A growing CNC machinery manufacturer based in Jalisco, Mexico needed clearer, faster production control. Supervisors tracked jobs and part quantities in a shared Excel workbook. Operators wrote notes by hand, then someone re entered data at the end of each shift. By the time leadership reviewed numbers, they were already stale. The team wanted a simple way to scan a job card or part label at each workstation, append clean structured data to a central file, and open it directly in Excel for live dashboards. They did not want to build a custom app or manage rugged handheld terminals.

The Challenge

The existing process suffered from delays, transcription errors, and lack of accountability: no trusted start or completion times, uncertain quantities produced, and no quick way to identify bottlenecks. Any barcode solution had to: (1) work with commodity Android or iOS devices, (2) push data instantly into a tabular format, (3) require almost zero training, and (4) remain flexible for later expansion (extra fields, quality flags, shift IDs) without code changes.

Solution Overview

The team implemented Barcode to PC using smartphones at each CNC station. An Output Template defined exactly how every scan is recorded. Each scan appends a new CSV row that can be pulled directly into Excel. No middleware server was required. The focus was on a lean template with only essential components to maximize reliability.

Key Template Design

The Output Template was built around four core components:

• BARCODE captures the Job or Part ID from the printed label.
• DATE_TIME stamps the exact moment of the event (scan at start, completion, or quantity confirmation).
• NUMBER records the produced quantity (operator inputs the count after a batch or cycle group).
• DEVICE_NAME identifies the workstation or CNC cell automatically, enabling per machine performance tracking.

These components output fields in a consistent column order. For mapping concepts to spreadsheet columns later, see the Map Columns guide. Keeping the template minimal reduced onboarding time and mistakes.

CSV Output Structure

Every scan adds a line to the shared CSV (opened live in Excel or imported into BI tooling). A typical row:

The structure mirrors the component sequence. Because timestamp and device name are automatic, operators only focus on scanning the job label and entering the batch quantity.

Operator Workflow

1. Operator scans the job or part label. The BARCODE component fills JobID.
2. Production begins. (Optional mid cycle scans can be ignored to keep data clean.)
3. Upon completion of the batch, operator taps to enter the produced quantity via the NUMBER component.
4. The template appends the row with DATE_TIME and DEVICE_NAME automatically.
5. Supervisors refresh the Excel view to see the latest accumulated output.

Why It Worked

• Simplicity: Only four components, reducing cognitive load.
• Trustworthy timing: Automatic timestamps removed guesswork.
• Per machine accountability: DEVICE_NAME tied production to station.
• Scalable structure: Additional columns (for shift code or scrap) can be inserted later by extending the template without rewriting logic.
• Fast adoption: Familiar smartphone interface avoided special hardware procurement.

Results

Within the first week supervisors reduced time spent consolidating production data. The nightly reconciliation step disappeared, since managers could filter or pivot the live CSV inside Excel. Early anomalies (slow machine, abnormally low batch counts) surfaced before the end of shift, enabling immediate intervention.

Next Optimization Ideas

After validating the core flow, the team can optionally layer in:

• A second template for scrap events (still reusing BARCODE and DATE_TIME for consistency).
• Quality status or operator ID using another controlled field (added cautiously to keep speed).
• Automated lookup to enrich the JobID with a description (see examples like AI Template Generator for structured customization approaches).

Getting Started Yourself

Define the leanest possible Output Template first. Add only the fields you will actually review daily. Confirm each new column has a real decision attached. Then deploy to one pilot workstation, validate row accuracy, and roll out across remaining CNC stations.

If you manufacture discrete parts or assemblies and still rely on manual tally sheets, this approach can deliver immediate visibility with almost no IT overhead.

Try building your first template today and watch your production data become actionable in real time.