[ad_1]
Unleashing Digitization in Manufacturing
Lately, we had the chance to host an occasion with MachineMetrics customers and prospects to learn the way manufacturing leaders are leveraging digital applied sciences to extend operational effectivity. Our “Let’s Get Digital” occasion was a unbelievable success, enabling native producers to get an in-person tour of the AccuRounds facility, in addition to community with colleagues at Trillium, a neighborhood brewery. (Keep tuned: We’ll be internet hosting extra of those in-person occasions sooner or later!)
We additionally held a panel with a number of manufacturing leaders to raised perceive the driving elements behind digitizing their operations and leveraging knowledge to make higher choices. This was complemented by a presentation by our very personal Rob Urbani, a Senior Worth Engineer, who outlined a framework for measuring the ROI of digital options.
Under we share a few the questions and solutions from our panel. Thanks once more to our three visitor panelists for his or her insights:
Morgan Waldau, Manufacturing Engineer at Waters Company | Mike Tamasi, Proprietor & CEO at AccuRounds | Bruce Watkins, President & GM at Karl Storz |
Query 1: What was the driving issue behind the choice to digitize what you are promoting, and what led you to that second?
Morgan Waldau, Manufacturing Engineer at Waters Company:
MachineMetrics was already a part of the store operation after I joined Waters. The idea behind it was that we weren’t optimizing machine capability, and we did not know why. We knew there needed to be a greater method than sending an engineer to the store flooring to examine every machine’s run standing manually. It was a problem of visibility and opening up that line of communication between operators and administration to be taught the place we have to enhance. We needed a device to assist understand elevated utilization to recapture these hours.
So far as why we selected MachineMetrics, we like supporting companies near us. We additionally thought the customer support can be higher. And that is been confirmed each time we ask for one thing or counsel an concept. This has at all times been the case when coping with MachineMetrics, and that is not one thing you possibly can at all times do in an even bigger enterprise. The good thing about working with a smaller, agile firm was nice.
Mike Tamasi, Proprietor & CEO at AccuRounds:
After I was in faculty, computer systems had been my MachineMetrics. As an proprietor, you are at all times searching for the most recent, best alternative and what’s going to make your organization higher, and the right way to progress. We’re in a high-cost labor market and are at all times taking a look at expertise.
We reviewed MachineMetrics a couple of years in the past, and we weren’t prepared. Quick ahead three or 4 years, and MachineMetrics had come a good distance. They had been established, and we had been extra ready. After reviewing a number of MachineMetrics rivals, we realized they had been now the chief and probably the most mature resolution. I believe we’re in yr 4, and we’re nonetheless simply scratching the floor of what the platform can do for us.
Bruce Watkins, President & GM at Karl Storz:
I have been with Karl Storz for 15 years and in high-tech, precision manufacturing for 38. After I got here to Karl Storz, I spotted that doing enterprise in New England is not the most cost effective endeavor. If all we will do is copy what different individuals are doing, I believed “we’re lifeless and will as properly go offshore.”
We started with GBMP, the Larger Boston Manufacturing Partnership, and obtained a workforce coaching grant to assist prepare our individuals in lean philosophy. We vertically built-in manufacturing for our small sports activities drugs enterprise though others suggested us to maintain our core competency and outsource all the pieces else.
We made a aware resolution to remain in New England and convert and combine plenty of our screw machine components companies. We began with knowledge analytics utilizing Excel. However we shortly outgrew that, which led us to MachineMetrics. I like MachineMetrics as a result of they got here and arrange for gratis so we might expertise it. The fee mannequin was very inexpensive and was like a pay-as-you-go mannequin.
Query 2: How are you utilizing knowledge as a basis for funding decision-making, and the way do you leverage knowledge to drive these choices?
Mike Tamasi, Proprietor & CEO at AccuRounds:
While you discuss knowledge, we had been attempting to do what MachineMetrics does with their platform on paper. The whole lot was guide and handwritten. We had been taking a look at two-day to three-day-old knowledge, and it was too late to make choices.
Having MachineMetrics in place allowed us to speak extra successfully with our crew members on the ground as a result of having the arduous knowledge in real-time at our fingertips allowed us to make higher choices. Selections have to be made minute by minute, hour by hour, not even daily. And it was extremely difficult.
With MachineMetrics, we might have a dialog on the machine as a result of we’re taking a look at a course of and never taking a look at an individual’s efficiency. We began small with ten machines, and we now have 27, and we’ll go to 35 or so quickly.
What’s vital on the entrance finish is together with individuals within the decision-making course of. Attempt to contain as many as doable. And from a techniques integration standpoint, the way forward for our success might be to combine totally different techniques, {hardware}, and software program and speed up course of movement. And since our ERP system talks to MachineMetrics, it opens doorways to communication and permits workflows. These are vital concerns as you look to implement any knowledge analytics resolution.
Morgan Waldau, Manufacturing Engineer at Waters Company:
At first, this was met with resistance, and operators had been actually in opposition to it. They felt like they had been being monitored like Huge Brother. However as soon as MachineMetrics was deployed and operational, the operators realized it was defending them as a result of scrap was a lot decrease. Actually, they had been applauded for it as a result of we want that info.
It’s a mirrored image on the manufacturing and the processes. If an operator takes longer to arrange, that isn’t essentially on them; that will even be the method. I believe it was a superb segue although to the way forward for our machine store as a result of we wish to implement extra expertise.
It is serving to inform our choices as a result of we’re considering of bringing in robots. MachineMetrics was a superb strategy to introduce new expertise into the store. I do not imagine that we have had something this vital are available that will be a tradition shock to them over the previous few a long time, so this was a superb begin to the place the store is heading.
Bruce Watkins, President & GM at Karl Storz:
Once more, the machine store is vertically built-in into our enterprise, captive to the primary gentle meeting facility. Every machine in our facility has a contribution margin yearly of about $800,000. Each machine we purchased has paid for itself in lower than a yr. Now we have about 20 machines. And we’ve got about 300 components that we do on these 20 machines. So, arrange discount administration is completely vital.
MachineMetrics has allowed us to remain within the area of details and goal proof and never feelings. It permits us to make use of these details to handle and enhance efficiency on these setups. That is the place it is helped us concentrate on the info and never simply the hallway, feelings, and conversations a few good and a nasty setup.
The benefit is in beginning small. That is what’s nice concerning the upfront funding with MachineMetrics.
Extra from Our Panelists [Video]
Fortunately, we had been capable of seize footage from the occasion. Try the movies beneath to listen to immediately from Morgan, Mike, and Bruce on the affect of MachineMetrics on each the store flooring and their backside line.
Morgan Waldau, Waters Company
Mike Tamasi, AccuRounds
Obtain the Case Examine
Bruce Watkins, Karl Storz
[ad_2]
Source link