Business and manufacturing systems integration node and automation device

A method for automatedly integrating a node device with a workstation and an ERP system, the method comprising:

• installing a node device at a workstation;
• receiving, by the node device, a workstation identification;
• identifying, by the node device, an ERP system for the workstation;
• loading an ERP communication driver corresponding to the ERP system identified;
• generating, by the node device, automation instructions for the workstation based on a set of external automated devices connected to the node device at the workstation and a set of work data information and inventory location data received by the node device from the ERP system;
• identifying, by the node device, an available node job to execute by the node device based on a set of available job data received by the node device from the ERP system;
• for the available node job identified, receiving, by the node device, a set of job information data from the ERP system associated with the available node job;
• executing each job information data associated with the available node job identified, including:
• providing, by the node device, automation instructions to one or more external automated devices based on the job information data and automation instructions;
• providing, by the node device, one or more ERP inventory updates, job information updates, or ERP information updates to the ERP system based on the automation instructions and the job information data;
• processing, by the node device, input signal data received from the one or more external automated devices based on the automation instructions and input signal data received;
• and
• generating, by the node device, the one or more ERP inventory updates, job information updates, or ERP information updates based on the input signal data processed and the automation instructions;
• determining, by the node device, that each job information data for the available node job identified has been executed;
• and
• reporting, by the node device, to the ERP system that the available job data associated with the available node job identified is completed.

A node device for integrating with external systems and externally connected devices and automating the external systems and the externally connected devices, comprising:

• a memory comprising computer readable instructions;
• input and output mechanisms operably coupling the node device to an external ERP system and one or more externally connected devices;
• an internal storage;
• an external case allowing access to the input and out mechanisms and enclosing the memory, internal storage, and a processor;
• and
• the processor configured to read the computer readable instructions that when executed causes the node device to:
• initialize at a workstation;
• receive, by the node device, a workstation identification for the workstation;
• identify, by the node device, an ERP system for the workstation;
• load an ERP communication driver corresponding to the ERP system identified;
• load one or more automation instructions based on the workstation identification into a node device memory;
• identify, by the node device, an available node job to execute by the node device, based on a set of available job data received from the ERP system;
• receive, by the node device, one or more job information data from the ERP system for the available node job identified;
• execute, by the node device, each node job data based on the automation instructions, including:
• provide, by the node device, automation instructions to one or more external automated devices operably coupled with the node device based on the automation instructions and the node job data;
• provide, by the node device, one or more ERP inventory updates, job information updates, or ERP information updates to the ERP system based on the automation instructions and the node job data;
• process, by the node device, input signal data received from the one or more external automated devices based on the automation instructions and input signal data received;
• and
• generate, by the node device, the one or more ERP inventory updates, job information updates, or ERP information updates based on the input signal data processed and the automation instructions;
• determine, by the node device, that each job information data for the available node job identified is complete;
• and
• report, by the node device, to the ERP system that the available job data is completed.