevant details.

Once a Tool is embedded to the Work Instruction, you can click on the Tool to add Step specific details.

Materials

One of the significant benefits of using Digital Work Instructions is that your operators can easily access the precise Tools & Materials required for individual Steps, eliminating the need to rely on a top-level list. To assign Materials to a Step, simply click on the "Materials" icon located at the top-right of the tile grid, and then click the "ADD MATERIAL" button.

Include the Material Name (or Description), the Part Number, and an integer value to represent the Quantity. When satisfied, press "COMPLETE".

Time

Each Step can have a pre-determined allocated time, which serves to inform the operators when the task should be nearing completion. When 80% of the allocated time has elapsed, the timers will change to Alert Orange, providing a visual indication of the approaching deadline.

If a Step does not have an assigned time, the timers will also be displayed as Alert Orange. However, it is strongly recommended that you utilize a time, even if it's just an estimate, to help operators distinguish the importance of the two colors. This distinction aids operators in understanding the urgency and importance of each step, promoting better time management and overall efficiency in the production process.

To allocate a Time to a Step, simply click on the 4th tile labeled "Time" in the tile grid. This action will present you with options to select the hours, minutes, and seconds needed to complete the Step.

Warnings

An effective approach to prevent common defects or injuries is by embedding a Warning to a Step. To access Warnings, click on the 6th tile labeled "Warnings" in the tile grid, and then simply press the "ADD WARNING" button.

Here, you will be able to set Safety and/or Defect Warnings (1 of each max per step). You can determine how frequent the Warning will appear, describe the concern, and if desired include a photo.

In Compass, Warnings will be displayed at the beginning of a Step, and Operators will be prompted to acknowledge and close the Notice, ensuring that they have seen and understood the Warning message. This feature helps to ensure that critical safety information or important instructions are properly communicated to the Operators, reducing the likelihood of overlooking crucial details and enhancing overall safety and compliance during the production process.

Saving Step Changes

When you are done making changes to the Step, be sure to Save your work. At the top-right hand side of the Step Editor page, you will see "SAVE & NEW" and "SAVE".

• SAVE & NEW: Will save all changes, and open a new blank Step
• SAVE: Will save all changes, and will return to Unit parent-level

In this training session we will review Setup and uploading images to Work Instructions in HQ Designer. Before proceeding with this training, please ensure that you have completed Designer Part 2 ('Creating A Unit'). This training assumes that you already have a Unit set up in the system.

Setup Instructions

In Compass, the production floor application, an essential feature is the ability to auto-compile all the Tools and Materials used in a Work Instruction. These compiled tools and materials are then displayed in the Setup Details page for easy reference and accessibility.

On the right side of the Setup Details page, you will find a section titled "DETAILS." This section contains multiple images and accompanying text.

To create or make changes to the Setup Instructions, click on the down-arrow and select "SETUP". This will open the Setup Details Module.

In the Setup Details Module, you have the option to enhance the Work Instruction by uploading images and corresponding text. These visuals and descriptions are designed to assist operators in preparing for the production run.

To save the changes you've made in the Setup Details, simply click on the "SAVE" button. If you have multiple instructions that you want to include in the Setup Details, you can press the "ADD DETAIL" button. This allows you to add additional images and accompanying text to cover various aspects of the setup procedure comprehensively.

ADD Step

Work Instructions are constructed using individual Steps, which represent the specific actions required of your production staff. To create a Step and access the editor, click on "ADD STEP" from the ADD Menu.

Naming Step

When you create Steps, they are initially generated with default names such as "Untitled Step #1", "Untitled Step #2", and so on. To change the name of the step click on the name and it will become editable.

It is highly recommended that you rename these Steps to match the specific tasks they represent. Providing meaningful names to the Steps can be incredibly useful when reviewing Production Reports.

Selecting Step Image

To add an image to the Step, drag the file from the known folder on your computer, or click on the large image tile and browse for it instead.

When you assign an image to a Step in the Work Instructions, additional features become available. Clicking the image will engage it, offering options to DELETE or REPLACE the image when hovering over it. To disengage the image, click anywhere on the image, excluding the two buttons.

Zoom-To-Fill

Standard Step images have a 5:4 ratio. If the image you selected does not match this ratio, you may encounter white space either on the left/right side or top/bottom of the image. To resolve this, you can use the "Zoom-To-Fill" button. When you press this button, the image will be enlarged to fit the Step perfectly, ensuring no white space is shown and providing a visually appealing presentation of the image within the Step.

Picture-in-Picture (PIP)

For more complex Steps, you can use multiple images by utilizing Picture-in-Picture (PIP) functionality. At the top-left of the Image Tile, you will find a button named "Add PIP." Clicking this button will create a new image layer and allow you to load another image.

You can add multiple PIPs to a single Step, and these PIPs can even be in the form of video files (up to 40 MB in size). Clicking on a PIP will engage it, providing options to 'DELETE' or 'REPLACE' the image, similar to the main Step Image.

