HQ Admin
A collection of 5 posts

Managing Tools
In today's training session, we will focus on the Tool Library from an HQ Admin perspective. As an HQ Admin, you have unique abilities and privileges when it comes to maintaining tools within Scout Systems.
Tool Library

Accessing the Tool Library is done by visiting HQ Admin, and selecting "TOOLS" from the top-center navigation.
When it comes to production tools in Scout Systems, there is some overlap between the roles of HQ Designer and HQ Admin. Users with Designer access have the ability to create and select tools to embed within the digital work instructions. However, this functionality is limited to the HQ Designer application.
On the other hand, HQ Admins have broader capabilities when it comes to managing production tools. They have the authority to create, edit, delete, and merge tools within Scout Systems. This elevated role allows HQ Admins to have greater control and flexibility in maintaining and organizing the tool library.
Create New Tool (from Admin)
At the top-left corner of the page, you will find the text "All Tools" within Scout Systems. To create a new tool, simply click on the "+" sign located next to "All Tools". This will open the Create New Tool module.

Adding a new tool has just 2 actions:
- Provide a Tool Name (press NEXT)
- Upload an optional image (press COMPLETE)
Edit a Tool

To edit a tool in Scout Systems, simply locate the tool tile and click on the three-dot menu at the bottom-right corner. This will open an editor that closely resembles the tool creation module.

In the editor, you can change the name and image for the tool.
Delete Tool
To remove a tool from the library, engage the 3 dot menu of the tool tile and select "DELETE".

When attempting to delete a tool in Scout Systems that has been assigned to a Digital Work Instruction, a warning message will appear to notify you of the implications. The warning message informs you that the tool is being used in instructions and provides you with two options: "No, Cancel" and "Yes, Continue".
If you choose "No, Cancel," the deletion process will be canceled, allowing you to retain the tool and its associated assignments within the Digital Work Instructions.
On the other hand, if you select "Yes, Continue," the platform will proceed with the deletion process. It will locate all the instructions that are currently using the tool and remove the tool from those instructions accordingly.
Merge Tool
As an HQ Admin, one of the powerful privileges you possess is the ability to merge tools within Scout Systems. This feature proves particularly valuable when replacing legacy equipment in a factory with minimal effort and streamlined processes. To engage with this feature, locate the tool tile and press the 3 dot menu, and select "Merge".

To initiate the merge process, start by selecting all the tools that will be affected. This includes choosing the legacy tools that will be removed and, if applicable, selecting the new tool that will replace them. Press Next to proceed.

If you have included the replacement tool alongside the legacy tools, you will now need to select the tool that will remain after the merge. In the case where the new tool does not currently exist in the Tool Library, select the empty selection option and manually enter the New Tool Name. Press Next to proceed.

Next, the system will prompt you to select or set the picture that will be used for the newly merged tool. If the new tool already exists in the Tool Library, simply click on the image that corresponds to the tool that will remain after the merge. On the other hand, if there is no existing image for the new tool, click on the option to "upload a new one." Press Next to proceed.

Lastly, the system will provide you with information on the number of Digital Work Instructions that will be affected by the merge. Take a moment to review the details and ensure everything is correct. If you are satisfied with the merge configuration, click on the "COMPLETE" button. This will initiate the merge process and update all the impacted instructions accordingly.



Global Settings
In this training session, we will concentrate on establishing your Global Settings, which will have an impact on all Work Areas within your account. It's important to note that if there are similar settings that also exist at the Work Area level (local settings), those local settings will take precedence.
Global Settings serve as a foundation for your account and allow you to set overarching configurations and preferences that apply to all Work Areas. They provide consistency and ensure standardized settings across your account.
Global Settings

To access the Global Settings, navigate to HQ Admin, and in the top center navigation select "SETTINGS". To make any changes to your settings press the "EDIT" button at the top right.
Company Name

The Company Name is the Display Name on the Compass Login Page. This only appears when Compass is open with no Operator signed in.
Productivity Rate Alert

