Paints and coatings, the same colour every batch.
Paints, coatings and adhesives in many colours and in small batches. Frontlink guides weighing and tinting per formulation, records every correction and keeps each batch reproducible.
The weighing room, portion by portion.
Mixing starts with weighing. Frontlink splits the order into portions that fit the mixer, checks every weighing and prepares the charge protocol.
- 1 / 7The order
An order for 480 kg of day cream. The materials and quantities come from your ERP.
- 2 / 7Portions for the mixer
The mixer takes 300 kg. Frontlink splits the order into two portions of 240 kg, in the same proportions.
- 3 / 7Scan what gets weighed
The operator scans each lot. Only what was issued to this order may go on the scale.
- 4 / 7Within tolerance
The emulsifier weighs 19.41 kg, above the limit. The screen stops it. Proceeding is only possible with a supervisor's approval.
- 5 / 7Surplus back
Weighed too much? The surplus is reversed and goes back to stock, with the right lot.
- 6 / 7Ready for mixing
All materials of the portion are weighed and within spec. The portion is ready for the mixer.
- 7 / 7The charge protocol
Tolerance, in-process measurements, visual check and the assessment, signed off by the team lead.
The order. An order for 480 kg of day cream. The materials and quantities come from your ERP.
What is different in this industry.
- Colour that matches
A batch is tinted until it matches the standard. Frontlink records every correction, so the next batch starts closer and you see which bases need the most tinting.
- Small batches, many changeovers
Short runs mean frequent cleaning of mixers and fillers. Frontlink plans colours from light to dark and records each cleaning.
- Viscosity and solids
Viscosity, density and solids are measured per batch. A result outside the norm stops the batch before it is filled.
What it looks like in practice.
A customer reorders a coating in RAL 7016. Frontlink shows the previous batch with its two tinting corrections, so the new batch starts from the corrected formulation and is right the first time.
Example with fictional data.
- Base weighed per formulation v908:30
- Tinting correction 2, black +0.3%10:10
- Colour measured against standard10:40
Solutions that deliver the most here.
- Production and operatorsAt the line, operators see the order, the steps and the instruction for each step. Materials are scanned, checks recorded and the shift hands over digitally. No paper, no retyping.
- Quality and batch recordQuality checks appear as a checklist on the tablet, with the norm next to each one. The batch record builds itself from what was actually made, and release and certificate follow without searching.
- PlanningA plan that knows what is really happening on the floor. Orders come from your ERP, progress comes from the line, and when something moves the warehouse, sales and the customer know straight away.
Problems we often see here.
- Changeovers and line clearance are unmanagedChangeovers take too long and nobody can prove the line was cleared properly.
- Scrap reasons are unknown and yield loss isn't actionableScrap is accepted as 'normal' because nobody can tie it to specific causes, machines, or conditions.
- Batch and order costing is guessed, not measuredYou know the sales price, but you don't know the true cost per good unit, so margin is a mystery.
Frequently asked questions.
Can we record tinting corrections?
Yes. The operator records each addition at the line, and Frontlink keeps it with the batch and shows the history per colour.
Does Frontlink calculate the cost per batch?
Yes. Actual consumption, corrections included, gives the real cost per batch and per order.
Do two-component products work?
Yes. Each component is its own batch and the order links them, so traceability covers both.
Which process takes you the most time?
Book a 30-minute call. We look at your own examples together.
Book a call