Digital Factory
Air it out and sweep the cobwebs, or: doing EDI migration right
Companies in automotive spend easily dozens of years building up their EDI. And it gets reconfigured many times over those years. Meanwhile few teams are responsible enough to thoroughly document all the adjustments to their on-premise system. The end result is that the risk of losing or damaging data when migrating it feels stronger than the benefits that can come from an EDI migration. “A data upgrade and migration is a fundamental act that will benefit every company’s operation”, says Jan Stočes, Cloud Services Director at Aimtec. And this process doesn’t have to be a risk, as long as a firm chooses the right partner. But how do you make that choice? Learn what to watch out for and what trends you can put to work in EDI.
Paul Martinez and José Ruiz: SEAT:CODE digital lab is revolutionising SEAT’s supply chain
First the order, then production. SEAT’s digital division has turned this Spanish automaker’s entire supply chain upside down. An interview with Head of IT Delivery Production and Logistics Paul Palmero and Product Manager José Marín Ruiz on how technology and digitalisation can transform even traditional and unchanging industries such as the automotive supply chain.
EDI could be with us for the next 15 years, says RAPA's IT chief
Thomas Schott has been responsible for IT at Rausch & Pausch (RAPA) for six years. However, he has been gaining experience in information technology for much longer. In the early 1990s, he was there when reputable suppliers in the automotive industry were beginning to implement electronic data interchange (EDI) systems. "This topic has been a constant presence in my professional life for thirty years," says the German manager.
Optimising material flows thanks to smart automation
This July, experts in manufacturer material flow and value chain optimisation met up in Nuremberg, Germany under the leadership of the Bayern Innovativ business networking organisation to discuss things together and share best practices. The individual presentations offered up specific technologies and verified approaches and best practices when implementing innovations. Sales Manager Jiří Hanžl joined the event to present Aimtec’s experience in this area through a presentation on smart logistics automation.
The supply chain inside out: SEAT starts with the end customer
Innovative technologies and digitalisation are inexorably entering supply chains. Thanks to them, it is also possible to abandon traditional practices, as demonstrated by the presentation of representatives of the Spanish company SEAT:CODE at the Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL) 2021 Conference, which took place in Pilsen.
Asprova APS ‑ a proven conductor in a new tuxedo plans production down to the second
The almost limitless possibilities for variability in production are forcing companies to look for ways to make it more efficient. One of the tools that can significantly help with this is the Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) system. In Europe, more than two dozen suppliers offer them, but there are fewer really good ones. Automotive IT specialist Aimtec relies on Japan's Asprova APS. Its new version has several advantages - even faster scheduling thanks to optimized algorithm, machine learning and a user-friendly interface. But it doesn't stop there.
EDI is alive and well, says Tolga Ozkundakci of IAC
Occasionally one can hear the opinion that EDI is slowly but surely leaving the scene. Ozkundakci strongly disagrees. At least in the automotive sector, he says, this is not the case.
Now that we have the data, let's mine it across the supply chain
Digitalisation brings new perspectives on manufacturing efficiency
A register of scrap and manufactured units, operator and machine downtime tracking… approaches like these have become a standard part of production monitoring and reporting. In our digital age, can monitoring of overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) in terms of availability, performance and quality be improved even further, and can the needed data be acquired even more quickly and easily? What’s changing in this area, what new features is digitalisation bringing, and can we expect any specific tangible results?
Digitalisation platforms – an inexhaustible tool for manufacturing optimisation
Have you ever had the feeling that your manufacturing can’t be optimised any further, and you’ve reached its limits? Is it at all realistic to have completely interconnected manufacturing, in which people, machines, tools, materials and products all communicate simultaneously? The solution is a digitalisation platform that is able to connect to anything you can think of. With its help, you can configure any behaviour you desire for individual outputs and set up a variety of possible reactions. This way you can have complete information from manufacturing in real time – and digitally control it as well.
How to standardise processes in the automotive industry without limiting its flexibility?
