Digitize manufacturing step by step and transform it into paperless production.
Established goals and pilot areas, selected a core team and appropriate digital platforms, automated processes, and trained staff.
Mobile devices and additional functions are implemented, progress is continuously monitored and finally a rollout is planned.
It is important to proceed step by step and, if necessary, to gradually optimize and expand the system.
With a modular system architecture, such as axxalon flow, you can use and implement exactly the modules you really need to successfully make the transition to digital, paperless production.

Digitizing manufacturing is a first endeavor to leverage the benefits of digital technologies in industrial production as well.
Here we describe some field-proven steps you can take to transform your production to paperless:

Identify the reasons why you want to digitize your production.
For example, would you like to shorten lead times, use sophisticated planning systems and their intelligence, reduce errors, cut costs, take the step towards paperless production as the start of your digital transformation, or simply work more efficiently overall?
Practical tip: Start with a simple first step, such as going paperless.
This can already solve many problems, ensure more efficient processes and lay the foundation for future expansions.

Experience shows that it does not make sense to implement a new project directly on the ground, but rather to deliberately define a pilot area for the introduction/digital transformation.
This can be a department, a team, a product segment or a line as an exemplary pilot area.
This will be used to test on a small scale all measures & new systems, learn what is still missing.
A pilot area can also be used to test the vision and application that is right for the company.
Along the way, you will discover and eliminate many stumbling blocks that were not apparent before, even with careful project planning in the field.
Furthermore, the pilot area will also serve you as an internal training area for employees before a future rollout.

In addition to the pilot area, staff with the following functions should be defined internally:

Literally translated, these are “key users” of a digital system.
Often these are employees from work preparation, production control and direct production, who will work with the real digital solutions in the future and come from the real practice of the users.
Very important here: Deliberately select volunteers who have a desire to work on project planning, design and testing of digital solutions.

In addition to the key user(s), a project manager should be defined internally who clarifies the objectives together with the project clients, provides internal resources and is responsible for the progress of the project.
At the same time, a close interface with internal IT can often be observed here and work packages that are necessary for digitization can also be monitored there.
Important: follow the agile approach of project management and deliberately start with small, simple solutions and progress, instead of trying to design “a 100% solution” from the beginning.

Closely involve the person in charge of the pilot area.
What would already save employees a lot of effort?
What is “real” progress?
What is more “nice to have”.
Ultimately, it is the users who decide how valuable the introduced solutions are.

Consider what data needs to be captured, displayed and processed in your production.
Typically, this is order data with the associated routings, recipes, parts lists, machine parameters, production plans and quality documents such as inspection instructions.

Choose a digital platform that best fits your needs.
This platform can be an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system, an MES (Manufacturing Execution System) or a specialized manufacturing software package.
In our case, this is our standardized business integration platform axxalon, which forms the digital backbone of the software solutions.
All modules and solutions of the axxalon flow universe are built on this platform and guarantee smooth interchangeability with other systems, such as your ERP system, document management systems or QA systems.

Train your of the core team and pilot area to use the new digital platform.
Together, extensively test the first functions using the pilot area.

Transfer all necessary data from your existing paper documents to the new digital platform.
Make sure that the test data is correct and complete.

Consider which processes can be automated to increase efficiency.
This can be the automatic collection of production data, the automatic generation of reports or the automatic notification of employees.
The chosen solution should already bring significant progress, otherwise you would not have chosen it.
With axxalon flow, for example, all production data and documents from the ERP system are available in the MES and can be called up by employees, incl. the production data.
Time recording and drag & drop job planning.

Implement mobile devices such as tablets or smartphones to make it easier for employees to access production data and schedules.
This can also help to improve communication between employees and especially across departments (e.g. production, machinery, production planning…) due to shared transparency.
Employees are also enabled to view and edit the production plan, orders, drawings, work plans, parts lists or QM documents from any location.

Test and integrate additional functions or modules, if desired.
In the pilot area, you as a company can learn for yourself what works, is needed, and makes progress without affecting operations in the rest of production.
An important point!
After all, you earn your money with the current production!

Once you and your core team are satisfied with the status achieved in the pilot area, plan the rollout.
Which departments / lines / areas are next?
Are there areas that require other solutions?
For this purpose, it makes sense to appoint key users from other areas and to plan the rollout to the other areas together in the pilot area.

Monitor your progress regularly to ensure your production remains paperless and efficient.
Consider what metrics are important for you to measure your success.

Do not start too big. It will already be a significant step forward to receive the previous documents alone live and digitally instead of in paper form for all employees. Once this has been rolled out, you can plan step-by-step extensions to your MES and then follow suit with digital planning, for example. In the meantime, the company can get used to the new software. If necessary, expand the system step by step. The modular system architecture of axxalon flow is ideally suited for this purpose. Use and implement the modules you really need. With the axxalon flow basic module, you are already in a position to enter digital production completely paperless.

Do you want to take the step into digital, paperless production?
Contact us!
Our production experts are at your disposal for a non-binding discussion!