A REAL-TIME PRODUCTION CONTROL SYSTEM

This article presents the development and application of a real-time production control system, integrating hardware and software for continuous monitoring of industrial operations and costs. The proposal aims to promote greater operational efficiency and agility in decision-making. The main objective is to present a proposal for applying the concept of paperless manufacturing, here referred to as “right time,” in a production line of medical and hospital products, in order to identify and quantify the benefits generated by the proposed environment. The adopted methodology was action research, encompassing the system design, its technological architecture, and its application in a simulated manufacturing environment. The results demonstrate significant gains in operational visibility, waste reduction, and improvement in cost control. With the implementation of the developed improvement proposal, a reduction of 32% in document-filling time on the assembly line is estimated, in addition to a 5% decrease in annual paper consumption. Other observed benefits include improvements in internal communication, document control, workplace organization, and the execution of routine activities. Additionally, the study contributes to digital transformation in industry, aligning with the principles of Industry 4.0 and reinforcing the importance of digitalization as a strategic tool for the modernization of production processes.