How does a global automotive player use Aimtec’s DCIx System to standardise processes in its plants and facilities? Get an insight into International Automotive Components Group (IAC) straight from their European Vice President of IT and Systems Tolga Özkundakci.
With DCIx7, the dream of a digitalisation platform running in the cloud becomes a reality
The User Group for Aimtec’s DCIx met up at the start of this May in Pilsen, and attendees could learn what visions are out there for logistics and what new features DCIx will soon have in store. Representatives from Koito Czech and Continental Automotive showed their approach to automation via practical examples. The event also included morning workshops about advanced stock management with WMS, new processes in MES and the role of DCIx in the digital factory. Couldn’t be there, or want a refresher on a few key points? Watch the presentations from the main afternoon section.
EDI mapping in automotive? A quick and affordable solution exists
Electronic data interchange (EDI) is an essential part of business, and this naturally applies to the automotive industry as well. However, as companies use different in-house systems, information sets need to be tailored to ensure that communication runs smoothly. This is a task for so-called EDI mapping, which is becoming an indispensable tool for automotive suppliers.
Tomáš Vondrák: The path to becoming Continental’s model plant in digitalisation
What are the biggest challenges for a company that’s been creating mobility trends for a century and a half? How has Continental’s largest automotive plant changed during the past 10 years? An interview with Tomáš Vondrák, Plant Manager & Managing Director, on Continental’s vision for a new era.
German head office learned the system of logistics digitalisation from Czech Bosch subsidiary
To get rid of physical kanban cards for production scheduling and save hours, weeks and months of time of the people who have to work with them. This was the basic idea that led to the creation of the digitalisation of heijunka in the Czech plant of automobile tech division of the Bosch company.
Marco Prüglmeier: How can we implement innovations on time and be ready for the future of logistics?
Should different companies think differently about innovations in logistics? How can we navigate the market’s wide range of automation technologies and choose the right one? An interview with Marco Prüglmeier, CEO of i2market, about whether a blueprint exists for a successful future in logistics – but also about his new book Innovations in Logistics.
Digitalisation and Automation of Continental Automotive Plants
Holistic approach to digitalisation. You either digitalise or you don’t, there’s no doing it halfway. This should be THE approach to digitalisation, according to Tomáš Vondrák, Managing Director of Continental Automotive Czech Republic, who spoke at the Trends in Automotive Logistics Conference (TAL) on September 21st in Pilsen. We summed up Tomáš’s most inspiring points in this article.
Ivan Marinec: The role of data in the digitalisation of automotive logistics
The typical causes for automation failures all usually share the same roots. These are: low-quality data, poor knowledge of the system’s possibilities and a lack of courage. How can you make the most of the new prospects brought by digitalisation while maintaining logical and sensible goals?
The right balance in logistics and where to find it
The most modern approaches in logistics—why should you be aware of the latest trends? How to find the right balance in logistics and keep it? At the Trends in Automotive Logistics Conference (TAL) 2021, Marco Prüglmeier talked about different approaches to robotization in logistics, showed the most revolutionary technological innovations, and mentioned some cons of automatization.
The Technology Trends That TAL 2021 Speakers Are Calling the Future of Automotive
Automotive is undergoing the biggest disruption in all the years of its existence. New technologies are coming to the fore, and if you cannot flexibly adapt, you’ll lose a lead that is very hard to earn back. What important trends are transforming logistics today in the eyes of the experts who spoke at Trends in Automotive Logistics 2021?
Driving trucks from home, and UX as an engine for digitalisation: The most interesting quotes of TAL 2021
Seeking the right balance for automotive logistics – that was the main theme for this year’s Trends in Automotive Logistics conference, held in Pilsen on 21 September 2021. A total of fourteen speakers from throughout Europe came to share verified tips and experience gained from digitalisation projects. How do automotive logistics experts see the future? We’ve chosen the most inspiring statements from this year’s conference just for you.
