NorTRACK (TM) product tracking system - development and implementation

This paper presents the experience gained by developers and users with impl ementation and operation of NorTRACK(TM), a real-time computerized product tracking system. A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) collects and transfe rs data in real time to NorTRACK's Oracle(TM) database on a Windows NTTM se rver network. After extensive development and Beta testing at MDS Nordion's Canadian Irradiation Centre in Montreal, Canada, NorTRACK was installed in January 1997 with a new irradiation facility in Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc.' s Albuquerque plant in the United States. NorTRACK communicates with the ir radiator control and safety system, the plant's central manufacturing datab ase, an innovative pallet staging and tote loading robot, and an automated dosimetry reading system. This integrated system allows the sterilization f acility to monitor the irradiator operation and the flow of many products, through varied processing modes, continuously and reliably. As a result of operating with NorTRACK, both MDS Nordion's CIC facility and the Endo-Surge ry manufacturing site, are beginning to realize unique benefits in their re spective operations. MDS Nordion is also initiating several future product enhancements and additional productivity modules. This paper describes the NorTRACK system, the various stages of the development project and Beta tes ts, and the experience of the users to date in their operations. (C) 1999 E lsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.