At the Mibelle Group’s production facility in Frenkendorf, operating data was available through manual recording or previously used recording systems. However, due to faulty or irregular recording, these were only of limited significance. The sources of error could not be identified and therefore no optimization of the production process was possible. Attempted changes or improvements were based on gut feeling and could not be assigned to a solid optimization concept.
The Mibelle Group in Frenkendorf wanted to change this, with the aim of making waste visible through complete visibility. Reports should be possible in real-time and should also be processed graphically with level-appropriate evaluation tools. The central requirement was resilient transparency at all levels, accessible and visible to everyone. Marcel Ryser, Head of Maintenance at the Mibelle Group, explains:
Our aim was to make all waste visible with the whole truth and to be able to quantify it in order to make targeted optimizations.
FASTEC Wins Out in the Selection of Providers
After conducting a benefit analysis among several providers, the Mibelle Group finally opted for FASTEC. The software solution FASTEC 4 PRO and FASTEC as a customer partner were particularly convincing in the eyes of those responsible at Mibelle:
- The core competence in the desired application of the system
- A standard software solution that is highly adaptable and flexible
- The willingness to take individual special requests into account
- An intuitive user interface
- Very flexible display and evaluation options
FASTEC started with a pilot project on one line at the Frenkendorf site. After eleven months of tests and adjustments to the pilot line, the Mibelle Group in Frenkendorf decided to roll out FASTEC 4 PRO throughout the entire plant. The software solution was extended to 19 production lines. The rollout took place in three blocks in the various sections (liquid, powder, food) of production. I/O modules were installed to record the data and the classification of downtime reasons was repeatedly adjusted until the optimum was achieved. After the pilot line, the project lasted a further four months for five lines in the liquid area and a total of one year for all 19 lines. Adrian Waldmeier, Production Performance Engineer at the Mibelle Group, is very satisfied with the project result:
The end result, which we achieved with the rollout to all 19 lines in Frenkendorf, gives us the transparency we wanted. All our requirements were met and there was virtually nothing that would not have been possible with FASTEC.
Result: Real-Time KPIs at a Glance – in All Departments
Large screens in the workshop area and in the planner’s office are a helpful tool so that employees can see the current status of all lines at a glance and react quickly in the event of disruptions. In meetings, these views serve as a basis for discussion and for deriving the need for action. Errors and malfunctions as well as the associated costs due to downtime or cleaning times are clearly assigned and can be evaluated. These can therefore be used as a valid basis of argumentation for optimization projects.
Mr. Ryser sums up the cooperation with FASTEC:
We always have a fixed contact person that we can turn to. Communication works smoothly and the cooperation with FASTEC is very cooperative, which we really like.
For more details on the digitalization project and future steps planned at the Mibelle Group, read the full User Report.