The TAL 2021 Conference: Logistics Digitalisation Must Come with Balance
Fourteen speakers from throughout Europe assembled in Pilsen on 21 September for the Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL) conference, organised by Aimtec in cooperation with IHK Regensburg and DTIHK. The automotive logistics experts appearing on the conference stage included Marco Prüglmeier from i2market and Michael Schneider from idealworks. The topic of establishing the right balance regarding logistics digitalisation accompanied the entire programme. And the conclusion? Constant balancing, the seeking of new paths and evaluation of individual solutions’ pros and cons is, the speakers say, what is most likely to guarantee success for both small projects and cross-company transformations. TAL 2021’s participants found confirmations of this in the majority of the conference presentations.
Automotive should learn from e‑commerce. Through data and digitalisation.
If you want to succeed, learn from the best. That is why we’ve interviewed Ivan Marinec, with his rich portfolio of experience from operations and logistics management in automotive. Over 20 years in this field have given him a unique perspective on the current turbulent situation and more importantly on the trend of digitalisation in automotive manufacturing. We asked him for tips as well as lessons learned that have helped him to start his own company.
A digital‑first approach to logistics innovation by idealworks
When BMW’s new spinoff, the fully owned subsidiary idealworks, was founded in November last year, the message was fairly clear: This Munich startup – which is partnering with major players such as NVIDIA Corporation, ADLINK Technology, and SICK – is reimagining autonomous logistics and changing the way intelligent robots work. We spoke to idealworks’ CEO, Michael Schneider, about the startup’s first year of business, its goals for next year, and his presentation at TAL 2021.
Automotive for a New Age: Localised Manufacturing and Supply Chains Alongside New Business Models
For over a year now, the global economy has seen a trial by fire, and it is struggling with the impacts of anti-epidemic measures. In automotive, the pandemic has mercilessly revealed the vulnerability of global manufacturing and supply structures, and meanwhile this sector is seeing the greatest change in a century, with combustion engines gradually giving way to electric.
We learned while doing – and always valuing decency and good relationships
Aimtec is celebrating its 25th birthday. That’s why we couldn’t resist asking its co-founder Jaroslav Follprecht what has changed and what events most strongly shaped the company – but also how hard it is and has been to find work-life balance.
TAL 2021: The topic for automotive logistics in 2021 will be finding a balance
Audi, BMW Group, ŠKODA AUTO, ZF Friedrichshafen, Volkswagen, Eissmann Group Automotive – návštěvníci konference Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL) už měli v minulosti možnost vyslechnout si zkušenosti, případové studie a inspiraci od těchto velkých hráčů v automotive a také od desítek jiných. Loni v únoru přilákal jubilejní 20. ročník do Plzně téměř 300 českých i zahraničních účastníků, kteří podle zpětné vazby odjížděli spokojeni. I v letošním roce chystáme inspiraci v podobě toho nejlepšího z logistiky v automotive. Posun na podzimní datum 21. 9. 2021 vidíme jako příležitost setkat se v Plzni znovu osobně a navázat tak na úspěšné předchozí ročníky. O tom, na co se letos můžete těšit, jsme si povídali s Romanem Žákem, předsedou představenstva Aimtecu.
Local automotive manufacturing? Smart microfactories will make it possible.
Traditional production lines may soon be replaced by innovative microfactories consisting of manufacturing cells with flexible robotic stations. These can make do with a floor area that’s two orders of magnitude smaller and can be brought into operation considerably faster.
The three most common mistakes when choosing a WMS
A Warehouse Management System is capable of controlling processes throughout the whole warehouse, making it the first choice for internal logistics. The latest study by the SKLAD association has shown that an unbelievable 53% of Czech logistics companies want to invest in a WMS over the next year. Are you among them? Then make sure that while you’re choosing, you’re not making any of these mistakes that can endanger the whole project’s success!
Three real‑world examples of how to configure the system for controlling logistics and production
Today, when the demands on businesses and how they work are changing nearly non-stop, it is essential to be able to react quickly and gain control immediately even in tough situations. And so it is no surprise that custom configurability is also a fundamental matter for WMS, MES and APS, among other logistics and control systems. The trend is clear – customers seek a system where their hands and minds are free to create their own transactions and processes and shape their system’s future development. But is this truly possible?
