CrossTrack is used by both small and large manufacturers alike. Here are the top 12 reasons why companies have been using CrossTrack for 15 years.
SQL Server database
CrossTrack harnesses Microsoft's industry-standard SQL Server database platform. This means that many of our customers have the skill sets in-house to write complex reports and exchange data with other systems .
Multi life tracking
CrossTrack can track any material - from rolls, sheets, resins, paints and even rivets. It can also tell you when a kit needs to be in the autoclave, and even tell you when a kit must reach layup, as some materials may be too stiff to work with.
From CAD file to NC code in minutes
CrossTrack harnesses the award-winning and industry-leading JETCAM Expert nesting system, allowing you to automate the CAD import and nesting process.
Defect management
Managing defects doesn't have to be a headache. CrossTrack allows you to create or import defect information. It also supports rectangular defects, so if you can be specific with a defect's location, CrossTrack also has an option to nest around it.
Tight ERP integration
CrossTrack can connect to virtually any ERP, and has the option of 'Alerts', updating ERP when certain events occur. Web services support delivers robust bi-directional data exchange, and the Microsoft SQL Server database infrastructure ensures that staff can easily mine the data directly.
Hardware integration
Linking hardware on the shop floor can minimise user input (and errors). One customer linked CrossTrack to their raw material freezer - as operators checked out rolls from the freezer's software, it automatically updated the material's location in CrossTrack, which in turn started counting down the defrost time of the roll.
Composite Material Traceability
CrossTrack's main 'reason for being' is to provide composite material traceability, and it does this to ply level. CrossTrack keeps track of every single ply, warning you when with amber or red warnings as expiry dates get near.
Dealing with real-world situations
Any data-driven system must be able to deal with real world problems. What if a machine stops halfway through cutting or a ply is scrapped during layup? CrossTrack can handle all common scenarios, providing you with the ability to elegantly handle them while still maintaining full traceability, all displayed in a beautiful traceability report.
User control
CrossTrack allows each user to configure, sort and order their interface. They can show and position data according to their work role. Admin staff can disable functionality that is not required for certain job roles, which hides the relevant interface controls, keeping the interface clean and simple.
Off-the-shelf system
CrossTrack is designed as an off-the-shelf system. It's highly customisable, and connecting to other systems is simple and well-documented. CSV data exchange can be set up in minutes, while web services support allows bi-directional data exchange for any transaction.
Reporting
The CrossTrack reports screen allows you to quickly build comprehensive SQL reports, which can be scheduled to be generated automatically. It can also harness JETCAM Expert's Advanced Report Designer, providing a simple user interface for designing complex reports, that can include tabular data, nest images, and more.
Custom label designer
The Advanced Label Designer allows customers to design their own beautifully branded labels, with any information they want, including QR codes and images.
CrossTrack Features
CrossTrack is designed to provide automation and traceability, while integrating seamlessly with your existing ERP/MES systems.
Very fast return on investment
When integrated with JETCAM's ultra performance nesting, CrossTrack can often pay for itself in months or even weeks in material savings alone.
Fast installation with short learning curve
With full video tutorials covering both installation and usage, the learning curve is short. Watch the videos on PCs, tablets or even a mobile device.
Simply ERP/MES integration
Various data exchange methods, allowing you to easily get data in/out of the system and providing tight integration with existing systems.
Track location/life to ply level
Know both the location and life of yourraw materials, and once they're cut track your kits to ply level until they are out of the autoclave.
Simple shop floor interface
Easily transfer raw materials, layup tools or kits between locations using PCs or mobile devices for complete hands-off logging.
Instant traceability data and reports
Either drill down on screen or generate a PDF on a kit, roll, tape or entire batch. You can also write your own custom reports to output instantly or regularly automatically to Excel.
Deal with real-world scenarios
Whether you need to hand cut a ply or want to nest over two rolls, CrossTrack is designed to handle the real-world scenarios that composite manufacturers have to deal with.
Custom data fields and reducing errors
Create custom data fields across CrossTrack that are then displayed like native columns. Errors are reduced as staff input less data, with defaults suggested to minimize errors.
Self-sufficiency
The entire CrossTrack philosophy is to make you self-sufficient rather than reliant on the vendor, with the software just working transparently in the background. Help is always there when you need it.
CrossTrack was developed from the ground up for the aerospace market, resolving the complex issue of managing orders, materials, nests, parts/plies and kits. Traceability, especially in aerospace for certifications such as NADCAP is critical - CrossTrack delivers this, giving complete visibility from the initial material, tracking the order, all individual elements and processes, through to the finished part.
