For SMEs in the manufacturing industry, there are plenty of increasing challenges when it comes to production optimization, such as:
- an acute shortage of professionals / workers;
- higher production costs (such as energy costs, material scarcity, consequences of outsourcing);
- growing foreign competition;
- increased pressure on product and production process sustainability;
- more capricious markets and greater product variations require increasingly flexible production capacity;
- shorter and more reliable delivery times;
- uncertainties about the import of materials and semi-finished products (faltering supply chain).
These challenges are strongly interrelated and largely part of the transition to a so-called smart industry. By smartly optimizing and automating industrial processes (production, assembly and associated handling), labour can be saved. Productivity increases, and the quality and flexibility of production is improved, while the cost price per product can be reduced. The key points to gain competitive advantage.
An important condition is that a positive contribution is also made to the sustainability of the product and process. This can often go hand in hand (e.g. by reducing breakdowns and waste, saving on energy and compressed air consumption, preventing stand by power consumption, reusing raw materials), but sometimes also creates additional challenges.
The industry of the future also requires highly flexible production capacity (Flexible Manufacturing) in terms of the product (specifications, quality, design), volume (quantity) and timing (throughput and delivery times). This means resource- and cost-efficient production of small series and single pieces, production to order instead of in stock production.
Furthermore, when optimizing an existing production process, product redesign may be desirable or even necessary. While in the development of new products, the feasibility and manufacturability must first be assessed, including prototyping, to achieve an optimal production process.
What can Willems E&C do for you in this regard?
Do you want to further optimize your existing production process? Are you looking for a partner to realize an optimal production method for your new or renewed products? Willems E&C can support and guide you on many fronts. Due to our many years of experience in, among others, the (para)medical industry, the automotive industry, the plastics industry and transport and logistics, we have come across a very wide range of process optimisations. Consider, for example: cutting, punching, welding, deforming, finishing, handling and packaging, stacking / destacking, supply / removal, heating, cooling, connecting.
Or are you on the eve of a major project, and do you lack the capacity to guide this process professionally? Please contact us for a no-obligation introductory meeting, we are happy to think along with you.
Project-based approach
A project-based approach is used for the preparation, implementation and handling of our assignments, in which our clients are always intensively involved.
Where necessary, we first make an inventory of your current production and business processes. Then we can draw up a program of requirements and wishes together with you, for example about:
- increase production capacity;
- flexibility of production capacity (product variants, variations in production numbers, throughput and delivery times);
- savings in FTEs for certain sub-processes (reducing human dependence);
- quality improvement;
- reduction of production costs;
- product and process sustainability (reduction of rejects and waste, energy savings, reuse of raw materials, etc.);
- other conditions / starting points, e.g. occupational health and safety, intended payback period (ROI);
We then translate this into a few concepts, which are tested against the program of requirements and wishes. This results in the most optimal solution for your applications.
This can be an investment proposal for a new machine, including specification, price and delivery time. But also a proposal for a detailed step-by-step plan for the optimization or automation of an existing production process, or for a combination of several production and handling processes for a product group.
Business case
If desired, we can draw up a business case for you to substantiate your investment decision. This gives you insight into the costs, returns, feasibility, complexity and risks of the intended investment.
Product development
Are you active in the manufacturing industry and do you want to launch a new product? Then it is important to think about the manufacturability and production method of the product at an early stage. With the help of prototyping, the product’s effect can be proven and the manufacturability or production method can be determined.
In addition, we can unburden you in the development and realization of the entire production process.