When transformation is not a trend, but a necessity
An automobile comprises about 20,000 parts. Some components are so unique you could count their suppliers on just one hand. If on top of that you’re forced to speedily switch to a new supplier, the whole process can become a nightmare. We probably needn’t quiz you on why this information is so interesting of late…
Digitalisation goes hand in hand with automation. And it can bring companies durability and flexibility.
Projects aiming to automate logistics tend to be a major challenge for companies. In this interview with Aimtec co-founder Roman Žák, we discussed the most common errors one encounters in projects like these – as well as how automation relates to digitalisation.
Automation: Keeping Your Control System in Great Shape
In our previous article on how to tackle automation, we mainly focused on your team and on how to take an efficient and modern approach to your new control system’s deployment. Today we’ll look under the hood (or into the code?) of the system itself. You want it to grow along with you – and with the evolution of your processes and the hardware technologies in use at your warehouse. So you need it to be configurable, and naturally you need to attend to its maintenance too. But you can entrust that maintenance to… automation! Join us for a look at how to “automate automation” and have a control system that’s still as good as new after years of utilisation.
Lean Manufacturing Principles Applied to a Packaging Line
Not many companies in our country have withstood its fundamental societal changes over the last 100 years without major fluctuations. The Swedish company SKF is one of the exceptions.
“We Originally Just Wanted to Improve Our Processes, but in the End We Automated Our Whole Warehouse,”
states Libor Toman from the board of directors of DŘEVO TRUST, a.s. He answered our questions just weeks after the start of live operation for their fully automated warehouse – that is, in a very special phase of the project. Mr. Toman captained the new warehouse’s investment project, and therefore we asked him about his experience and the path leading up to the automation.
MOM Is the Future! What Is the MOM of the Future?
Manufacturing companies will be facing challenges in the near future that will drive deeper and tighter interconnection of the virtual and physical world of products, machines and workers.
Vertical Lift Storage: When the Component Comes to the Operator
Navigation of the warehouse operator using light indication. World’s gone mad, what was enough yesterday, is not enough today. Production batches are getting smaller and the profitability limits of yesterday are being reconsidered today.
Integration of Systems with MuleSoft Anypoint Platform
Integration of systems in a company is important not only for the elimination of errors or current data availability in separate systems.
The Data War Has Been Declared, Production Including
The avalanche of terms from the world includes Industry 4.0, Advanced manufacturing, Smart factory, Internet of Things. Each of them has a slightly different meaning but we can find common base too. Let us analyse them from the production data point of view.
Optimizing Loading and Unloading with YMS
The ever growing variety and number of products means a growing number of suppliers and customers for production companies. As a result the number of trucks to be loaded and unloaded everyday is growing too.
Planning of SMT Lines and Consequent Processes in Electronics
Practically all companies fabricating electronics use the SMT (Surface Mount Technology). In most of them, however, the production process is not finished by automatic installation.
Who Will Win the IoT Global Network Race?
The starting shot was heard. The race has been started, regarding who would build the global communication standard for the Internet of Things (IoT).
Make It Digital! Your Reward Will Be Flexibility and Speed
One of leaders in the industrial automation market, the American company Rockwell Automation claims that thanks to principles of so called Smart Manufacturing, the price of a personal computer will drop to USD 300, and of a car to USD 3,000.
Api‑Led Connectivity – Key for Successful Digital Transformation
API is a very frequently mentioned term in the area of information technology.
New I4.0 Technologies Must Be Adaptable into the Industrial Environment
The WITTE Automotive company ranks among global technological leaders. The production plant in Nejdek is the largest within the group.
Be Digital. Faster.
Czech economy, in its large portion, is oriented to the German market, and in the last year, the Czech Republic became one of top 10 trade partners of Germany.
