Simple and fast stock operations with barcode readers in partkeepr without manipulating partkeepr

[georges...@gmail.com]

Hi,

We are a small construction company and we plan to use partkeepr to manage our stocks which are filled with screws, nails, nuts, … (so no electronical background). Just to be clear, I really like the partkeepr GUI and it is great for management and stock administrators. However if you are in a hurry and the stock operators need to get parts out of the stock it is a little bit too heavy and time consuming. Therefore I developed a small java application which handles several barcode readers at the same time to take parts out of the stock or adds them to the stock and runs perfectly on a raspberrypi. My main use case was to make the operation to take parts from the stock as simple and as fast as possible. I tried the barcode reader integration in partkeepr which is fine but the operator has to be near the computer, add the quantity and validate the action. In my precise case I have 2-3 different stock locations which do not necessary have a computer to visualise the partkeepr application and the stock operations have to be done as fast as possible. I developed a small java application which interfaces several barcode readers which are operated by the stock operators. When the stock operator wants to take a part from the stock, he only needs to scan the barcode and automatically the quantity of the scanned part is decremented. In order to inform the stock operator that the operation succeeded it is possible to inform him by playing a sound. When the operator scans a barcode which is not in the system an alert sound is played and a SystemNotice is added to partkeepr. Playing this alert sounds informs the operator to check in partkeepr if there is a problem with the barcode or part. 

There are several possibilities to add or take parts from the stock and in my first version I use 2 different barcode readers, one for adding parts to the stock and a second one to take parts out of the stock. However, it would also be possible to scan first a specific barcode for adding parts to the stock. In this way you can use the same barcode reader for adding or retrieving parts from the stock but the operator has to be more carful.

Right now, the java application accesses the partkeepr database to modify the data. However as partkeepr offers a REST API, I would prefer changing this to use the webservices. That would simplify the application and make it much more independent for any changes in the database schema and in my firwall configuration I would only need to open https and the DB port could stay closed to the stock network. (cache usage in partkeepr could also be an issue when manipulating data without passing the cache framework) But I did not managed to do all the operations with the rest api. (for example I could decrease the quantity of a part but I did not manage to get the PK for a part by searching by the internal reference). Switching to the webservices would also make the system compatible to a cloud hosting of partkeepr like it is offered by partkeepr.org 

Another feature I developed was to send a daily mail with the stock changes to the management.

I run the partkeepr application on a Linux VM and the 2 stock locations are equipped with 2 raspberrypi’s and each pi has 2 wireless barcode readers. The raspberry pi’s do not store any information but send all their information to the partkeepr database. The partkeepr application is only used by the management and the head of the company’s stock to search parts and keep an eye on the stock quantities.

The hardware parts to operate the operations in the stock locations are quite small and cheap.

Raspberry pi

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B01DC6MKAQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

2x Barcode reader

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00IOGSZ04/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Speakers

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00JRW0M32/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If there is any interest in this application or you have and remarks feel free to contact me.

Regards

Georges Goebel

[in...@meubelmaatwerksoest.nl]

Dear Georges,

That's a really fast and quick solution you are using for incrementing and/or decrementing stocks.
I'm really interested in the java application you are using on the raspberry's.
Could you share this application with me?

I'd like to hear from u.

Vincent.




Op maandag 12 september 2016 18:54:14 UTC+2 schreef georges...@gmail.com:

[tsc...@gmail.com]

Hi Georges,

This sounds exactly like what we need for keeping the mechanical and electronics parts in our student association updated.

Plus we already have the necessary hardware. If you could share the application code with me that would be super nice!

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Cheers,
Raffael
octanis.org

[lh...@achaogen.com]

I'm interested in this code as well.  My set up would be simple. I'm managing the stock for IT department so power cables, Laptops, Ethernet cables, mice etc.   we could use a "add" code or "subtract" code with not problems.  please contact me i'd love to have to java thanks.

[jo...@kitmatic.com]

On Monday, September 12, 2016 at 11:54:14 AM UTC-5, georges...@gmail.com wrote:

Hi,

 I use 2 different barcode readers, one for adding parts to the stock and a second one to take parts out of the stock.

Hello Georges and partkeepr developers,

Has any integration of this idea been done in partkeepr?