Development of intelligent drivers for precious metal scale
IoT ERP integration Industry 4.0 Sage X3
Sending precious metal weights to the ERP
Ensure the continuity of operations and regulatory compliance of a precious metals buyback network through automated traceability
This type of activity is regulated and if a control goes wrong, the risk of closure is significant. Therefore, business continuity and compliance must be at the heart of the project's requirements.
Context
SECTOR
Buyer and reseller of precious metals
SCOPE
Traceability, integration with ERP SAGE X3
MISSION
Design of embedded hardware and software architecture, service development in accordance with ERP constraints, and writing of technical documentation for support teams.
Each metal piece is weighed for the first time, then routed to a central warehouse for quality control. At each step, the weight is verified and compared.
This activity is subject to strict regulatory obligations. In the event of a customs inspection, the company's activity is fully suspended until the end of the inspection. The reliability and traceability of weighing data are part of the control.
The objective is to interconnect precision balances installed in the workshop to the ERP SAGE X3 in order to limit manual interactions.
Automation and precision
From the framing phase, we identified the main technical challenges of the project. The first was to integrate a park of heterogeneous scales, consisting of models with different uses and communication protocols. We developed an abstraction layer that allows for the normalization of exchanges with the ERP, thus providing a unique interface that is independent of the hardware used in production.
The reliability of the measurements was a major issue. Since precision scales are sensitive to their environment, we implemented a mechanism ensuring the transmission of only stabilized measurements, along with clear information to the operator in case of failure. The project also involved connecting on-site equipment to a hosted ERP. We designed a secure exchange architecture in collaboration with the client's IT teams.
The precision requirements were particularly high. The system had to control weight deviations on the order of a hundredth of a gram, automatically trigger escalation procedures in case of tolerance exceedances, and ensure complete traceability of each anomaly until its transmission to the ERP.
Before
Manual entry, manual traceability of operations, and double entry in the ERP.
After
Elimination of manual entries, complete traceability of operations, and native interoperability with the ERP through the provision of a hardware + software integrated solution.
Listening
The project brought together three stakeholders: the client, their ERP integrator, and our teams, responsible for the software layer ensuring the interface between the scales and the information system. Beyond development, we contributed to the functional framing by identifying the main exceptional scenarios right at the project's launch: management of unstable weighings, loss of communication with the equipment, or reporting anomalies to the ERP. This anticipation helped secure exchanges between the different systems and ensure the reliability of the solution's operation.
The formalization of these scenarios during the design phase has helped avoid numerous back-and-forths during development and testing. This approach illustrates our way of working: understanding business issues, anticipating technical constraints, and securing the project even before the development begins.
Operational Gains
We have designed and developed a hardware and software gateway connected to the on-site scales, exposing a standardized interface to SAGE X3.
Operating Principle
Methodology
Results
| Élément | Avant | Après |
|---|---|---|
| Acquisition du poids | Saisie manuelle par l'opérateur | Transmission automatique depuis la balance vers l'ERP |
| Traçabilité | Système interne déconnecté de la comptabilité | Données de pesée intégrées en temps réel dans l'ERP |
| Gestion des anomalies balance | Non formalisée | Signalement structuré à l'ERP, avec code et contexte |
| Mode dégradé | Non prévu | Procédure documentée, saisie manuelle de secours disponible |
| Auditabilité | Limitée | Journalisation complète de chaque opération, horodatée |
| Interopérabilité | Nulle entre balances et ERP | API unifiée, indépendante du modèle de balance |
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