Future of Planning from the Perspective of Industry 4.0
With respect to the implementation of information systems, production companies can currently be divided into two basic groups. The first group implements tested solutions, having a clear beginning, end, objective, and benefit.
We Live in a Time of an Accelerating Change, States Milan Zelený
Were you unable to attend September’s Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL) conference? Or perhaps you attended the event and want a refresher on the fundamental ideas expressed there?
Sequencing Is the Trend for Today. What about Tomorrow?
Each new car model brings an increase in the number of suppliers and parts swept up in sequential delivery to the assembly line at cars’ end-manufacturers.
Automation and HW Technologies in Logistics. a Visible Part of Digital Transformation
In our last issue, we wrote about the digital transformation; about processes, people and changes to the business model.
Monitor Warehouse Staff Routes and Localise Objects in Real Time
Where on Earth is Petr with that forklift? Where have you put that blasted pallet with the parts for the Daimler order? If you’re knee-deep in questions like these, then it’s time to discover Location Based Services.
4 Development Phases Towards Digital Factory
Many manufacturing companies have already been performing digitalisation activities for quite a long time now. In the past they invested into manufacturing equipment and warehouses, which today are commonly controlled by advanced software.
Digitalisation Is All about People
In manufacturing and logistics companies, digitalisation keeps on making work easier and letting people focus more deeply on their specialisations.
The Digital Factory as MuleSoft sees it
How do you automate an entire factory? You need just three technologies: an API, the IoT and artificial intelligence, all communicating together.
The First Step on the Road to Industry 4.0 at Daiho
The individual steps in digitalising your enterprise may seem demanding. And they do demand long preparation and thorough employee training.
ERP: The Cornerstone of Every Digital Factory
It’s not just corporate IT managers who lose sleep over Industry 4.0. Members of companies’ top management often have to address this topic as well.
Not Just Smart Manufacturing – Smart Planning Too
A digital factory doesn’t just mean collecting data on production and logistics processes. It also means controlling them.
Mapping Factory ‑ Developing EDI Conversions
The Digital Factory doesn’t have to only mean introducing Industry 4.0 at manufacturing and logistics firms. We also have our own digital factory at Aimtec.
Real‑Time Location System: Your Bodyguard
Imagine a warehouse where the workers don’t have to scan shelf positions and where the forklifts automatically avoid high-traffic spots so that they never have to wait and yield.
The TAL 2020 Conference: The Best in European Automotive
“Each year’s TAL has one thing in common. Our wish for its participants to bring home the best of experiences, as well as ideas that will help them towards an even better formulation of their vision and strategy for manufacturing and logistics management,” says Roman Žák, chairman of the board at Aimtec, on the history of Trends in Automotive Logistics (TAL). Originally a side event for Autosalon, a trade fair in Brno, it has become an independent conference with international speakers and attendees, will be celebrating 20 years in 2020 and promises an attractive programme once again.
Deloitte and the Digital Factory
Manufacturers are facing a new age of physical production. Advanced processes, new materials and increasing automation are reshaping the industry. Business leaders are beginning to ask themselves how to keep up with market changes…
MES Is for More Than Manufacturing
MES has an established role as the main system support for manufacturing. Its primary function is data collection and evaluation. The manufacturing data it collects can then be used as a foundation for monitoring, assessing and managing the manufacturing process based on a plan. But managers aren’t the only consumers of this data. Operators and maintenance staff use it too. That’s why MES is a key component in enterprise systems and is also receiving growing interest in relation to the rise of new technologies and the overall trend of interconnecting manufacturing and logistics.
How to Approach Logistics Automation
Automation. It’s so tightly tied to industrial manufacturing that just about everyone thinks of robots when they think of assembly lines. But what do you think of when you hear the phrase “internal logistics automation”? Self-driving forklifts? Conveyor belts? Warehousing and logistics was a back-burner field until recently, but now it’s time to change that. After all, inefficient intralogistics processes generate considerable financial losses. Thanks to the latest technologies, we can free workers’ hands and take productivity to a level that would be unachievable with manual warehouse operations. But how does one approach automation? What are its possibilities? What can it lead to? We have some answers for you.
