Reviewing Incoming Handoffs
How to review, acknowledge, and act on handoff notes left by the previous operator.
The Check-In Prompt
When you check into a station at the start of your shift, the system checks for any unacknowledged handoff from the previous operator. If one exists, a prominent banner appears at the top of your dashboard with a summary of the handoff: who submitted it, when, the machine condition they reported, and the first few lines of their notes. This ensures you see the handoff before starting work.
Reading the Full Handoff
Click the banner or the "View Handoff" button to open the complete handoff record. Read through all sections carefully: work order progress, machine condition, and operator notes. Pay particular attention to any issues flagged, tool offset changes, material notes, or safety concerns. This information directly affects how you should begin your shift.
Acknowledging the Handoff
After reading the handoff, click "Acknowledge" to confirm you have received the information. This action is logged with your user ID and timestamp, and the handoff moves to "Reviewed" status. Acknowledging the handoff dismisses the dashboard banner so it does not continue to distract you. Your supervisor can see acknowledgment status in their dashboard — unacknowledged handoffs may trigger follow-up.
Acting on Handoff Information
If the handoff mentions a machine issue, verify the condition yourself before starting production. If the previous operator flagged a dimensional problem, run a test piece and check the dimension before committing to a full run. If material was running low, check the bin before assuming it was restocked. Handoff notes are guidance — always verify conditions yourself when possible.
Viewing Handoff History
From the station detail page, you can view a chronological history of all handoffs for that station. This is valuable for understanding recurring issues ("the X-axis alarm has been reported in three consecutive handoffs — this machine needs a service call"), tracking pattern changes, or reviewing what happened during a shift you were not present for.
What If There Is No Handoff?
If no handoff was submitted by the previous operator, you will not see a banner. This could mean the station was idle (no one was checked in), or the previous operator forgot to submit one. In either case, assume nothing about the machine's condition — do a visual inspection, check the active work order status in the system, and verify tooling and material before starting. If you regularly find missing handoffs, raise the issue with your supervisor.