Crop and Rotate Image

Below the Step Image, you will notice 4 icons. Clicking on the 2nd icon from the left will switch the tool to Crop and Rotate mode. Once engaged, 3 new icons will appear on the left side of the Step Image. You can use Rotate Left or Right to rotate the image by 90 degrees. To crop the image, simply click on any perimeter of the image and move it to the desired location. Remember to press the Save icon on the left side to save your changes.

Drawing Editor

When you click on the 3rd icon from the left, located below the Step Image, the tool will switch to the Drawing Editor. With this feature engaged, you gain the ability to draw directly on your main image. To the left of the Step Image, you can select the shape you intend to use for your drawing. Above the Step Image, you will find options to specify the colors and weights of the shapes you draw. This powerful drawing tool enables you to annotate your images and add important visual cues or notes directly to the Step, enhancing the clarity and comprehensiveness of your Work Instructions.

When you are done Drawing over your image, you must exit the Drawing Editor to make further changes. To do this either click far left icon below the Step Image (Image/Text Editing) or move your mouse to the right of the Step Image and click "Exit Drawing".

During this training, we will walk you through the steps required to create a new Unit and navigating your editable options. Units serve as the parent group of Work Instructions and typically represent the Engineering Number of the product being constructed.

Create Unit

Locate the "CREATE UNIT" button on the left side of the Secondary Navigation. Click on this button to access the module for creating a new set of Work Instructions. This will open up the necessary interface to begin the process of creating your Unit.

Before you proceed with creating Digital Work Instructions, it is essential to have your Work Areas configured in your HQ Account. Work Instructions are organized and categorized based on Work Areas, and selecting the appropriate Work Area is the first step to get started with creating your instructions. Make sure you have set up the relevant Work Areas in your HQ Account before proceeding with the Work Instruction creation process.

Once you have chosen the desired Work Area, the next step is to set the Unit Name and Revision Number for the Work Instruction you are creating. The Unit Name typically corresponds to the Engineering Number of the product being constructed. On the other hand, the Revision Number should align with the Engineering Revision Number associated with the product.

The last optional task is to upload an image that will be associated with the top-level Work Instruction. This image is commonly a photo of the final customer-facing product. Please note that the image will only appear in the navigation of Designer and on the Unit Assigned screen of Compass.

When you have finished setting up the Unit Name, Revision Number, and optionally uploading an image, click on the "COMPLETE" button. This action will take you to the Parent Level editor, where you can start creating and editing your Digital Work Instructions for the selected Unit.

Parent Level Navigation

In the image provided, we have created a Unit named "Tutorial Example" with the Revision Number "REV 1." Along with this, our account shows three distinct Station Types: Workbench, Tester, and Packaging (please note that the specific Station Types may vary depending on your setup).

ADD Menu

Station Types serve a crucial purpose on the production floor in Compass. Each Compass station is assigned a unique Station Type, which helps the Compass station retrieve the correct set of documents associated with that particular task or production cell.

To the right of each Station Type you will see "ADD STEP" and a down-arrow, this ADD Menu will give you access to tools or folders to populate the digital files associated with the Unit.

Change Unit Name

To update the top-level Name of a Unit, click on the Unit name at the top of the screen. This action will change the display from read-only to editable. Modify the Unit name as needed. After making the desired changes, click anywhere outside of the textbox to save the updated Unit Name.

Change Unit Revision

To update the top-level Revision of a Unit, locate the gray box situated to the right of the Unit name at the top of the screen. Click on the gray box and it will open the Revision Change module.

Once the module is opened, you will be able to make the necessary adjustments. Press 'OK' to save the change, or 'Cancel' to close module.

In this training we will be reviewing HQ Designer, the application responsible for creating, editing, and managing all Digital Work Instructions.

Accessing Designer

Before accessing the application, ensure that you have an HQ account with the Designer App Access enabled under HQ Admin Users. If you already have an account, you can proceed to use the application by following these steps:

1. Go to https://hq.scout.systems in your web browser.
2. Sign in using the same Email address and Password that you used when creating your HQ account.

To access the Designer section, click on the green button located in the top-left corner of the application. From the dropdown menu that appears, select "Designer". This will take you to the top-level of Designer.

Navigating Designer

Once you are in the Designer section, you will notice a secondary navigation bar. Look for the words "ALL ACTIVE" which will be underlined. Clicking on this option will allow you to view all existing Work Instructions.

To further refine your view, locate the "WORK AREAS" section on the right side of the navigation bar. By clicking on this option, you can isolate instructions specific to an individual Work Area, making it easier to focus on the relevant information.

Underneath the secondary navigation are additional display options to support Filtering and Searching for existing Digital Work Instructions.

• SORT: Use this dropdown to easily reorder all instructions based on your preference.
• FILTER: Work Instructions often have multiple stages. With this option, you can isolate Work Instructions to view specific stages according to your requirements.
• COLLECTION: Organize Work Instructions into custom-made Collections. Use this dropdown to display only the Work Instructions in the desired Collection.
• SHOW: Limit the number of Work Instructions loaded on the page for easier navigation and improved performance.

To the far right of the Display Options is a magnifying glass icon; click on that to open a search bar.