Productivity in Scout Systems is quantified by calculating the ratio of Value-Added time to the total time of a production order. It provides an insightful measure of efficiency and performance. It's important to note that if a job encounters production stops or interruptions, it can negatively impact the overall productivity score.
In the Global Settings, you have the option to set a targeted Productivity Rate Alert. This feature allows you to establish a desired productivity rate threshold, below which jobs are considered to be performing at a lower-than-desired level. It's worth mentioning that enabling this alert does not affect the actual production data. Instead, it serves as a notification method to promptly inform Leads and Production Supervisors when an Operator is facing challenges or struggling to meet the targeted productivity rate.
Auto Pause (Global)
The feature being described here is the same as the one mentioned in HQ Admin (Part 2), with the distinction that this pertains to the Global setting. When it comes to settings in Scout Systems, the hierarchy is as follows: if no local settings are created for a specific station, it will inherit the Global settings. However, if both local and global settings exist, the station will prioritize and inherit the local settings.
This hierarchy ensures flexibility and customization for each station while maintaining consistency across the system. By setting Global settings, you establish a baseline configuration that applies to all stations. Local settings, on the other hand, provide the option to fine-tune and tailor settings specific to individual stations or work areas.
Auto Alert

The Auto Alert feature in Scout Systems is used to determine the threshold time for escalating the urgency of a Paused Station. When a Station is paused, its status in Live Production is displayed in two different colors to provide visual cues to operators and supervisors.
The baseline color, Purple, indicates that the Station has recently stopped. This color serves as a standard indication that the Station is temporarily paused and will resume shortly.
However, when the Paused Station remains in a paused state for a duration longer than the Auto Alert threshold, its status is highlighted in an Alert Orange color. This color signifies that the Station has been paused for an extended period, triggering an alert to draw attention to the prolonged downtime.
By incorporating the color-coded status indicators, Scout Systems enables operators and supervisors to quickly identify the current state of Stations in Live Production, distinguishing between recent pauses and longer pauses that may require immediate attention or intervention.
Production Day Offset

In Scout Systems, the default data processing and organization follows a 24-hour day structure, starting at 12:00 AM and ending at 11:59 PM. However, if your factory operates on a different schedule, such as from 2 AM to 2 AM the following day, the default system would truncate the final 2 hours of production for today and include them in tomorrow's report. This can lead to inaccurate reporting and analysis.
To address this, Scout Systems provides the Production Day Offset feature. By utilizing the Production Day Offset, you can shift your production window by a specified number of hours, ensuring that your production schedule aligns correctly with the desired date for review and reporting purposes.
For example, setting a Production Day Offset of 2 hours would account for your factory's schedule from 2 AM to 2 AM as a full production day within the correct date range.
By configuring the Production Day Offset in Scout Systems, you can accurately capture and analyze production data according to your specific factory schedule, ensuring that reporting and review activities align correctly with your operational timeline.
Time Zone

Setting your corporate Time Zone in Scout Systems ensures accurate alignment of all production data processed by our servers with your operations. By specifying the correct Time Zone, Scout Systems will make the necessary adjustments to timestamps and data calculations to reflect the time and date according to your local operational context.
Scheduled Breaks

With this feature, you have the capability to create planned production stops in Scout Systems. It provides you with the flexibility to set unique days for these planned stops and assign them to individual Work Areas as needed.
When Compass is active on the production floor and a Scheduled Break occurs, all production timers are automatically paused. This feature ensures that scheduled breaks are accounted for and that production timers accurately reflect the actual working time.
While operators have the option to choose to work through a Scheduled Break, if they decide to pause the system during their next break, the platform will return to a frozen state. This frozen state ensures that the planned production stop does not impact or jeopardize your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and other performance metrics.
Job Group Number

By default, Operators in Scout Systems are required to input the Work Order, Unit Name, and Quantity for a production order. However, in situations where there is a need to group multiple work orders together, you have the option to toggle on the Job Group Number feature.

When the Job Group Number is enabled, Operators will have a fourth category to fill out in Compass. This additional field allows Operators to assign a Job Group Number to related work orders that should be grouped together.

Enabling the Job Group Number feature enables you to run a production report specifically based on the Job Group Number. This report gathers and consolidates all the relevant data for Work Orders that share the same Job Group Number. This functionality helps you streamline data analysis and reporting, allowing you to easily access and evaluate the production information for specific job groupings.
Station Switching

If your factory utilizes stationary production cells but requires the flexibility to move computers between stations, the Station Switching feature in Scout Systems is worth considering. When Station Switching is enabled, Operators will have the ability to change their Compass station to another existing station, provided that station is not currently active.

