Digitalizing Track-and-Trace for Mold Asset Management in the WIP System with CipherLab RS38 and Pic 'n Fill OCR

In the precision-driven world of microelectronics manufacturing, operational efficiency within the Work-in-Progress (WIP) system is the cornerstone of success. A leading global manufacturer in Southeast Asia recently addressed critical bottlenecks in its track-and-trace operations by digitizing the management of high-value molds using CipherLab’s advanced mobile solutions.

The Challenge: Manual Barriers in Track-and-Trace Process
The company’s existing infrastructure relied on fixed workstations and operator’s visual identification on the mold numbers, which created significant friction in daily operations. Operators were forced to move back and forth between the production line and workstations for data entry, leading to inefficient movement and lost time.

Many essential molds featured "non-barcode" data, such as numbers that were engraved or etched. Traditional scanners could not read these formats, operators had to record data manually, a process highly prone to human error and administrative delays. The primary goal was to enable mobile and automatic data capture to improve efficiency and reduce manual effort during their daily work.

The Solution: Agile Pic'n Fill OCR Integration
Following a professional system and process advisory, the manufacturer implemented the CipherLab RS38 Mobile Computer together with the Pic 'n Fill OCR solution to modernize its asset management workflow. This integration enables operators to capture data directly at the production line, removing the need to travel back and forth to fixed workstations. By supporting real-time, on-site data collection, the solution delivers true mobile autonomy while maintaining reliability in demanding manufacturing environments.

To better meet operational demands and ensure high accuracy in mold number identification, Pic 'n Fill OCR was customized to incorporate the manufacturer’s established rules for mold tracking, including specific combinations of letters and numbers commonly used on the shop floor. With this tailored configuration, the solution intelligently recognizes and captures data with speed and precision. The Pic 'n Fill OCR-captured data is transmitted seamlessly to the company’s web application, allowing for smooth data entry without the need for manual typing or complicated software adjustments.

As a result, the deployment delivered immediate and measurable improvements to the WIP system. Mold number entry time was reduced from several minutes to under three seconds per unit, while automated capture improved data accuracy by approximately five percent, minimizing the risk of misplaced assets and production errors. By simplifying identification tasks and reducing physical strain, the solution optimized daily workloads and bridged the gap between physical assets and digital systems, empowering the manufacturer to achieve a faster, more accurate, and truly mobile production environment.