Summary: Factbird organizes production data using sensors, lines, and tags, standardizing data capture from hardware, manual input, or integrations. This structure enables consistent monitoring and analysis of manufacturing performance, supporting efficient tracking of output, downtime, and operational events across machines and sites.
What This Is
Data Capture Basics describes how production data enters the Factbird system and how it is organized. Factbird supports multiple data capture methods, including hardware devices, manual inputs, and system integrations.
Once data is captured, it is structured using a topology of sensors and lines. Sensors represent individual measurement points. Lines group sensors together to reflect how equipment operates in the real world. Tags provide contextual event signals, such as machine stops or batch changes.
Together, these components create a structured representation of production activity.
Why It Matters
Manufacturing data comes from many different sources and in many formats. Without structure, this data is difficult to interpret or compare.
Factbird standardizes how signals are collected and organized so production performance can be monitored consistently. This makes it possible to track and improve output, downtime, scrap, and other operational metrics across machines and sites.
When You Would Use This
Use this when:
You want to understand how production signals are organized in Factbird
You are planning how to connect machines to Factbird
You are designing a new line setup in the system
How It Works
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Factbird collects time-series data (data measured continuously over time) from machines and equipment. This data can enter the system in several ways. (*Please note, while all of the below options are available to you, we recommend starting with our plug-and-play solutions like the Factbird Duo to get started quickly):
Factbird hardware devices such as Factbird Duo, View, or NX1
Manual input through the user interface
Integrations with industrial connectivity solutions (for example, Kepware or OPC Router)
Direct MQTT message integration
API integration
A typical measurement point counts good parts passing through the bottleneck of a manufacturing line. Each measurement point is configured as a sensor in Factbird. The sensor captures either digital signals or analog signals.
Sensors are configured with a name and signal scaling. Scaling converts raw electrical signals into readable values (for example, converting voltage into part counts or temperature values).
One or more sensors are grouped into a line. A line represents a manufacturing line. Within a line, sensors can be given context, such as identifying which sensor tracks bottleneck production, scrap, or energy usage.
In addition to continuous sensor data, lines can send tags. A tag is an event-based signal being sent from the line. Tags can be used to automatically register stops, start/stop batches, etc.
Key Terms / Components
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Sensor:
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A configured measurement point (often a single physical sensor on the manufacturing equipment) that collects time-series data from a digital or analog signal.
Users can view the collected data live or historically.
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Line:
A group of one or more sensors that together represent a manufacturing line.
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Time-Series Data:
Data points collected over time in sequence, such as part counts, temperature, or energy usage.
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Tag:
An event signal sent from the line. Tags are often used in integrations with industrial connectivity solutions to send events such as machine stops, start/stop batches, or other production events.
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Signal Scaling:
The conversion of a raw electrical signal into a readable and meaningful value.
Common Misunderstandings
A sensor in Factbird does not always mean a new physical device. It often represents an existing physical sensor already installed on the equipment.
A line is not limited to a single machine. It represents how production is logically grouped for monitoring and reporting.
Tags are not continuous measurements. They represent discrete events that provide context to sensor data.
Sensors
Watch this quick video to learn more about Sensors:
Lines
Watch this quick video to learn more about Lines:
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