Introduction

The PTPE (Product Tracking Performance Evaluation) project is a joint effort between LSG SkyChefs Ltd and the ISOM Department of Auckland University. By implementing scientific procedures to track products through the production chain at LSG, this project aims to deliver the right food on the right plane at the right time. In addition to this, the system will monitor staff production rates and allow for establishment of benchmark standards.

Overview

The aviation industry has been faced with financial challenges, and these challenges have been passed on to their suppliers, including in flight catering. By implementing the PTPE system, LSG SkyChefs attempts to reduce its own operational cost.

The current architecture consists of an FIS server networked to the LINK. LINK is an Oracle database system, which stores details on the contents of a flight, while FIS is a real-time worksheet based system which stores cart-level information within each flight. The PTPE system will be added as an extension to this existing architecture.

Analysis

The current manual procedures were examined thoroughly and 10 critical points were identified through the production process.

Use case diagrams were drawn to capture the functional requirements of the proposed system.

Design

The proposed solution will be added as Client-Server architecture; clients will be fitted at each of the identified critical points through the production process and connected to the existing FIS server via a star topology.

Clients will be designed as rugged, industrialised stainless steel console boxes. These console boxes will be attached USB RS-232 barcode scanners.

An ATM-style user interface will be designed on the console boxes at the Loading and Unloading Bays. The limited technical knowledge of end-users has led to a very simple, robust, consistent interface design.

Implementation

The possibility of myriad real-time errors makes it imperative to thoroughly test the system before implementation. User Interface testing will be conducted in a top-down manner to ensure that it is totally error-free.

The users will be trained on a classroom and one-to-one basis. Classroom training will introduce the workers to computers. One-to-one training will explain the impacts of the proposed system on the each worker’s specific task.