What Are Smart Forms?
Smart Forms enable companies to create interactive forms and checklists that integrate directly into your work instructions. To the rest of the world, Smart Forms are primarily a method of collecting data from workers on the shop floor. But to us here at VKS, Smart Forms can be used to do so much more.
Imagine a digital form that can collect data, send information to the appropriate people, and dynamically guide workers with the right steps at the right time. This technology enables manufacturers to achieve high levels of process control and versatility.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Paper forms are static and rigidly linear, but Smart Forms enable processes to be dynamic to current conditions.
A Smart Form is a digital tool that enables forms and checklists to be integrated into your work instructions.
This technology enables advanced process control through responsive actions based on operator and system inputs.
Use Smart Forms to autonomously generate reports, send/receive information, and dynamically guide workers.
Smart Forms can be programmed to appear at any point within the assembly and can be shared across multiple guidebooks.
Smart Forms Example
Imagine you are filling out physical medical paperwork and detailing your medical history. If you check off any of the boxes, you may need to shuffle through a few pages to find the right section to elaborate.
But with Smart Forms, when you check off a certain box or answer any question, the digital form will immediately lead you to the next appropriate section. This creates a streamlined and dynamic process that is responsive to the user. This has incredible implications for many industries that focus on accurate and fast data collection.
The Versatility and Dynamism of Smart Forms
Paper instructions and forms are static and linear. On the other hand, digital instructions and Smart Forms are incredibly versatile, enabling processes to be dynamic to the individual user and current production conditions. No matter the production or service, your circumstances will inevitably change; and organizations need to be flexible to the shifts in production and the market.
Smart Forms create processes that are responsive to the answers given by the operator and other systems. Imagine for a minute that one of your employees indicates that a specification number is out of range within the smart form. In response to this, our work instructions software will perform the following actions:
Display a message telling the operator what to do;
Send an email to the quality department;
Send the user back on step 1;
Open a second form asking the user to fill in nonconformance details.
With this capability, operators can focus on their work while their system takes care of the rest. Both management and workers can rest assured that the right information is being captured and shared with the right people.
Smart Forms can also be shared across multiple guidebooks or kept local to only one set of instructions. This enables companies to assure standardization for every similar procedure while also tailoring their Smart Forms for their specific and high-priority processes.
The 12 Smart Form Types
To help understand the capabilities of Smart Forms, here are the 12 most common types that users integrate into their work instruction guidebooks. Users can create custom-built Smart Forms or they can simply add onto one of the following form types.
Limitless Potential
The potential of Smart Forms is endless. With the ability to collect and relay data while guiding workers to the correct actions, Smart Forms enhance any procedure for any employee.
Your processes need to be as versatile as your business. Use Smart Forms and work instruction software to achieve dynamic standardization.
