Operations data capture in manufacturing and services: Data collection terminals are deployed on the shop floor and in service points to report the activity of which resources and flows?

Introduction / Context:
Data collection terminals are specialized input devices used in manufacturing plants, warehouses, field service, and other operational settings. They capture real-time facts about work progress so that the Management Information System (MIS), Manufacturing Execution System (MES), or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) can monitor productivity and control costs. This question asks which kinds of activities these terminals typically report.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Terminals are attached to work centers, docks, stores, or service bays.
• Organizations need visibility into labor, machines, and materials.
• We assume standard barcode/RFID/time-entry devices integrated with back-end systems.

Concept / Approach:
Operational control requires a complete picture of three dimensions: manpower (who worked and for how long), machine usage (which assets were running, idle, or down), and material flow (what parts moved, consumed, or were completed). Terminals feed these facts to databases that drive scheduling, costing, and performance dashboards.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
MES/ERP modules (time and attendance, production reporting, inventory transactions) rely on terminal input to reconcile work orders, routings, and bills of materials, confirming the threefold coverage.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:
Capturing only labor time while ignoring machine downtime or material consumption leads to inaccurate standard-to-actual variance analysis.

Final Answer:
All of the above