This feature allows Operators to easily switch their assigned station within the Scout Systems platform. It accommodates scenarios where the physical computer workstation may need to be relocated to different production cells while maintaining seamless continuity in data tracking and management.
Login Background Image

Similar to the Company Name mentioned earlier, the Login Background Image feature in Scout Systems enables you to set a customized image as the background of Compass. This image will be visible only when Compass is active but no user is currently logged in.
By configuring the Login Background Image, you can personalize the appearance of Compass and create a visually appealing and branded experience for users. This feature allows you to showcase your company logo, relevant imagery, or any other desired visual elements that align with your brand identity.
Language (Global)

In Scout Systems, Compass automatically adjusts to the local language settings based on the preferences of each individual user. This ensures that each user can interact with Compass in their preferred language.
If you wish to set a default language other than English, you have the option to specify your desired language in the settings. By configuring the default language, you ensure that Compass is initially displayed in this chosen language for all users.
Default Reporting Date Range

Once your Scout Systems account is active and you spend more time reviewing Production Reports, you may find that you frequently run common reports, specifically focusing on a specific quantity of days at a time. To make the report lookup process more efficient for you, Scout Systems offers the Default Date Range feature.
By utilizing the Default Date Range feature, you can set a preferred date range as your default setting for generating reports. Instead of manually selecting the last X number of days each time you run a report, Scout Systems will automatically apply your preconfigured Default Date Range, saving you time and effort.
Default Unit Name Loading

For customers with a high-mix facility, the flexibility of selecting how reports populate is especially important. In Scout Systems, when running production reports, you have the option to choose how you want the units to be listed for selection.
You can select between two options:
- Drop-down List: With this option, all available units will be listed in a drop-down menu. Pro: You can easily select the desired unit from the pre-populated list. Con: With thousands of units to select from it can load slowly.
- Manual Entry: Alternatively, you can choose to manually type in the unit name without relying on a pre-populated list. Pro: Results can be processed faster. Con: You must know the unit name to do a lookup.
By providing these choices, Scout Systems allows you to customize your reporting experience based on your specific preferences and operational needs. You can select the option that best suits your workflow and facilitates efficient data entry when generating production reports.
Input Field Validations

To mitigate human error and ensure data accuracy, Scout Systems provides the Input Field Validations feature. This feature allows you to set specific requirements and validations for input fields, such as the Work Order Number or Unit Name, entered by operators.
With Input Field Validations, you can establish rules and criteria that must be met for the input to be considered valid. For example, you can require that the input starts with specific characters or that the entire input meets a certain length requirement.
By implementing these validations, you enforce data quality and consistency, minimizing errors and discrepancies in critical information. It acts as a quality check, ensuring that operators input the correct information according to the defined validation rules.



Stations
In this training session, our focus will be on creating Stations within your Work Area. These Stations play a crucial role in your production processes. When you create a Station, it will automatically generate a unique Station ID. This Station ID is needed for installing Compass on a production computer, and it serves as a prerequisite for scheduling your installation date.
By creating and organizing Stations effectively, you'll establish a structured framework for your production operations, enabling seamless installation and scheduling processes. Let's dive into the training and explore the steps involved in creating and managing Stations within your Work Area.
Adding a Station

From the same area as editing Work Areas, to add a Station press the down arrow and select "ADD STATION".
This will auto-generate a station creation template allowing you to set the Alias and Station Type.

Alias
The Alias of a Station should match your production cell's naming convention. This ensures consistency in Compass and HQ Reports, making it easier for users to identify and understand relevant information.
Examples:
- Feeder 1
- Assembly Line B
- Cell 401
Station Type
The Station Type represents the category of a cell, indicating which specific Work Instructions it should read from. Stations sharing the same Station Type are assumed to have similar processes. It is crucial to assign different Station Types to Stations that perform different steps within a process.
By assigning distinct Station Types to Stations with varying responsibilities, you ensure that the correct set of Work Instructions is associated with each Station. This helps maintain clarity and accuracy in guiding operators through their specific tasks. Having appropriate Station Types for each Station streamlines the workflow and ensures that operators receive the relevant instructions for their assigned processes.
Examples:
- Assembly Position 1
- Assembly Position 2
- Press Brake
- CNC Machine
- Quality Testing
Station Types are very important and should be considered thoroughly. Though it is possible to change them in the future if necessary, it can be a tedious task.



