Kyzentree Information Hub

Getting Started

How quickly can I get started?

Follow these 5 steps to get up and running in a matter of hours:

• Book a free trial
• Set up your manufacturing environment (shift patterns, targets, etc) for the two processes chosen for your trial
• Set up the Kt-Pulse collector app on your table (Android or iOS)
• Start tracking productivity, quality and downtime through the app (production operators)
• Start visualising the analytics through our suite of dashboards

How long is a free trial?
30 days

How do we get trained on how to use Kt-Pulse?
You will get access to our suite of training videos that deal with all aspects of Kt-Pulse. But our Customer Success team also check in with you routinely throughout the trial and beyond and are available for remote assistance as needed. After all, your success is our success.

Does the Kyzentree team need to come on site to set up Kt-Pulse?
No, absolutely not. We support you remotely on all aspects from setup to data capture and of course data visualisation.

Do you need to be very tech savvy to use Kt-Pulse??
Absolutely not. If you can handle an app on your smartphone then you will have no problems with Kt-Pulse. The data collector app is super easy to use and the configuration and analytics frontend has been designed to maximise the user experience.

How much time is required to get Kt-Pulse up and running?
From start to finish, you can be monitoring a process using Kt-Pulse within 3 to 4 hours. The most time consuming piece is inputting the information into the system (shift pattern, targets, scrap codes, etc), so allow a few hours for that. Once that’s in place, just download the app, link it up and you are ready to start logging data and viewing the analytics.

What happens at the end of the trial?
By the end of the trial, we hope that you will love Kt-Pulse and see the benefits of purchasing a license to continue using it. At that stage, we will have checked in with you a number of times to see how you are getting on. Towards the end of the trial, we will have a review with you and your team and discuss the next steps to becoming a paying customer. We will work with you to discuss a scaleup plan so that you can add additional data collectors at a pace that suits you.

What are the IT requirements to get up and running?
It’s really quick and easy to get Kt-Pulse operating in your plant…

1. Tablets: Android or iOS tablets to run the Kt-Pulse Collector app on the manufacturing floor. The app can also be run through a PC by downloading BlueStacks
2. WiFi: A WiFi connection for the tablets on the manufacturing floor (set up a separate SSID if possible). The data that transmits between the tablets and our server is light but it’s a good idea to test that the signal strength is reasonably good before the trial starts
3. App: Download the Kt-Pulse Collector app for free from the Playstore or App Store onto your tablets. You will need a Gmail account to access the Play Store. Your IT department might already have a company Gmail account set up
4. Monitor: Set up a digital monitor and mini PC on the manufacturing floor for displaying the analytics. The analytics are best viewed on a Chrome browser
5. Whitelist: We will send you our application addresses so that they can be whitelisted on your firewall

Other important points:

• Accessories: To protect your tablet from damage, we recommend putting a shell case and screen protector on them. We can supply them to you or give you the spec details to source your own
• Charging: We recommend leaving the tablets on charge all of the time to avoid running out of charge. We can supply extra long charging cables or give you the spec details to source your own
• Kiosk: Your company policy may be to set up the tablets in Kiosk mode to hide all unnecessary apps. We’re happy to give advice on this
• IT Department: It’s always good to involve your IT department from the start so that they can work with you on the above list

Do we have to download the Kt-Pulse software onto the company servers?
No. Kt-Pulse is a cloud-based application built with all of the cutting edge technology and security that AWS has to offer. Kt-Pulse is a web application that runs best on Google Chrome, so no downloading of software onto company laptops or servers. The app counterpart is downloaded from the Playstore or App Store. The app connects to your company’s WiFi system to communicate directly with our server but does not interact with any of your company systems or servers.

Suitability and functionality

What kind of manufacturing environments use Kt-Pulse?
Kt-Pulse is used to monitor any type of manual assembly, inspection or packaging process. Basically, any process that is run by a production operator. The operator interacts with the app in real-time, capturing good units, rework, defects and downtime as they arise. Quick button presses, right throughout their shift. This allows the production operator to tell the story in quantifiable terms with far less effort and far greater accuracy than any paper or spreadsheet system.

