Shop Floor |FabStation| - Part 1: Tablet App Overview Logo
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  • Before we start

  • This guide will explain how to navigate the tablet FabStation app.

  • 0.1 For this guide, choose a project or assembly. If this is your first time using FabStation, chooose a simple assembly such as a beam or a column. We will cover complex assemblies in the advanced guides.

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  • Before we start

  • 0.2 Ensure that you have login credentials for the FabStation App on your tablet.

    If you do not have login credentials, please contact your supervisor to request them. 

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  • Part 1: Tablet App Overview

  • Welcome to the FabStation Tablet App guide! In this guide, we will review:

    Step 1: Log in to the FabStation App
    Step 2: Find your Project and Assembly
    Step 3: Overview of Stages

     

  • Part 1: Tablet App Overview

  • Step 1: Log in to the FabStation App

  • To log in to the FabStation App, look for the app icon on the right, select and launch it.

    NOTE: If you can't find the App on the device, please contact your manager or IT department to ensure that App is installed.

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  • 1.1 Log in to FabStation App. 

    • Your username should appear automatically. Select it from the drop-down list.
    • Enter the password provided to you for the FabStation App.

    Once logged in, the app will download your data. After syncing, you will be able to access your projects.

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  • 1.2 Once the app data has finished downloading, you will be taken to the Project screen.

    If the app does not load, tap “LOGIN” again to refresh.

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  • Now that you're on the Project screen, let’s explore the layout. 👉🏾

    • Can't login? Click here 

    • 1. Check your Wifi. 

      If your network connection is unstable or your device goes to sleep, the download process may be interrupted. If this occurs, turn off-on the app, restart it and go to the FabStation App settings > click Sync Device. 

      Then try to log in. 

      2. Check with the manager/IT department if the device is added to the web portal properly and entered a correct MAC address. They can refer to this guide. 

  • Part 1: Tablet App Overview

  • Step 2: Find your Project and Assembly

    Once inside the Project screen, FabStation has powerful search capabilities to help you quickly find the project and assembly you are assigned to work on. 

  • 2.1 Scroll through the list of projects, or use the Search feature to look up your project by name. Use the Expand All feature or open the folder icon to view project subfolders.

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  • 2.2 Select the Stage of Production you are currently working on. We will learn more about this in Step 3.

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  • 2.3 Locate the assembly you are working on.
    You can scroll to find the assembly number, or use the Search feature to type in the assembly number.
    As you type, the list will filter automatically to help you find it faster.

    💡 TIP: there is also an option to search by "Sequence"

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  • 2.3 Confirm the assembly quantity.
    If the previous stage of production has already been completed, the assembly will appear in the panel on the right side.

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  • Task: Using the FabStation SEARCH feature find your assembly by its number within the project.

     

    Found your assembly? Let's learn more about the Stages of Production 👉

  • Part 1: Tablet App Overview

  •  Step 3: Overview of Stages

    Before selecting your assembly, you will see six standard FabStation production stages:

    Material Preparation → Assembly → Welding → Surface Treatment → Final → Shipping

    These stages are based on FabStation’s pre-built production templates.

    • If you are using the FabStation legacy Fabricate and Inspect stages, you can still access them. Learn more here.
    • To assign different programs to projects, learn more here. 
    • If you require additional stages or customization and this is not currently included in your subscription, please contact support@fabstation.com
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  • 3.1 Using the FabStation Production System
    If your shop is using the FabStation Production workflow, here is an overview of how the Production Stages are structured.

    Most Production Stages allow you to:

    • Utilize the AR, 3D Viewer, Drawing, Asset and Reporting features
    • Track the stage's various Production statuses
    • Track time using Time trackers
    • Complete pre-assigned tasks such as part checklists, asset proofs, and conformance/non-conformance reports
    • Attach reports and asset photos for documentation

    When to use each stage:
    1. Material Preparation
    This stage is used for cutting, marking, and initial prep. It ensures all required components are ready before layout or fit-up begins.

    2. Assembly
    Used during layout and fit-up. This stage includes two categories of tasks similar to the following stages:

    • Completion (fit-up is done)
    • Inspection (QC review before welding)
      This ensures assemblies are aligned and correct before welding begins.

    3. Welding
    Covers both welding and weld inspection. This prevents welding defects from progressing to surface treatment.

    4. Surface Treatment
    Used for paint, galvanizing, and other coatings. This ensures finishing work is complete and properly documented.

    5. Final
    This is the final QC review before an assembly leaves the shop. All reports and NCRs must be closed in this stage. The preceeding are considered custom stages, however, this stage is structured specifically to close the loop on all reported errors to prevent errors from being shipped to site.  For more info please visit: Final and Shipping Stages article.

    6. Shipping
    Confirms the assembly has been shipped or ready to be shipped. THis is also a dedicated stage with specific functionality.  For more info please visit: Final and Shipping Stages article.


    If your team is using the legacy Fabricate & Inspect workflow, please review THIS ARTICLE.

    If you require additional stages or custom production programs and this option is currently not included in your current subscription, please contact support@fabstation.com

    👇🏿

  • 3.1 If your team is using the legacy Fabricate & Inspect workflow, make sure to pay attention to the next section.

    There, we explain how to easily access AR, 3D Viewer, drawings, and reporting tools without production tracking. This mode is designed to keep your work simple, clear, and efficient.

  • 3.1 If your shop is not using the Production system, or if you are unsure whether your team should be updating assembly statuses, please confirm this with your supervisor or manager.

