Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR) or collaborative robots (cobots) will change manufacturing in the factories of tomorrow. And it is an inevitable change. ALL Circuits did not stay idly by and watch this revolution, instead they chose to follow these trends with initiatives in each of its production sites. To accelerate this change and coordinate efforts on digital projects for all locations, the company chose to create a new role to manage the digital transformation and assigned Thomas Cocquempot to drive the initiative, after his eleven exciting years as the head of the Bayonne plant.
The first digital roadmap
His first mission was to make a diagnosis of the digital maturity of each site. This has allowed the identification of strengths and weaknesses in the integration of IT systems, the adoption of new digital technologies, and the maturity of the organization to accept and implement this transformation. It also made it possible to identify the achievements and projects of each of the sites. Based on this observation, a first digital roadmap, dubbed ‘Digit‘ALL’, was built to serve the company‘s strategy.
The first axis of this roadmap was to provide the company with a common digital base, enabling the construction of a solid and sustainable digital transformation. This includes:
- a common IT infrastructure,
- new communication tools (video-conferencing, collaborative tools, digital telephony),
- processes allowing more sharing between sites and facilitating innovation,
- tools such as Digital Learning and Business Intelligence in all areas of the business,
- a digital organization and resources for carrying out the projects.
The Glass Factory
The company chose, as with all their initiatives, to put the customer at the center of the 2nd axis entitled “the Glass Factory”.
The idea was to push the principle of transparency to the extreme with each customer. Digital technology makes it possible to simplify and automate access or the exchange of information. “We are already exchanging digital data with our customers and suppliers via EDI (Electronic Data Interchange), but we have intensified this communication for logistical data (location of product in the factory, delivery forecasts, etc.), as well as for technical data (quality level, failure rate, productivity, etc.). This profound change in the relationship with our customers will drive us further towards excellence and reinforce the level of mutual trust, synonymous with sustainability in the relationship,” says Thomas Cocquempot.
Digitizing the process
The third axis concerned the continuation of digitization actions of their processes. Special attention was made to the pooling of solutions on all sites that work in order not to disperse the limited resources for development.
To give some examples:
- the deployment of I-pro solutions (real-time monitoring of the utilization rate of equipment) and Caper (digitization of production documentation),
- the interconnection of equipment will continue and projects, such as digital QRQC (tool for solving field problems),
- or remote maintenance (remote maintenance of production equipment) are being developed.
“Particular attention has been made in recent years to the automation of production processes. This will, of course continue, but Industry 4.0 has allowed us to go further and accelerate the automation of indirect processes. It will support all sectors of the business, more specifically logistics, finance, trade, maintenance, industrialization, etc.,” he further concludes.
Automation is key
The 4th axis of the roadmap deals with projects, such as the automation of goods receipt, the dematerialization of supplier invoices, and the development of a SMT line supervision tool to name just a few.
The solutions brought by new digital technologies and the Industry 4.0 are multiple and constantly evolving. This current revolution is a great opportunity to continue the quest for excellence to best serve customers‘ satisfaction. By catalyzing all the energy, creativity and ingenuity of the company‘s teams, the Digit‘ALL program has accelerated the digital transformation.