Companies using CrossTrack benefit from a massive reduction in the reliance on paper, much greater accuracy, and real time access to live order, material, kit and nest data across the network.
Whether staff need to check the remaining life of a given material, queue orders for nesting, check machine availability or build comprehensive reports, CrossTrack provides a single point of reference for all manufacturing data. With the tight integration into the award-winning JETCAM Expert CAM and Nesting system it also produces and manages highly optimized static or Just In Time.
YOUR CURRENT METHODS?
How much expired composite material do you throw away each month?
Do your staff always select the most appropriate material for a given job?
What amount of time and paper is used by staff to track material life?
How many errors are made when logging location or life?
Can you provide 'true' traceability reports to your customers? How long do they take to produce?
Can staff readily identify what items are in freezer(s) at any given time?
Do you want to get rid of paper, spreadsheets etc. that track composite materials innefficiently?
How many different systems do you have in place to track composite material life/location?
Industry 4.0 Connectivity
CrossTrack provides a number of automation features off-the-shelf. Processes can be automated, such as database backups, generating custom reports or running external commands, each providing error handling capabilities to tackle real-world situations.
External applications can be triggered automatically when certain events occur, such as adding a new material or assembly.
Your data - your servers.
CrossTrack is designed for both small business and multinationals alike that may want to access it from multiple locations using technologies such as Citrix, which allows data to be housed on internal, secure networks rather than at risk in the cloud.
It can run completely air-gapped, with no internet connectivity required. The option is there to host your data in the cloud if you wish.
Aiding NADCAP compliance
CrossTrack delivers full traceability - from delivery of the raw material, in/out of the freezer, cutting, layup right through to the autoclave. Produce a traceability report in seconds, providing every transaction against every ply. Read our blog on how CrossTrack can help with your NADCAP compliancy.
Highly customisable 'standard' system
Every single CrossTrack customer runs the same 'off-the-shelf' system.
This ensures that any size business can take advantage of new releases without fear of 'breaking' custom development. The software itself is highly customisable, and data exchange can be handled through a variety of methods such as simple CSV through to Microsoft Web Services, ensuring that CrossTrack should be compatible with any MRP/ERP or other data system. Furthermore, 'pre-processors'' can quickly be written and configured to run prior to automated tasks such as material or orders import, allowing for data to be 're-shaped' on-the-fly.
Scalable functionality
You can work with as much or as little of CrossTrack as you need. Start with basic CAD import and nesting to immediately save on material. Next, move to material tracking and shopfloor scheduling, and then expand to track the life of your pre-preg material, with the ability to generate a full traceability report in second. Add on further features and options such as Industry 4.0 alerting, process management or nesting around defects
Additional CrossTrack stations
Several additional modules are available which provide unique functions at specific locations within your manufacturing facility.
Material Transfer Station (MTS)
Logs material in and out of locations and used to track location/movement in real-time. Also available for iOS/Android.
Material Receiving Station (MRS)
Low-cost station for data entry of raw material. Typically used in Goods In.
Advanced Material Transfer Station (ATS)
Provides all of the functionality of the Material Transfer Station, but also allows operators to view material stock and movement details.
Stock Management Station (SMS)
Allows advanced creation and editing of stock, including changing dimensions, pre-releasing and re-lifing. Suitable for Quality Managers who need more control over stock.
Office Scheduling Station (OSS)
Basic stock management and nest scheduling.
Computer Aided Manufacturing Station (CAM)
Provides CAD import and nesting, including component and assembly management along with basic material management.
Shop Floor Station (SFS)
Operator interface detailing nests to be cut, including features such as part/ply scrapping and re-nesting, feedback to MRP, ply identification on the nest, and much more.
General Purpose Information Station (GPIS)
Read-only viewing of key screens.
Management Viewer Station (MVS)
Read-only viewing of stock and order tracking screens, with access to any predefined reports.
Additional Options
Alerts
Allow users to receive automated alerts for common issues such as material expiry, kits approaching cure by date, etc.
Nesting around defects
Obtain maximum efficiency by creating true shapes around defects, which you can then nest tightly around.
Processes
Create unlimited operations and then link them to processes. These can then be associated with Kits as they travel through your facility. As each process is completed this is added to the traceability log, not only giving you location/life tracking, but also detailing every process by all staff.
Web Services Support
Provides communication via HTTP or .NET TCP for external systems such as MRP/ERP to send/receive information to CrossTrack for processes such as adding material stock, creating works orders, etc.
Find out more
Request a free online consultation to understand where CrossTrack can help save time, money and material.
