An "Operator Interface" is one of Amper's Outposts that is designed to run on a tablet or computer on your factory floor. It allows operators to input certain pieces of information about your operation.
Having your operators log data using an Operator Interface will enrich your data and result in more specific data for root cause analysis and OEE tracking.
What type of information can be collected at an Operator Interface?
Operators can use Operator Interfaces to enter in downtime reasons, part/scrap counts, job number or other custom information.
They can also use the Outpost to call for help or escalate issues through the Call Team function.
Check out the sections below to learn more about each function of the operator interface.
Best Devices for Operator Interfaces
Setting up an Operator Interface requires an internet connection, so the device you choose must have access to the internet.
If you already have an existing workstation at your machine that is connected to your network, that workstation can also be used as an Outpost. However, if you don't already have a workstation or you wish to use a different, more sturdy device, you can also use an internet enabled tablet to use as your Outpost.
For specific guidance on purchasing a tablet, see our article below.
IT Configurations for Outposts
In order to properly use your Amper Outposts, they will need to connect to our system through the internet. If you are using devices that connect to the internet through your factory's local network, you may need to update your IT configuration to allow this access.
The following domains will have to be whitelisted so the devices can access our system:
Domains Open (Outbound - Ports 443, 80)
- *amper.xyz
- sentry.io
- *zdassets.com
Creating an Operator Interface
Once you have your devices ready, the next step is to create Outposts in your Amper web app.
In the top right corner of the page, click the drop down menu in the top right corner and click Settings.
In the bar at the top of the page, click Outposts.
This will take you to the Outposts page in your Amper App. This screen is where you can Create, Delete, Edit, and view your Outposts you have created. To create an Outpost, click on the blue button in the top right corner that says "Add Outpost".
After pressing the "Add Outpost" button, you will be presented with a screen to input some information about the outpost.
First you will select the type of Outpost you want to create. In this example we will select "Operator Interface". Next you will input a Name for the Outpost as well as a Description for the Outpost that will help you recognize which Outpost this refers to.
Finally you will select the machines that you want this Outpost to have access to. If you have your Machine Groups configured, you can select one from the drop down labeled "Group", alternatively you can press the link for the "Machine Picker" to show the list of machines for you to select from. After you have your machines selected, press "Save" to create the Outpost.
After saving the Outpost, you will be presented with the Outpost Login Code along with some important usage guidelines. Press OK and you should see your new Outpost Login Code in the list of your Outposts.
Logging into an Operator Interface
🚨 Before logging into your Outpost, first make sure that the browser Google Chrome is installed.
This is the browser that Amper supports and highly recommend this browser for using your Outpost. If using a computer workstation, download Google Chrome from the link and follow the installation instructions. If using a tablet, navigate to the application used to download 3rd Party Applications and download the tablet version of Google Chrome.
After downloading, launch your Chrome browser and navigate to tablet.amper.xyz. Here you will log in with the 8 letter outpost code that was generated when you created your outpost. In our example this is the code "YPEO-UWNT" as shown in the picture above.
After logging in you will see the list of the machines you selected when setting up the Outpost.
Click on the machine you would like to interact with and you will see the current machine timeline along the top. Press the drop down menu in the top right corner and select one of your enabled Outpost Modules to begin using it.
Does Amper work with Barcode Scanners?
Customer Experience
Some customers are utilizing barcode scanners to enter information into tally sheets. Operators are using a Bluetooth barcode scanner at the operator interfaces to populate their part and job numbers as well as their sales order number.
This Barcode scanner can be found on Amazon for ~ $40.
Developmental Work
Some customers are in the testing phase of utilizing a Keyence handheld computer with a barcode reader as an operator interface. This scanner has a touch screen and would allow the operators to be more mobile.
Option 1:
Handheld Computer DX series
Option 2:
Handheld Computer BT-A700 series
To learn more about each specific feature available in the Operator Interface, you can select each page below. If you would like to provide operators with a training handout, please see the attached handout below for printing or digital viewing.
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