This article is part of our CloudSuite Industrial Feature Focus series.

Each post highlights a specific feature within Infor CloudSuite Industrial (CSI). In this one, we’re focusing on Labor Collection, a core piece of the Factory Track module in CSI.

Labor Collection Overview

Infor CloudSuite Industrial’s labor collection functionality allows manufacturers to automatically track and report labor activity in real time. This feature is part of Factory Track, Infor’s suite of mobile tools that bridge the gap between the shop floor and the ERP system.

Using CSI’s labor collection capabilities, manufacturers can:

• Capture employee work start and stop times against jobs and operations
• Calculate actual labor costs and compare them to estimated costs
• Measure employee efficiency and utilization of machines
• Feed accurate data into job costing and capacity planning
• Eliminate manual entry through barcode scanning and kiosk devices

Because labor is reported in real time, scheduling data stays up to date, capacity usage is accurately reflected, and managers can make better decisions faster. CSI also allows for flexible data capture—users can track detailed timestamps or simply record quantities moved, letting the system backflush labor using standard time values.

Expert’s Take on Labor Collection

We asked Nick Mendolia, Director of Client Solutions at Visual South, to share insights from his real-world experience implementing CSI for manufacturers. Here's what he said:

“Labor collection is where we can capture actual cost, employee efficiency, and resource utilization, whether it’s a person, machine, or both.”

Most prospects Nick speaks with are still relying on pen and paper:

“They’re usually collecting it on a sheet of paper. Then someone else inputs it at the end of the day. Or worse, it just goes into a folder, never to be seen again.”

However, the shift to CSI’s Factory Track means collecting accurate labor data as it happens, not hours later. The benefits are tangible:

“You’re collecting the data in real time instead of waiting until the end of the day. This makes it possible to track a job’s progress in real time, vs after the fact. The schedule is always up to date with capacity used vs capacity planned.”

Nick also emphasized how real-time labor collection often reveals mismatches between assumptions and reality:

“Once people start collecting labor through the system, they are able to make better decisions, and this data can be analyzed to update time standards where necessary,  potentially impacting planned costs and capacity, and ultimately enabling them to become more competitive in estimating.”

Factory Track Micro Demo

Want to see labor collection in action? This quick demo shows how Factory Track captures production activity directly from the shop floor and feeds it into CSI in real time.

Related CloudSuite Industrial Resources

• Shop Floor Data Collection
• Barcode Scanning
• Mobile Cycle Counting
• Time & Attendance
• Warehouse Mobility

Want to explore more about CSI’s real-time production tracking? Let’s talk.

Want to see CloudSuite Industrial in action? Access the demo gallery below.