Weight & Measurement

For many companies, such as shipping companies, measurement of weight is directly tied to revenue. For other companies, the measurement of weight is tied to cost. But in either case, weight measurements can have a direct effect on profitabilty. By connecting the scales to a network, the weight information can be quickly transmitted directly to a central computer, thereby eliminating the mistakes and delays associated with manual data entry or computer file copying.

In the shipping company application, the scale is located on a forklift. The weight of the parcel is measured when it is lifted by the forklift, and this information is then transmitted wiressly to a central computer where it is compared against the waybill. The result is more accurate calculations of price, faster invoicing, and higher customer satisifaction.

Networking scales is also an effective way to improve operations within a corporate shipping department. By networking the scales, the weight of outgoing shipments can be measured and input directly into a computer system, which can then print out shipping labels and input the relevant cost information into the corporate accounting system.

In addition to scales, many other types of measurement devices can be networked for improved monitoring and control. For example, a museum could network temperature and humidity measurement devices to protect sensitive artwork; the museum’s central computer would be immediately notified of any problems, and send out alerts to the appropriate personnel.  nother application could be using spectrophotometers on a production line to determine if the color of a product was accurately rendered. If the color were outside of the specified tolerance range, the central computer would be notified, the production line would be stopped, and the company’s quality control database would be automatically updated.