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.
Working with Shop Floor Data Collection (SFDC) in a live environment? Our engineers do this every day - and our AI agents automate most of it.