Work Areas
In this training, our focus will be on creating Work Areas within HQ Admin.
Defining a Work Area
Work Areas in Scout Systems offer a range of unique settings, and it's crucial to configure them effectively to meet your organization's specific requirements. To help you make informed decisions, let's explore some examples that align with your vision. Take a moment to consider these scenarios and choose the approach that best suits your needs.
Factory 1: A single location in which the Leads and Production Supervisors oversee all staff.

Factory 2: Single location with unique Leads and Production Supervisors for unique Work Areas.

Factory 3: Multiple locations that build unique products and are ran by different Management teams.

Factory 4: Multiple locations that build similar products and ran by same Management team.

If you've chosen Factory 1 or 4, our recommendation is to create Work Areas in Scout Systems that encompass the entire factory. This approach allows for a streamlined management and monitoring process.
For Factory 2, we suggest creating Work Areas in Scout Systems that correspond to the number of individual Work Areas within your factory. This configuration aligns with the specific structure of your operations and facilitates efficient tracking and organization.
In the case of Factory 3, we recommend setting up separate Scout Systems accounts for each location. This ensures that each site maintains its own unique setup and enables focused management. As you continue with your training, please reach out to us for assistance in implementing this configuration.
By tailoring the creation of Work Areas to your chosen factory type, you'll optimize your experience with Scout Systems and tailor it to your organization's unique needs.
Creating Work Areas in HQ
Navigate to HQ Admin, and in the top center navigation select "WORK AREAS".

To create a work area press the green + sign next to the text "All Work Areas". This will generate a blank work area titled "Untitled Area".
Editing Work Areas in HQ

To the right of "Untitled Area" press the down arrow and select "EDIT WORK AREA".
Custom Pause Reasons

In addition to creating Work Areas, you have the flexibility to rename them according to your preferences. Furthermore, you can configure Pause Reasons that will be displayed to operators in case of production stops. If you require additional reasons, simply click on the green "+" sign on the left side to expand the list. Each pause reason can be assigned a unique color, which will be reflected in the ANDON Dashboard, enhancing visual differentiation and clarity.
Work Area Contacts

Each Work Area allows for the assignment of unique support staff members. You can configure their Display Name, Title, preferred contact method (SMS or email), and preset messages. When a notification is sent by a Compass station, the system will automatically include all relevant production information along with the preset messages.
Adding Work Area Contacts is a flexible process with no limitations. Simply click on "Add Another Contact" whenever you need to include additional staff members. This ensures that you can include all relevant personnel without any restrictions, providing comprehensive support coverage for your Work Areas.
Auto Pause (Local)

Please note that the following is an advanced feature. By utilizing the Scout Systems Tracker & Proximity sensor, you can establish a designated working zone. In cases where an operator is not sensed within the designated zone and the Tracker does not detect any value-added work, the Auto Pause feature will automatically activate the Pause button on behalf of the operator.
To customize this feature, you can set the required time duration for both Setup and Production. Once the specified duration is exceeded without any value-added work detected, the Auto Pause feature will engage. When this happens, the Pause screen will rewind the clocks back to the moment when the last value-added work was sensed. This ensures that your data remains accurate and reflects the actual working time.
By incorporating the Auto Pause feature, you can enhance productivity monitoring and minimize idle time for operators, resulting in more precise data collection and improved operational efficiency.
Live Production Metrics Display

HQ Live Production is an interactive table dashboard that provides real-time visibility into all production activities from the past 24 hours up to the present moment. Within this dashboard, you'll find various columns showcasing relevant data. One of these columns allows you to set a preset desired Metric for your production operations.
You have the flexibility to choose from several options for the desired Metric, including Units (default metric), Units per time interval, length per time interval, and weight per time interval. This feature enables you to monitor and track the specific metrics that align with your production goals and objectives.
By utilizing the HQ Live Production dashboard and customizing the desired Metric column, you gain valuable insights into your production performance, enabling you to make informed decisions and take proactive measures to optimize efficiency and output.
Designer Publishing Reviewers

HQ Designer is the central application where all documentation and control processes occur. Users with Designer access are empowered to create and modify work instructions according to your organization's needs. If you wish to grant an elevated role to certain Designer users for reviewing all changes made, you have the option to do so.
To assign the elevated role, simply select the desired Designer users from the dropdown menu. It's important to note that users must have Designer access in order for them to appear in the dropdown list. Once Reviewers are selected, this feature will automatically be enabled.
If, at any point, you decide to disable this feature, you can simply de-select all Reviewers associated with the specific Work Area. This grants you full control over the configuration and ensures that the elevated role for reviewing changes is only assigned when necessary.
By leveraging the Reviewers feature in HQ Designer, you can establish a streamlined and controlled process for reviewing and approving modifications to work instructions, enhancing collaboration and maintaining a comprehensive documentation system.
Compass Inspectors

