System and method for dynamically reporting manufacturing data in a spreadsheet format

A method of monitoring a plurality of events in a manufacturing facility, the method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining data regarding the events from monitoring devices;
• communicating the obtained data to a reporting device;
• providing a report regarding the monitored events, the report including information regarding at least one characteristic of each of the monitored events;
• dynamically updating the information of the report to provide a real time indication of the characteristics of the monitored events;
• presenting the real time indications in respective cells of the report;
• and
• using at least one of the reporting device or one of the monitoring devices to provide a real-time, dynamically updated output to an individual machine operator of a selected machine regarding current operation of the selected machine, wherein:
• the real-time, dynamically updated output comprises a plurality of cells,
• a first set of the cells provides at least one indication of a machine or equipment involved in at least one of the monitored events,
• a second set of the cells provides an indication of a status of a machine or equipment having an indication in the first set of the cells,
• a third set of the cells provides an indication of a total run time for a machine or equipment having an indication in the first set of cells,
• a fourth set of the cells provides an indication of a number of cycles performed by a machine or equipment having an indication in the first set of cells,
• the at least one of the monitoring devices includes a housing mounted in a selected location relative to the selected machine,
• the at least one of the monitoring devices includes a memory and a processor in the housing,
• the at least one of the monitoring devices includes a plurality of user-defined inputs embedded in the memory or the processor, and
• the user-defined inputs configure the at least one of the monitoring devices to obtain selected information regarding operation of the selected machine.

A manufacturing machine, comprising:

• a machine portion that is configured to at least partially complete at least one manufacturing process in an automated fashion;
• and
• at least one monitoring device including a housing mounted in a selected location relative to the machine portion, the at least one monitoring device including a memory and a processor in the housing, the at least one monitoring device including a plurality of user-defined inputs embedded in the memory or the processor, the user-defined inputs configuring the at least one monitoring device to obtain selected information regarding operation of the machine portion while completing the at least one process;
• and
• a reporting device that receives the selected information obtained by the monitoring devices,
• wherein:
• at least one of the reporting device and the at least one monitoring device provides a real-time, dynamically updated output to an individual machine operator of the machine regarding current operation of the selected machine,
• the real-time, dynamically updated output comprises a plurality of cells,
• a first set of the cells provides at least one indication of a machine or equipment involved in at least one of the monitored events,
• a second set of the cells provides an indication of a status of a machine or equipment having an indication in the first set of the cells,
• a third set of the cells provides an indication of a total run time for a machine or equipment having an indication in the first set of cells, and
• a fourth set of the cells provides an indication of a number of cycles performed by a machine or equipment having an indication in the first set of cells.