CAMS – Shop floor management software

CAMS (Computer Aided Manufacturing System) is Datatex’s Manufacturing Execution System (MES), designed to detect, record, and collect real-time textile production data directly from the shop floor.

Natively integrated with the Datatex’s NOW ERP system for textile and garment manufacturing. CAMS connects machines, operators, and departments – from raw material picking to finished goods shipment — ensuring accurate, timely, and structured production data.

What is CAMS?

CAMS is a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) platform that captures production progress in automatic, semi-automatic, or manual mode.

It records quantities produced, machine events, operator activities, defects, parameters (speed, temperature, etc.), and material movements – reducing human error and ensuring real-time visibility across manufacturing operations.

How does CAMS connect ERP with the shop floor?

A CAMS installation consists of a server and multiple stations connected through a network.

The server connects to the ERP system (NOW), from which it receives:

• Production orders to execute

• Work instructions

• Operational parameters

It returns to ERP:

• Production data

• Machine events and stops

• Warehouse movements

• Operator and shift performance data

Permanent connection with the host is not required, allowing CAMS to operate in high-availability stand-alone mode when needed.

How does CAMS collect production data?

CAMS captures production data in real time through both automatic and semi-automatic methods, depending on the manufacturing setup.

The system can connect directly to machines via encoders, PLC interfaces, file exchange systems, or RFID technology. It records quantities produced, machine events (stops, faults, operator changes), production parameters such as speed or temperature, and material movements.

Operators can also enter data manually using PCs, tablets, or industrial devices through a simplified interface designed for shop-floor efficiency.

Thanks to its integration with NOW ERP, CAMS exchanges production orders and returns confirmed production data and warehouse movements without requiring permanent connection to the host system.

How does CAMS support production supervision?

Beyond data collection, CAMS also functions as a supervisory tool for real-time shop-floor monitoring.

Production managers and department heads can view machine status directly from their workstation, identifying machines in operation, stopped for maintenance, or blocked due to faults. The system enables proactive intervention—for example, sending operators to machines approaching completion or resolving downtime quickly.

CAMS provides configurable dashboards and reports that measure productivity, monitor deviations from standard values, and analyze department efficiency.

With customizable user roles, multilingual support, and flexible configuration options, CAMS ensures that supervisors have full visibility and control across textile manufacturing operations.

Key features of CAMS

• Automatic quantity detection through encoders

• PLC connectivity for real-time machine integration

• Real-time production progress reporting

• Automatic downtime detection

• Operator job queue management and work instructions

• Multi-language interface (including Chinese and Cyrillic)

• Web version availability

• RFID integration

• Supervisor monitoring dashboard

• Configurable screen layout and workflow

• Event, stop, and fault parameterization

• Shift calendar management

• Integration with external systems via standardized DLLs

• Editable reports and labels

• High availability mode (host-independent operation)

• Automatic reconfiguration in case of network hardware replacement