Digital Work Instructions can incorporate quality check-points that necessitate review by authorized Inspectors. These Inspectors are designated for HQ Users & Operator Users and play a crucial role in ensuring the quality of work. However, it's important to note that Inspectors are not permitted to inspect their own work, maintaining objectivity in the inspection process.
If you would like to enable this feature for your Work Area, you can simply select the users (anyone with a Compass Access Key) whom you wish to assign as Inspectors from the dropdown menu. Please ensure that the Users already exist in HQ for them to appear in the dropdown list. Once the Inspectors are selected, this feature will be activated.
Conversely, if you decide to disable this feature, you can easily de-select all Inspectors associated with the specific Work Area. This allows you to have full control over the configuration and ensures that the role of Inspectors for reviewing work is assigned selectively.
By leveraging the Inspector feature in Digital Work Instructions, you can establish a robust quality control process that involves dedicated Inspectors reviewing the work of Operators, thereby upholding high standards and driving operational excellence.
Batch and Nested Jobs

If your Work Area doesn't follow the Single-Piece-Flow methodology, it might be beneficial to enable the Batch Jobs feature. By toggling Batch Jobs ON, operators will have the ability to select their preferred batch size before commencing the production order. This allows for more efficient and streamlined operations.
On the other hand, if your Work Area utilizes equipment that can cut multiple distinct parts simultaneously and you aim to enhance individual cycle time data collection, you should consider enabling the Nested Jobs feature. When Nested Jobs are turned ON, operators can create jobs with an unlimited number of unique products. Over time, as sufficient data is collected, the system will automatically process the historical data to estimate individual cycle times for each part. This becomes a valuable tool for optimizing scheduling, especially for CNC cutting tables.
By leveraging the Batch Jobs and Nested Jobs features, you can tailor your work processes to better suit your specific production requirements, promoting efficiency, data accuracy, and improved scheduling capabilities.



Creating Users
Welcome to the Scout Systems Academy! In this training module, we will guide you through the process of creating HQ Administrators. It's essential to assign these roles to key personnel who play a crucial role in managing the project. HQ Administrators possess elevated privileges and responsibilities within the Scout Systems platform.
Accessing the HQ Platform
Using any browser, go to https://hq.scout.systems
Log into HQ using your email, and the password provided by Scout Systems.

After signing in, note the green button in the top left corner. Clicking that button will access your main navigation. You need to be on the ADMIN page.
Creating HQ Users
A secondary navigation will appear at the top-center of the page. In order to create HQ Users make sure that the word "USERS" is selected/underlined.

Users are free and unlimited, we encourage providing all necessary staff access. There are 3 unique user roles:
- HQ Users - Typically Managers, Engineers and other Office Staff: can access both HQ and Compass
- Operators - Typically Production Staff: can only access Compass
- Maintenance Technicians - Can only access Maintenance Portal in HQ

Let's begin by creating a HQ User. Start by pressing the green + sign box to the right of the words "HQ Users".

You will need to populate all of the Basic HQ User Settings to ADD a new user. The COMPASS ACCESS KEY is used to access Compass and is typically the employee badge number.
When it comes to APP ACCESS we recommend the following minimum structure:
- Project Champions - All Applications
- Leads & Supervisors - Live Production & Reporting
- Documentation Staff - Designer
- Engineers - Designer & Reporting
- Management - Reporting & Dashboards
- Support Staff - Dashboards
- Static Dashboards - Live Production as Read-Only
Once your user has been created, scroll to the top and press the ADD button to save.
Creating Operators
Adding Compass users is very similar. Start by pressing the green + sign box to the right of the words "Operators" from the USERS page.

No email or passwords are needed for Compass users, but instead you might consider engaging the "LANGUAGE" and "USER GROUP" settings.
- LANGUAGE - Compass will automatically translate instructions to the language selected for the user.
- USER GROUPS - Production data will be organized in a selected group for easier report lookups. (Example User Group: Nightshift)
If you want to make the system more personal, consider uploading a headshot for the USER IMAGE.

