Relating welding wire to a power source

A method of relating wire to a power source in a factory environment, the method comprising:

• receiving first time stamped data associated with a consumable source of wire within a factory environment at one or more server computers in a networked system, wherein the first time stamped data indicates:
• at least one of an identity or a location of the consumable source of wire within the factory environment, and
• an energization status, stamped with a first time, indicating an energization state of the consumable source of wire within the factory environment;
• receiving second time stamped data associated with a power source within the factory environment at the one or more server computers in the networked system, wherein the second time stamped data indicates:
• at least one of an identity or a location of the power source within the factory environment, and
• an activation status, stamped with a second time, indicating an activation state of the power source within the factory environment;
• and
• the one or more server computers in the networked system matching the power source to the consumable source of wire based on at least the first time stamped data, the first time, the second time stamped data, and the second time, wherein the matching indicates that the power source is actively using the consumable source of wire during an operation within the factory environment.

A networked system for relating wire to a power source in a factory environment, the networked system comprising:

• at least one server computer configured to:
• receive first time stamped data associated with a consumable source of wire within a factory environment, wherein the first time stamped data indicates:
• at least one of an identity or a location of the consumable source of wire within the factory environment, and
• at least one of a weight status, stamped with a first time, indicating a change in weight, or an energization status, stamped with a second time, indicating an energization state, of the consumable source of wire within the factory environment;
• receive second time stamped data associated with a power source within the factory environment, wherein the second time stamped data indicates:
• at least one of an identity or a location of the power source within the factory environment, and
• an activation status, stamped with a third time, indicating an activation of the power source within the factory environment;
• and
• match the power source to the consumable source of wire based on at least the first time stamped data, at least one of the first time and the second time, the second time stamped data, and the third time, indicating that the power source is actively using the consumable source of wire during an operation within the factory environment.