ABOUT THE TOOL

Small tools for the factory floor

FeedBench is a free utility from SmartFACT: Smart Factory using AI, operated by Obsidian Black Ltd. It helps you check a CSV or JSON file, preview it in another column layout and compare it with an earlier version before an import into another system.

It is useful on its own. Checking, mapping, comparison, saving and every download are free, with no account, trial or email address required. The tool does not call an AI service: checking, mapping and comparison are ordinary, predictable software.

What it is, and is not

FeedBench reads files exactly as written and reports what it finds. It does not import files, connect to other systems, repair values or guess what a value should have been: it never trims, pads, converts or approximately matches anything. A mapping or a changed value produces a new derived file and leaves the original untouched. Candidate checks for FactoryCards, WorkSteps and KitProof layouts are previews: the receiving application checks access, its current settings, existing records and the import itself. There is no shared workspace; projects stay in one browser unless you download a backup.

The workbench

ScannerBench shows exactly what a keyboard scanner sends. PrintBench checks that a printer reproduces a known PDF at the right size. FactoryCards creates 100 × 50 mm bin and rack cards. CountBench records stocktakes and cycle counts by location. BarcodeBench explains what a barcode contains. ManifestBench checks scanned carton, pallet or serial IDs against a manifest. CycleBench times work cycles and changeovers. FindBench looks up a code's description and locations in a CSV file you load. MatchBench checks whether a label matches a reference scan. TagBench makes clear review tags for items, machines and locations. When the same job repeats every day, the SmartFACT services below automate it with rules you describe in plain English.

Help and support

The tool's How your data is handled and quick help panel summarises the workflow and how your data is handled, and its five synthetic examples show a mapping, a comparison, a JSON check and the candidate checks without your own data. To report a defect or ask a question, use the SmartFACT support form. FeedBench has no Report a problem button, so describe what you did and what happened, with a synthetic example where you can, and review any downloaded report before you share it. Help with the tool is free; there is no guaranteed response time, and bespoke integration work is a separate paid service.