What industries use Kt-Pulse?
Kt-Pulse can be used in any manufacturing industry sector that uses production operators on their manufacturing floor. Examples include Medtech, Pharma, Electronics, Automobile, Food & Beverage or High Value Consumables such as watches or handbags.

We track productivity, quality and downtime using checksheets and spreadsheets. Why change?
Checksheets, tally counters, spreadsheets and whiteboards are useful for capturing performance data. We helped our clients to implement those types of systems for decades!
But they lack clarity and accuracy and take a lot of resource time to maintain the charts and reports. This is time that your support team should be responding to issues.
Kt-Pulse makes it easy for operators to quickly and easily log good units, defects and downtime issues in real-time through a simple touchscreen, right at the point where they are working (we call it our data collector app). And the Kt-Pulse dashboards are automatically updated for the whole team to see, freeing up the resources to focus on addressing the issues. All of the dashboards have been designed with the help of manufacturing and lean experts, giving them the information that they need to manage the manufacturing floor effectively and efficiently.

Is Kt-Pulse customisable for any manufacturing process?
Yes. It is very easy to create and update your own manufacturing parameters into the system through our web application. Shift patterns, scrap codes, downtime codes, output targets, etc, etc are quickly and easily added into the system through a simple user interface. This makes the analytics data much more meaningful to your teams.

Does Kt-Pulse measure OEE?
Yes, in a very unique way. OEE (or overall equipment effectiveness) is typically a measure of machine effectiveness. It is calculated as

OEE = Availability x Performance x Quality

We have developed Kt-Pulse so that OEE can be measured from the production operator’s perspective. Because operators typically work on an assembly line we call it OLE (overall line effectiveness).
The operators log downtime, which allows us to measure Availability. They log output, which allows us to measure Performance and they log scrap and rework, which allows us to measure Quality. It’s the only software system on the market that allows you to measure OEE for manual processes. Check out our OEE definition in more detail here.

Do I need to put a Kt-Pulse data collector at every process step?
No, not at all. That will just lead to too much data – analysis paralysis! The data collectors are located at the most critical locations on the manufacturing floor, where it is most important to monitor productivity and downtime. Typically, a collector is set up at critical inspection and packaging processes, at the constraint steps and sometimes even at the start of assembly lines. For the other process steps, it may just be a matter of ensuring the product keeps moving. We will discuss your unique environment with you during the onboarding process to help you decide.

What if I want to track performance at a different process step? Can I move a data collector?
Absolutely. You can set up a new process, with all of its unique parameters. Once you are ready to go, you can take an existing collector, enter a new link key and the collector can be moved to the new location in a matter of minutes. Of course you could also leave the existing collector where it is and set up a new collector at the new process step or workstation. Whatever works best for you.

Can I set different output targets for different products?
No problem. All of the part numbers are assigned their own unique output target during setup. Each time a batch is completed, the operator performs a batch changeover process through the app. This will time exactly how long the changeover process takes and when the operator chooses which part number to work on next, the targets will automatically change for the shift and for each hour remaining in the shift. So, Kt-Pulse works great in mixed model lines, where targets can change from one product to the next.

Can we adjust targets for different numbers of operators on the line?
Kt-Pulse can handle that too! Different targets can be configured into the system to cater for different number of production operators.

Do I have to log every good unit that we produce separately?
No, not at all. Kt-Pulse works very well on assembly lines that have one-piece flow, where you want to log each individual unit produced. However, there are many instances where you might need to log multiple good units at a time. For example, at a packaging process, if you package 20 components into a box, then you can set up the data collector to log 20 units every time you press the green button.

How do I access the Kt-Pulse Analytics?
Kt-Pulse analytics is accessed through our web application. All of your manufacturing analytics in one place, in real-time. The Kt-Pulse web application is optimised to run on a Google Chrome browser.

What kind of insights can I get from Kt-Pulse?
Kt-Pulse has a suite of ‘Live’, ‘Shift summary’ and ‘Trend’ dashboards. The live dashboards will tell you how everything is going at a glance and where action is needed. The shift summary dashboards will tell you everything you need to know for your daily meetings and the trend dashboards will tell you how things are going over the longer term and where improvement activity should be focused. Kt-Pulse is OEE for manual manufacturing processes. Check out how we track OEE and other critical parameters here.

