What Is Shop Floor Data Collection (SFDC)?
Also known as: SFDC, shop floor reporting, production reporting, data capture
Definition
Shop floor data collection (SFDC) is the capture of actual production data, such as operator labor time, quantities completed, scrap, machine run time and material usage, directly from the factory floor into the ERP or MES, ideally at the moment work happens.
Shop Floor Data Collection (SFDC) Explained
Data can be collected manually on terminals, tablets or barcode scanners, or automatically from machines through PLCs, OPC UA, MTConnect or I/O counters. Manual capture is flexible but depends on operator discipline. Automatic capture is accurate for run time and counts but cannot explain why a machine stopped without an operator reason code.
Infor SyteLine includes a Shop Floor Data Collection module with transaction types for job start, job end, indirect labor, move, and machine run, often used with badge or barcode scanning at kiosks. Infor LN supports reporting through Shop Floor Control sessions and its Manufacturing Data Collection capability. NetSuite typically uses Work Order Completion records fed from mobile apps or partner terminals.
The data collected drives job costing, WIP valuation, payroll labor distribution, efficiency reports and delivery date updates. Poor collection shows up as jobs that never close, labor hours charged to the wrong order and standard costs that look fine while margins quietly erode.
Why It Matters
- Actual labor and machine time feed job cost, so late or guessed entries distort margin reporting.
- Timely quantity and scrap reports keep WIP and inventory balances correct for MRP.
- Operator reason codes for stops are the raw material for downtime and OEE analysis.
- Clean, structured collection is a precondition for any useful AI or analytics over production data.
In Practice
A fabrication shop used paper travelers and had a clerk key labor at day end. Hours were often rounded and moved to whichever job was open. After placing badge-scan terminals at each cell, start and stop transactions posted in real time. The shop found that setup time on one family of parts was nearly double the routing standard, a pattern the paper process had hidden for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What data does shop floor data collection capture?
Typically operator and indirect labor time, setup and run time, good and scrap quantities, material issues, moves between operations and reason codes for downtime.
Should collection be manual or automatic?
A mix works best. Use automatic signals from machines for counts and run state, and operator input for quantities, scrap and the reason behind stops.
Does SFDC require an MES?
No. Several ERPs, including SyteLine, offer their own data collection. A dedicated MES adds enforced sequencing, work instructions and richer machine integration.
Related Terms
Manufacturing Execution System (MES)
A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is software that tracks, controls and documents production on the shop floor in real time, from releasing a work order to recording what was actually made, by whom, on which machine and with which materials.
Work Order
A work order is the ERP document that authorizes production of a defined quantity of an item by a due date. It snapshots the bill of materials and routing, drives material issues and labor reporting, and collects actual cost for the job.
Labor Reporting
Labor reporting is the recording of the hours each employee spends on specific jobs, operations or indirect activities, so that the ERP can calculate actual job cost, labor efficiency and payroll distribution.
Downtime Tracking
Downtime tracking is the systematic recording of when a machine or line stops, for how long and for what reason, so that planned and unplanned stoppages can be measured, categorized and reduced.
Job Order
A job order in SyteLine is the production work order that authorises manufacturing a quantity of an item. It carries its own copy of the bill of material and routing, collects material, labor, and overhead costs, and moves through a defined status life cycle.
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SyteLine Job Cost Estimate Calculator
Estimate the unit cost of a job from setup hours, run time, labor and machine rates, material and scrap, and see how batch size moves cost per piece.
Keep exploring
Free tools
- SyteLine Job Cost Estimate CalculatorEstimate the unit cost of a job from setup hours, run time, labor and machine rates, material and scrap, and see how batch size moves cost per piece.
- MES Implementation Cost CalculatorEstimate total MES implementation cost across licensing, shop-floor terminal hardware, configuration labor, and ERP integration complexity.
- Paperless Shop Floor ROI CalculatorCalculate labor time saved and rework avoided by replacing paper travelers and work orders with digital shop-floor terminals or tablets.
ERP fixes and how-tos
- Infor XA Factory Track: What It Does and How to Plan Shop Floor Data CollectionWhat Factory Track does for Infor XA shop floor data collection, which transactions it captures, how to plan a setup, and alternatives when it is aging.
- How to Send Production and Labor Reporting from MES to ERPHow to design MES to ERP production and labor reporting: operation confirmations, good and scrap quantities, labor clock times, idempotent posting and error handling.
- Infor Factory Track for M3: Shop Floor Data Collection ExplainedWhat Infor Factory Track does for M3 manufacturers: shop floor data collection feeding M3 orders, how the integration is structured and how to plan the setup.
Runs with your ERP
- Infor Factory Track Shop Floor with SyteLine: paperless labor, job and WIP reportingHow Factory Track Shop Floor kiosks record labor, job operations and WIP in SyteLine, with setup steps, common pitfalls and where a private AI layer helps.
- Infor Factory Track with Infor LN: barcode inventory, labor and lot or serial traceabilityFactory Track covers barcode inventory, job material, labor and lot or serial traceability for Infor LN and SyteLine. Setup, pitfalls and a private AI layer.
- Infor Factory Track Time Track with SyteLine: attendance and labor captureHow Infor Factory Track Time Track captures clock-ins, breaks, absences and labor for SyteLine, applies attendance rules and prepares payroll data.
Guides
- Mobile Shop Floor Reporting for SyteLine ProductionImplement mobile shop floor data collection in SyteLine. Configure labor reporting, operation completions, and production data capture on handheld devices.
- SyteLine Labor Tracking and Reporting ConfigurationConfigure SyteLine labor tracking. Employee time reporting, labor rate setup, attendance integration, and efficiency analysis for manufacturing operations.
- How to Manage Shop Floor Transactions in Infor SyteLineStep-by-step guide to managing shop floor transactions in Infor SyteLine, including material issues, labor posting, job completions, and data collection integration.
Integrations
- How to add a mobile app to Infor SyteLineBuild or extend a mobile app for Infor SyteLine: barcode scanning, labor reporting, inventory moves and approvals over IDO REST, with offline and device options.
- How to add a mobile app to Made2ManageAdd a mobile or tablet app to Made2Manage for barcode scanning, labor and inventory moves, offline use and approvals, built around a database and controlled write path.