Tablets to replace paper

[AlexLachance]

So, we've been considering for a long time to replace paper with tablets and have finally started looking into it a little more as people are now a little more open to the idea of it, considering the benefits there could be. There are still some things we are unsure on though.

For instance, we work with tabloid sized paper(11"x17") on our shop floor, and if we were to move to tablets, we do not want the tablets to be smaller then the paper. While zooming is possible on a tablet, the environment conditions of a welding shop, or at least ours, make it that if we were to ask workers to zoom in and out on the tablet constantly, the tablet would easily get scratched or damaged by diverse factors.

We do not want to go with TV screens either, because we want to keep the mobility of a tablet and because we don't want to leave it to the user to search for his drawing on a computer, but rather have a tablet ready with whatever drawing he needs.

So I was wondering, have any of you heard of any tablets in those ranges of size? Or have you ever seen a solution to this? We'd really like to cut the printing all together and have all our drawings be accessed from tablets that would be connected to our network to access the files that are needed.

[jcapriotti]

Biggest tablet I've seen is the Samsung 14.6....and still not quite as big as 11 x 17. However you can zoom so maybe that helps. And you would need a rugged as hell case for this thing with a flip cover to protect the screen. Bigger the device, easier to break.

https://www.samsung.com/us/tablets/gala ... 20nzaaxar/

I have an iPad pro 12.9. Pretty nice other than I hate iOS, but might work and has a lot of support and case options. Of course, both of these options are expensive.

Here are the two side by side:

[Glenn Schroeder]

For instance, we work with tabloid sized paper(11"x17") on our shop floor, and if we were to move to tablets, we do not want the tablets to be smaller then the paper. While zooming is possible on a tablet, the environment conditions of a welding shop, or at least ours, make it that if we were to ask workers to zoom in and out on the tablet constantly, the tablet would easily get scratched or damaged by diverse factors.

We do not want to go with TV screens either, because we want to keep the mobility of a tablet and because we don't want to leave it to the user to search for his drawing on a computer, but rather have a tablet ready with whatever drawing he needs.

So I was wondering, have any of you heard of any tablets in those ranges of size? Or have you ever seen a solution to this? We'd really like to cut the printing all together and have all our drawings be accessed from tablets that would be connected to our network to access the files that are needed.

Is switching to 8-1/2" x 11" an option for you? That would eliminate, or at least greatly reduce, the issue of needing to zoom in. It's been ten years or longer since I've worked with anything else.

[SPerman]

It will be interesting to see how this change in workflow evolves. No matter how well thought out in advance, once the guys with welders and wrenches are dealing with tablets, things will change.

I've not been able to find a tablet close to that size. There is probably some point where the screen and the battery required to support it increase the weight until it is no longer portable.

Jason brings up good points about the environment. If you protect them well enough to avoid damage, they lose the tablet functionality. I think an external input device is worth considering. Mouse / trackball / joystick can all be had at somewhat disposable prices. I would look at the panasonic toughbooks. They don't have anything nearly that big, but they are durable. (Probably not welding splatter on the screen durable.)

Please keep us up to date on how this goes. I'm sure you guys aren't the only company trying to got paperless, and struggling with how to accomplish that on the shop floor.

[AlexLachance]

Is switching to 8-1/2" x 11" an option for you? That would eliminate, or at least greatly reduce, the issue of needing to zoom in. It's been ten years or longer since I've worked with anything else.

It isn't an option for now because the shop is really stubborn on their position, which I can understand in a way also. If we can get them to taste what it is to be paperless and adopt it, it will eventually be feasable to consider moving towards an 'irregular size' for them.

[DanPihlaja]

We are paperless on the floor.

However, we use (I can't remember the name) little network computers at each station with a dedicated desk. Then there is a large computer screen (probably 45") for viewing drawings and associated documents.

It isn't portable, but there is one at every station.

We also use a dongle system for logging in. Each person on the shop floor has a small USB thingy that they put into the computer when they show up and that logs them in. So that you can go to any computer and bring up YOUR login.

[mgibeault]

Me thinks that they will zoom anyway.
It's not like these guys never saw a tablet before and zooming into details is natural.
I'd go with the simplest iPad, there's tons of options for rugged cases that can be mounted on an arm.
Such as: https://armor-x.com/en-ca/collections/a ... ble-covers

[AlexLachance]

We are paperless on the floor.

However, we use (I can't remember the name) little network computers at each station with a dedicated desk. Then there is a large computer screen (probably 45") for viewing drawings and associated documents.

It isn't portable, but there is one at every station.

We also use a dongle system for logging in. Each person on the shop floor has a small USB thingy that they put into the computer when they show up and that logs them in. So that you can go to any computer and bring up YOUR login.

That is interesting, thanks for sharing Dan!

[jcapriotti]

So much of this depends on the company and job. I've had a request to allow our field mechanics to view drawings on their phone, so the factory could stop printing a copy and including it with the product components. I can imagine the mechanic throwing his phone down in frustrating trying to view an 11x17 print on his iPhone. A tablet might be better but when crawling around and working on something, you can put a sheet of paper in your pocket.

Same would go for architectural blueprints to build a house. I bought and printed "E" size sheets for my house to give to each sub contractor. I suppose I could've sent them the PDF so they could read it on a phone or tablet. Oops...hammer fell on tablet screen, we can't work today.

