Consulting for digitization projects
As pioneers for digitisation projects, we have more than 25 years of experience in the development and worldwide project management of digitisation projects.
The great challenge in implementing digitisation projects is to break down the complexity and variety of problem areas into easily implementable projects with concrete, measurable objectives. If this does not succeed, projects usually fail or are not started at all. We offer you this knowledge and experience for structuring digitisation projects holistically in our company network as an independent service provider.
Our large package includes:
- Inventory, problem identification,
- Concept and solution development,
- Evaluation of implementation partners,
- Project management or support,
- business management, financing, cost preparation and control.
Goal achievement and project success is project implementation "in time on budget".
Project example: Productivity and quality increase through machine networking
Introduction of a MES system (Manufacturing Execution System) at one of the TOP 5 suppliers for the premium automotive industry
The customer's objective was to increase productivity by at least 5% by networking the production machines and to reduce the reject rate by 3% by measuring process parameters. This required networking of all machines for operating, production and process data acquisition. The major difficulty was that the machinery was not homogeneous: the oldest machine was 20 years and the youngest just 2 months old. Furthermore, numerous different machine control systems were used. A system supplier had to be found who could handle the variety of different machine communication interfaces.
Milestone 1: Creation of a specification with the customer. Goal: Clear definition of the scope of supply and services of the system. Creation of an implementation plan with desired performance, technology and schedule targets. With these specifications, the customer was able to search for suitable implementation partners.
Milestone 2: Search for suitable suppliers. With the help of the specifications, the system was put out to tender. A shortlist of the three most suitable suppliers was drawn up from among ten possible suppliers. Goal: Selection of the implementation partner. Fixing of budget, project capacities and schedule. Tasks included reviewing the bids to organizing and leading the system presentations. A shortlist with recommendations was then presented to management for decision-making.
Milestone 3: Project management for system implementation. Once the system supplier was selected, the project was implemented over a six-month period. The difficulty clearly lay in the interface issues with the machines, but also with the leading ERP system. The project was taken over into real operation after acceptance of the entire scope of functions in accordance with the specifications and requirements and after training.
Project result/customer benefit
- Through the purchase of the MES solution, the project goals were ultimately even exceeded:
- Increase in productivity: Due to the continuous recording of machine downtimes, weak points in production were identified and eliminated -> +7%.
- Reduction of the reject rate: The monitoring of the process parameters enables the optimization of the production process. This leads to an increase in productivity and a reduction in the reject rate. Both goals have been achieved already in the first year of application! The availability of operating and production data leads to high-quality problem solving. Relevant system evaluations are the basis for every production and quality meeting. Available real-time utilization rates of the machine park enable investment decisions at the push of a button. ROI <12 months.