Automation and Jobs: The Skills Revolution Is a Necessity
Automation replaces people. But does this mean we’re losing jobs? The media might make that seem at first to be the case, but what’s the real situation? Should we worry about massive redundancy and thousands of the unemployed? The jobs experts at Manpower and their study named “Humans Wanted: Robots Need You” tell us the opposite. Companies are seeking employees despite automation – new positions are being created with entirely new work tasks. After all, robots can’t get by without people. Thus we can expect a shift towards completely new activities and the need for a different approach to employees.
Warehouse Automation Achievement: Sellier & Bellot
Sellier & Bellot is one of the most successful industrial firms in the Czech Republic – and one of the oldest munitions manufacturers in the world. And it is also a renowned name in sport, for example in shooting disciplines and biathlon. Interestingly enough, it is likely the only company to have its own game reserve on its premises. But let’s take a look at the Sellier & Bellot warehouses, which saw a key turning point in 2016, when a new hall was built and equipped with a fully automated warehouse.
How Can You Master Automation? Your Internal Team and Innovative Project Tools Are the Key
Automation’s benefits are clear – saved costs, reduced human error, and faster, more efficient processes. But how much time will it take your team to grasp this Holy Grail? How can you prepare your key people for what awaits them and empower them to enable a smooth course for the entire project? Success is not just about suppliers and technologies, although they do play an important role. An often forgotten, but fundamental pillar lies elsewhere. In your people’s time.
What Makes Smart Logistics Smart? An Interview With Marco Prüglmeier From BMW Group
When it comes to digitalization in logistics and manufacturing, the question most often asked is what will happen to the human workers. Will they be made redundant? The very clear answer is “no”. Digitalization is nothing without human workers. It is there to support them, not to replace them.
Petr Eret on Remote Delivery: It’s More a Mental Change Than a Technological One
Delivering software solutions entirely remotely? Completion of projects without the need to visit the plant or warehouse is one option offered by Aimtec, a consulting and technology firm based in the Czech city of Pilsen, which has been providing software solutions for manufacturing and logistics for almost 25 years. How important a role does COVID-19 play in the shift to remote delivery, and what demands does this delivery method place on the customer? We’ve asked Aimtec’s Senior Business Consultant Petr Eret about all this and more.
How Do We Create Intelligent Automation?
That’s the question Paul Norford from Zebra Technologies tried to answer at TAL 2020. Yet his speech at this conference definitely was not about technologies and different products and features. Anyone who’s had the good fortune to meet this enthusiast already knows what element Paul considers the most important in automation; for the rest of you, we have a short summary of his presentation.
Get the Data You Need for Industry 4.0 with IO‑Link Communication
The Covid-19 viral pandemic is affecting both human health and the global economy. The restrictions on movements of persons, above all, have revealed certain weaknesses in manufacturing and supply systems across different fields. Even before this global crisis broke out, automation and industrial robotisation – jointly known as Industry 4.0 – were of growing importance. So it is very likely that pressure for automation of manufacturing and logistics will increase in further areas even after the crisis ends.
It Won’t Work without Robots: How to Accommodate the Extreme Personalisation of Manufacturing
Autonomous robots are gradually becoming common “employees” at manufacturing and logistics companies. Everyone wants them. However, the presentation by Faouzi Grebici from OMRON at TAL 2020 led us to realise that they are the mere tip of the iceberg of a modern, maximally efficient warehouse. Nevertheless, they do play an important role in the transformation of manufacturing and logistics. Will robots play a greater role than their human colleagues?
5 can’t‑miss changes in DCIx
Far greater and more efficient utilisation for the data you collect, broader possibilities for in-house editing and transaction creation, and of course a cloud-native approach. And the new offerings in DCIx go beyond just this – there’s news in the client applications as well. Read up on the system’s five most important changes, which are not to be missed.