Here's a little pie in the sky stuff our marketing came up with many years ago. Never went beyond this and Microsoft killed hololens last year. I guess for now, only Tony Stark was smart enough to make it work.

[SPerman]

I think the first compromise your team is going to have to make is if they want a tablet or they want a big screen. None of these come close to what you are looking for.

The best large tablets of 2025

I could see a setup with a large monitor on a rolling cart with a multi-jointed arm so the monitor could be positioned conveniently, even under the vehicle. That would take up room, and also would require power cords. It certainly isn't an ideal solution.

[AlexLachance]

So, for now we won't be doing entire projects on tablets, we're introducing some ipads that will have all our procedures in them. Maybe that will then make it easier for them to accept regular tablets as drawing viewers. Else, it's as most of you say, we'll put fixed TV screens with mouse and keyboard hooked to a Thinkcentre. That's what we currently have and use for punching but the employees refuse to use it for drawing viewing. Perhaps things will change with time.

[DanPihlaja]

So, for now we won't be doing entire projects on tablets, we're introducing some ipads that will have all our procedures in them. Maybe that will then make it easier for them to accept regular tablets as drawing viewers. Else, it's as most of you say, we'll put fixed TV screens with mouse and keyboard hooked to a Thinkcentre. That's what we currently have and use for punching but the employees refuse to use it for drawing viewing. Perhaps things will change with time.

In our situation, the floor people don't have a choice. Production customer drawings are not allowed on the shop floor here. They literally can only bring up the drawing on the big screen at their station. WAAAY back we got audited when we had drawings on the floor and got hit for not having the correct revision. So the owner simply took away the ability to have them. The drawings are viewed through a web application that cannot be printed from.

[DLZ_SWX_User]

Here is something that might be of interest. Looks like it still would need a phone, tablet, or computer to provide the actual viewable content.

https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/p/accessor ... 66e4ucc1us

(I was actually looking for something else and saw this and thought of this conversation).

[doobes]

Alex,

I would be very interested to hear what the response on the shop floor to our idea.

Long ago and far away, I had given thought to something similar in a welding shop.

To be kind, the idea was not met with much enthusiasm.

But, this was a shop full of good ol' boy troglodytes in southern Louisiana.

Hopefully, your folks are a little more receptive.

[jcapriotti]

In our situation, the floor people don't have a choice. Production customer drawings are not allowed on the shop floor here. They literally can only bring up the drawing on the big screen at their station. WAAAY back we got audited when we had drawings on the floor and got hit for not having the correct revision. So the owner simply took away the ability to have them. The drawings are viewed through a web application that cannot be printed from.

We have a controlled process for that. We don't allow just anyone to print them. They are either in job folders that move around with the order, or they are put in a controlled file cabinet or displayed and someone pulls the old revision and replaces it when it becomes effective.

That said, we do have a PDM web viewer on a factory computer for some people. Just depends on the users role.

[AlexLachance]

How just a few days of using tablets can change the opinion of the beholder. We'll be transitionning to paperless within the next months. Not only that, they don't care about screen size anymore, so we will be using regular tablets with Otterbox cases and tempered glass.

[KennyG]

How just a few days of using tablets can change the opinion of the beholder. We'll be transitionning to paperless within the next months. Not only that, they don't care about screen size anymore, so we will be using regular tablets with Otterbox cases and tempered glass.

What kind of tablets did you settle on?

[AlexLachance]

What kind of tablets did you settle on?

We haven't settled on that yet, most likely something Android that is easy to grab and affordable. Might look with our IT supplier. We want to have the same tablet everywhere to ease the learning curve and trouble shooting but we won't restrict ourselves to a 'specific' model, most likely. For instance, if we were to go with Samsung Tablets, we'll have Samsung Tablets everywhere but they might not be the same model depending on their age eventually.

[m2shell]

How just a few days of using tablets can change the opinion of the beholder. We'll be transitionning to paperless within the next months. Not only that, they don't care about screen size anymore, so we will be using regular tablets with Otterbox cases and tempered glass.

I'm curious what did the shop floor like the most about tablet?

[AlexLachance]

I'm curious what did the shop floor like the most about tablet?

lol you wouldn't believe it

The ability to zoom in on certain things
Having the drawings regrouped on a device rather then being individual sheets that get spread around
Instant revisions being on the drawing rather then having to wait for a print to get to the shop floor


The sample was very small as the original intent was to use them as "binders" for procedures, then they expended upon that and asked for drawings to be on them. We'll also have to wait and see how fast they get damaged, both the device AND screen protector.

[m2shell]

lol you wouldn't believe it

The ability to zoom in on certain things
Having the drawings regrouped on a device rather then being individual sheets that get spread around
Instant revisions being on the drawing rather then having to wait for a print to get to the shop floor

Wow okay. That's pretty interesting. Thanks

[jcapriotti]

The ability to zoom in on certain things

Well, to my 50 year old eyes, I can appreciate that. As much as I prefer paper (books, magazines, etc), without my reading glasses, its a struggle. Zooming on my iPad is nice.

[AlexLachance]

Well, to my 50 year old eyes, I can appreciate that. As much as I prefer paper (books, magazines, etc), without my reading glasses, its a struggle. Zooming on my iPad is nice.

Yeah I feel you, it's just that it was one of their main concerns, they did not "want to have to zoom in"

[doobes]

That's awesome.

Sounds like you are making good headway in the transition.

Congratulations!