What Is Stack Light Commander?
How can Stack Light Commander help you?
Stack Light Commander is our application for monitoring and managing wireless Andon lights across your facility. It turns your andon system into a connected visual factory system. You get real-time status visibility, historical data, and remote control from any screen.
Stack Light Commander connects your wireless Andon hardware to screens across your facility.
The Penguin: Your Andon Hub
Commander runs on a dedicated computer we call the Penguin. It facilitates communication between the application and your wireless Andon lights.
Because Stack Light Commander is a web application hosted on the Penguin, there is no software to install on your viewing devices. Any monitor, desktop, tablet, or phone with a browser can pull up the interface.
Three Ways to Access Stack Light Commander
You choose how you want to connect based on your needs:
- Single Screen - connect a display directly to the Penguin via HDMI. Works completely offline with no network needed. This configuration is ideal for high-security environments.
- LAN - access Commander from any device on your local network. This is the most common setup for facilities that need seamless visibility from the shop floor to the manager's office.
- Cloud - access Commander from anywhere over the internet. Ideal for multi-site operations or remote management.
How Stack Light Commander can help you
Bingo Board
The Bingo Board displays a real-time grid of every team in your system. Each cell shows the current light status color, team name, Total Time, Cycle Time, and Cycle Count. You can create multiple tabs displaying different arrangements of teams. Bingo Board can be set to full-screen mode for overhead monitors.
The Bingo Board gives you a real-time grid of every team's status at a glance.
Map View
Upload a floor plan of your facility and drag your Andon lights onto their physical locations. The lights update in real time on the map. Create tabs for different buildings or floors so you can switch between views with one click.
The Map View displays your Andon lights on your actual floor plan for instant visual context.
Data and Analytics
Commander timestamps every button press on every device in your system. That data feeds into a set of analytics tools: Timeline view, Pie Charts, Bar Graphs, Cycle Summary, Historical Log, and CSV export. All views are filterable by time range, team, and color. You can drill into exactly what happened, when, and where.
The Timeline view shows how long each light color was active across your selected time frame.
Bi-Directional Control
Commander does more than monitor your Andon lights. You can control lights directly from the software, turning them on or off from any connected screen. Signals go both ways.
No WiFi required for the lights: Our wireless stack lights can communicate over their own mesh network. They do not require your facility's WiFi. The only network requirement is that the Penguin itself is reachable by the devices you want to view Stack Light Commander on.
Who Is Commander For?
Commander is built for anyone responsible for production performance. Plant managers use the Bingo Board on an overhead monitor to watch the entire floor. Continuous improvement teams pull analytics reports to find bottleneck stations. Maintenance supervisors use the Map View to see which areas need attention right now. Engineers export CSV data for their own analysis.
Learn More
Explore the rest of our Commander guides:
- Getting Started with Commander
- How to Set Up the Bingo Board
- How to Set Up Map Views
- Creating Roles and Permissions
- Reducing Bottlenecks and Downtime with Commander Data
Ready to See Your Floor in Real Time?
Commander connects to our wireless Andon hardware to give you full visibility and control. Talk to us about building the right system for your facility.