    In the meantime, you can continue using FabStation, which still allows you to easily access:

    • AR for alignment and inspection
    • 3D Viewer for model review
    • Drawings for reference
    • Reports and Assets for documentation


    This workflow does not change the status of the assembly and does not use the Production Stages.

    You can return to this guide at any time. If later your team decides to use Production Tracking, simply click “Yes, we use it” at the top to view the instructions for Production Stages.

  • Part 1: Tablet App Overview

  • 3.2 Features Inside the Assembly

    Once inside the assembly view, you have access to the core FabStation tools:AR, 3D Viewer, Drawings, Assets and Reports.

    This view is available in most Production Stages (including Fabricate, Inspect, Pre-Processing, Assembly, Welding, Surface Treatment).

    Note: The view for FINAL and SHIPPING is different. Learn more about these views in the next step of this guide.

     

     

     

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  • AR (previously Fab - Assist and Auto - Fab)

    Connects to your AR Tablet (iPad Pro) or AR Headset (HoloLens) to project the hologram. Use this to align your assemblies for inspection or layout.

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  • 3D Viewer

    View your assembly as a 3D model, pull measurements, see visuals and more.

    Drawings

    Displays your PDF assembly and part drawings. (If PDF drawings were not uploaded with your project files, this section will be empty.) 

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  • Assets

    Stores and displays all photos and assets. You can take new photos, mark them up, and attach them to reports. 

    Reports

    Create NCRs, CRs, or inspection documentation as needed. 

    • Info outside the drop-down 

    • In addition to the FabStation core tools, learn more about time trackers, tasks and assembly tracking.

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    • Time Trackers

      Using the Time Tracker

      You now have a Time Tracker to record work done on the assembly.

      You can:

      • Start the timer
      • Pause it
      • Stop / Complete work


      The tracker will track the time of the user logged into the tablet app.

       

      The Time Tracker also also you to change status between:


      Not Started → In Progress → Completed

    • Tasks

      Depending on the stage of production, there will be different tasks assigned. Here is a list of possible tasks:

      • Part Checklist: You will be prompted to check off each part in either AR or 3D viewer as Passed, Failed or Needs Attention.
      • Asset: You will be prompted to the Assets area to take a photo of your assembly and mark it up
      • Report: You will be prompted to a report to either fill out a NCR, CR, Welding Checlist or more. 

      If a task is mandatory, it needs to be COMPLETED before it is possible to close out a stage of production as completed.

      If your shop is using custom Programs and want to add it to your subscription, please contact support@fabstation.com

    • Assembly Progress and Information

      At the top of the page, you will see:

      Stage Progress Bar

      Shows which production stages have been completed so far and which stage is currently being worked on.

      Percentage Completion

      Tracks overall progress on the assembly.

      Assembly Info

      Displays details such as revision, sequence number, and who is currently working on the assembly.

      Forward / Back Arrows

      Quickly move between different Production stages without returning to project view.

    • Task:

      Navigate to any project and any assembly, choose any stage of production and explore some of the features within the app.

  • Part 1: Tablet App Overview

  • 3.3 Final

    The Final stage is where a completed assembly receives a last quality confirmation before it becomes eligible for shipment.

    When to Use It
    After:

    • Material Preparation
    • Assembly Fit-Up
    • Welding
    • Surface Treatment / Coating


    Once all previous stage tasks are complete and passed, the assembly enters Final.

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  • Before anyone takes a finished assembly out of the shop, the assembly must be final-approved in FabStation.

    Purpose of the Final Stage

    • Ensure the assembly is accurately completed
    • Confirm that all previously identified deficiencies have been addressed
    • Prevent assemblies with unresolved issues from being shipped
    • Improve communication between fabrication, QC, and shipping


    What Happens in the Final Stage

    • The user views the assembly and its recorded history from previous stages.
    • Any flagged errors or NCRs appear here, so they can be reviewed and consciously checked.
    • Once verified, the assembly can be marked Final Complete.
    • Only assemblies that are Final-approved can move to the Shipping stage.

  • Quick Pass - Final Stage

    In the Assembly View screen you cna quickly move assemblies from Pass (Green), Attention (Orange) and Fail (Red). 

    Tap on the Select Feature:

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  • Select the assemblies you want to Quick Pass and change their status using the Pass, Fail, Attetnion buttons on the right.

     

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  • This Final Stage ensures no assembly leaves the shop without accountability.

    Next let's learn about the Shipping Stage!

  • Part 1: Tablet App Overview

  • 3.4 Shipping Stage Overview

    Once an assembly has passed the Final stage, it becomes eligible for shipping.

    This stage allows teams to confirm that the correct assemblies are being pulled, moved, or loaded. It prevents situations where someone takes an assembly that has not yet been verified.

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  • Purpose of the Shipping Stage

    • Ensure only Final-approved assemblies leave the shop
    • Create documentation of what was shipped and when
    • Prevent errors from being discovered on-site during installation


    How the Shipping Stage Works

    • A user checks whether the assembly has passed the Final stage.
    • If it has not been Final-approved, shipping is blocked.
    • If it has passed Final, the user records that it has been shipped.
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  • These stages work together to provide traceability, accountability, and reduced rework in the field.

  • Part 1: Tablet App Overview

  • Congrats! Now you know how to navigate the FabStation App 🎉🎉

     In the next lessons, we will teach you more about each feature within the tablet app!

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