Hide Treatment Traceability Using Code-Linked Process Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing hide treatment processes lack traceability of information, leading to inefficiencies, customer dissatisfaction, and increased production costs due to inadequate documentation and manual operations relying on incomplete data, especially when processing is spread across multiple facilities.
Innovation Solution
A management system that includes detection devices to acquire chemical and physical hide characteristics, reading apparatuses to recognize unique codes, and an electronic unit with a database to match codes with acquired data, enabling real-time monitoring and optimization of the treatment process across multiple facilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If manual operations are used for hide treatment process management, then implementation cost is low, but traceability of information is lost and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary action by assigning unique identification codes to hides before they enter the treatment process. This pre-established identification system enables continuous tracking throughout all processing stages without requiring complex real-time intervention, thus improving traceability while maintaining manageable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary management system that acts as a mediator between hides and processing facilities. This system uses identification codes and centralized databases to bridge information gaps, enabling traceability across multiple facilities without requiring direct complex integration between all processing entities.
2Productivity
If manual operations are used for packaging decisions, then implementation cost is low, but packaging efficiency is reduced due to incomplete information
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously collecting data from detection devices throughout the hide treatment process and making this information available to packaging operations. This feedback loop ensures that packaging decisions are based on complete information from all processing stages, thereby improving packaging efficiency and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized database serves a universal function by storing and providing information to multiple operations including tracking, quality control, and packaging. This multi-functional information repository eliminates information silos and enables efficient decision-making across different process stages without requiring separate information systems.
3Reliability
If detection devices and reading apparatuses are deployed at each facility, then traceability is improved, but device complexity and implementation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies segmentation by dividing the traceability function into independent components: identification codes on hides, reading apparatuses at facilities, detection devices for data collection, and a centralized database. Each component can be implemented and maintained independently, reducing overall system complexity while improving traceability reliability through distributed deployment.
4Productivity
If real-time monitoring is implemented across multiple facilities, then process optimization is improved, but loss of time for data collection and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system ensures continuity of useful action by implementing continuous data collection through detection devices and reading apparatuses that operate throughout the hide treatment process. Data is continuously transmitted to the centralized database, enabling real-time monitoring and optimization without interrupting the treatment process or requiring time-consuming manual data collection.
Data Source
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AI summary
Management system (1) for a plant (100) for the treatment of hides or similar, characterised by comprising: - at least one detection device (40) which is configured to acquire and/or determine data representative of at least one chemical and/or physical characteristic of each hide (12) to be processed or processed in the treatment plant (100), - at least one reading apparatus (20) which is configured to detect and recognise a code (11) which is applied to each hide (12) to be processed or processed in the treatment plant (100), preferably each reading apparatus (20) being operatively associated with at least one respective detection device (40), - at least one electronic unit (50) wherein at least one database (51) is loaded, and wherein: - said at least one detection device (40) is electronically connected to said at least one electronic unit (50) wherein at least one database (51) is loaded, to thus receive the data acquired and/or determined for each corresponding hide (12) by at least one detection device (40), - said at least one reading apparatus (20) is electronically connected to said at least one electronic unit (50) wherein at least one database (51) is loaded, to thus receive the code (11) of each hide (12) as recognised by said at least one reading apparatus (20), - said database (51) is configured and structured so that, within the same database, the code (11) of each hide (12), as recognised by said at least one reading apparatus (20), is matched with the data acquired and/or determined for each corresponding hide (12) by at least one detection device (40) which is operationally associated with said reading apparatus (20).