Digital images of the machine park for optimizing order processing.

Industry & Customer

Precision engineering contract manufacturing and mechanical engineering.

Initial situation

Since the coronavirus pandemic, ordering behavior has changed significantly: Customers are increasingly ordering smaller batch sizes, but at a higher frequency, and at the same time expect shorter lead times. The problem: Manual processing of these numerous, smaller orders increases effort and complexity, which extends throughput times.

Consulting objective

The idea is to create a virtual representation of the machinery and use appropriate tools to simulate production throughput. This provides a basis for significantly more efficient production planning. However, this requires that the entire process, from order entry to goods issue, be largely automated.

Consulting services

In a workshop, the existing manual processes were first reviewed in detail and examined for their suitability. We then identified the specific digitization requirements and determined which steps should be prioritized in the process digitization.

Technical implementation

One possible technology is to use asset administration shells to create digital twins of the machine park.

Results

Together, we developed a business vision from the original idea and derived a concrete digitization strategy from it.

Lessons learned

The logical approach of moving from the idea to the vision to an adapted corporate strategy and then deriving a digitization strategy from this went largely smoothly. However, we encountered noticeable resistance to the specific digitization projects, particularly from decision-makers who argued that the existing processes had actually worked well so far.

Next steps

The follow-up project will initially focus on convincing decision-makers and all those involved and directly affected of the need for digitalization in order to make the company fit for the future. Once this has been achieved, a “digital roadmap” with concrete measures can be developed and discussed in a second or third step.