June 2026

I’m in Florence for a wedding, I know, very jet set, and had to do a bit of quick planning when our flight here landed 2.5 hours late, right under the compensation threshold 😤, and the car rental place was closed.

In that case, the plan involved throwing money at the problem and hiring a car at vast expense from the only place still open. Fortunately, we now have better options in manufacturing.

I’ve long been disappointed that the QR app operators use to manage the shop floor didn’t let them adapt enough to the realities that emerge once work is actually happening: a part is post-processed differently, the schedule changes, a batch needs to move together, something gets scrapped, or a non-conformance needs to be raised. The latest changes correct that.

We’ve added a Runs Queue page directly inside QR. Operators can now scan a Workstation’s QR code and instantly see the Runs that are planned or ready to start there. We already had scannable QR identification for printers, and this expands that approach to post-processors too.

That matters because the operator can now see what’s coming before the part hits their hands, without jumping back into Flows on desktop. We’ve also made it possible to start groups of Runs at once, which is useful for the very real shop-floor case of loading multiple trays into a heat treat oven. No need to scan and start each one individually like some kind of penance.

We’ve also expanded what operators can do directly from QR. They can now select a set of parts and remanufacture them, scrap them, or flag them for non-conformance from the app itself. Previously, those production changes had to happen through Work Instruction Threshold Actions or by going back into the Flows desktop site. Now the person closest to the work can make the change where the work is happening.

That’s the point. Manufacturing systems shouldn’t assume the plan survives contact with the shop floor. They should help people adapt quickly, while still keeping the process controlled, traceable, and auditable.

The team keeps removing the tiny bits of friction that add up to real delays. I’m delighted by that. Almost delighted enough to stop thinking about the Florence car rental bill.