How do I display the analytics dashboards?
Large digital monitors are mounted in the manufacturing areas so that everybody is kept up-to-date in real time. Ceiling mounted monitors work best for displaying the analytics at the manufacturing processes and wall mounted monitors work best for team meetings.

Can I track batch numbers?
Absolutely. Each time an operator performs a changeover process, they select the next batch to work on. This will keep you up-to-date with precisely how each batch is performing and when you can expect them to be completed.

Do operators spend a lot of time interacting with the app?
No, not at all. Operators interact with the app, on average, 30 seconds every hour. Operators can log anything from 3 or 4 events per hour up to 60 or 70 events per hour. Because it’s so quick to touch the homescreen and because the app is located right where the production operators are working, they can log 60 good units per hour (one every minute!) and still only amount to 30 seconds of interaction time per hour. That’s less than the time they spend writing data into spreadsheets or calculating numbers to put on whiteboards.

Benefits

 
What is the biggest benefit of using Kt-Pulse?
Kt-Pulse converts non value add time into value add time and we all know that time is money. Kt-Pulse does this in so many ways…

• Much less time logging productivity, quality & downtime data
• The time spent maintaining production reports is eliminated
• No more time preparing for meetings; the data is already there
• Less downtime; quicker response times to issues
• More productive time; Kt-Pulse highlights where to focus improvement activity

And the impact of saving all of this time?
Higher productivity, increased resource efficiency, better team alignment & collaboration and of course lower manufacturing costs.

What other benefits does Kt-Pulse bring?
Apart from the time saving and the associated efficiency and productivity gains that brings:

• Increased visibility of how your manufacturing floor is performing
• Standardised reporting across your site
• Better team alignment, collaboration and morale

What fees apply after the trial?
Licensing fees are charged on a quarterly or annual basis, depending on the number of data collectors in operation. For this, you get access to all aspects of the software and the online training material as well as unlimited technical support. For further details, contact sales.

Are there additional fees for training or support?
No. Online training and support are covered by your licensing fee.

Legal & security

 Does Kt-Pulse need to be validated?
No. Production operators use the Kt-Pulse collector app to log productivity, quality and downtime events. It does not make any decisions in relation to the quality or regulatory requirements of the devices being manufactured. Although information relating to defect quantities and types is entered into the Kt-Pulse system, it is the client’s quality inspection procedures and the operators that determine whether a product is acceptable or not. Kt-Pulse simply stores manufacturing performance data, allowing you to manage your manufacturing operations more effectively.

Is personal data stored on the Kt-Pulse system?
We collect certain information such as names and email addresses in order to provide you with the business service and products that you receive from us. Check out our Privacy Policy and Privacy Statement for more details.

Is Kyzentree GDPR compliant?
Yes. At Kyzentree, we understand the importance of putting privacy and data protection in the hands of our customers, so we are fully in compliance with GDPR guidelines. We have carefully examined the relevant provisions of the GDPR and we’re closely following applicable GDPR guidance issued by regulatory authorities. The GDPR strengthens individuals’ privacy rights through tighter controls over the processing of their personal data, significant expansion of their rights over their data, and increased transparency into the nature, purpose, and use of it. In our eyes, GDPR is a good thing. Read our GDPR Compliance guidelines.

Who owns the data that the customer inputs into the Kt-Pulse system?
All client data entered into the Kt-Pulse system is the property of the client. In the event that a contract is terminated, Kyzentree can return the raw data to the customer in .csv format, at the request of the customer, for a small administration fee. Kyzentree may use data in an anonymised format to provide clients with general manufacturing trend analysis but we will never publish data that is directly linked to a client.

Is data stored within the data collectors and is it secure?
Data is sent to our secure cloud-based server with end to end encryption. Data is not stored on the data collector (tablet or iPad) unless it needs to be stored temporarily during a WiFi connectivity issue. Once the WiFi returns, any stored events are automatically sent to the server with end to end encryption.

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