PRODUCT REVIEWS
Get Industry 4.0-smarter
“ UK manufacturing SMEs can now take advantage of a service that tailors Industry 4.0 adoption to their business reality , while delivering a tangible bottom line benefit ,” LMAC Consulting told ISMR .
“ We were one of the first companies around the world to become certified assessors for Smart Industry Readiness Index ( SIRI ), which is the internationally recognised standard for Industry 4.0 planning endorsed by the World Economic Forum ,” it explained .
LMAC CEO , Alastair Crawford , was the first certified SIRI assessor for the UK , having originally honed his skills in the lean methodology environment of Toyota . He is passionate about supporting the manufacturing sector ’ s take-up and adoption of leadingedge digital transformation and sustainability practices to cut costs .
“ Industry 4.0 principles and technology enable manufacturers to keep their advantage and grow in a market constrained by available skills . Often , however , business leaders aren ’ t clear on where or how to start their journey and investment , so the LMAC focus is on proven organisational processes that deliver significant benefits and returns to the UK ’ s SME landscape in a scalable and pragmatic way ,” he said .
“ It needn ’ t cost a lot of money either , because we concentrate on the key SME issues of short-term ROI and how it
Alastair Crawford , LMAC CEO .
contributes to overall productivity . Digitally driven factories are the future of manufacturing and SMEs need to start making the transition to Industry 4.0 now , but it ’ s about starting with smaller ‘ smart ’ goals and then quickly scaling them once we have proved the concept ,” he added .
SIRI measures a business ’ s current maturity and prioritises the Industry 4.0 dimensions
that will have the greatest impact on the business , aligned to its strategic priorities . Being a certified assessor also enables LMAC to benchmark against other local and global manufacturing companies within any specific sector and against the wider manufacturing community . This allows manufacturers to see where they can make some quick gains .
“ The outcome is a smarter 4.0 roadmap and data analytics pathway with definitive focus areas that deliver measurable benefits towards priority KPIs , primary costs and critical success factors – all without wasting precious resource and factoring in the change management issue ,” concluded LMAC . “ This , in turn , creates an aligned leadership team with a clear vision of how to adopt the right Industry 4.0 principles to increase competitiveness and take the company forward and in the right direction .” n
. lmacuk . co . uk
Handling heavier forming dies
Dies can be manoeuvred quickly and safely on and off the table of power presses using a wide range of carrying consoles from Roemheld . The maximum forming die weight that can be handled has increased by more than half ( from 32 to 50 tonnes ) with the introduction of a new console with electrically actuated chain drive and support feet .
It is intended for shortening set-up times when changing over batch runs in press shops where components are formed from large metal sheet , such as in the automotive supply chain . The equipment is either dedicated to one press and fixed into position , or supplied as a mobile unit on wheels to be easily transported between different presses . Special customised solutions can also be ordered , including for handling even heavier loads .
“ Once at the machine , the carrying console ’ s integrated docking system , which is equipped with a hydraulic lifting column and foot lever for easy adjustment , ensures that it is firmly attached to the press before a die is placed onto it by a forklift or crane .
The integrated chain drive moves the die at up to 2m / minute to its final position in the press via integrated roller and ball bars , positioning it with millimetre precision ,” Roemheld explained .
“ The equipment is available in different versions suitable for almost any type of press . It may be factory-fitted for a new installation or retrofitted to existing presses . The compact design makes it particularly suitable for use when the press bed is low or where space is limited . By integrating sensors and stops , the console can be easily integrated into a partially or fully automated process ,
WATCH either via the power press control or a separate , optional control system ,” it VIDEO concluded . n
. roemheld . co . uk
ERP software
ISMR met MiE Solutions on its stand at Southern Manufacturing 2022 to discuss aspects of ERP production control software and its MIETrak Pro ERP software .
The software has become an industryspecific ERP software solution , specialising in all manufacturing industries . The capacity planning software has hundreds of UK users and is designed to support a business with its future growth and development .
“ It will streamline operations across the entire workflow process and provide maximum efficiency along with an immediate ROI . It is easy to install , use and implement . It includes advanced features such as cost control ; MRP ; scheduling ; reporting ; quoting ; inventory control and real-time tracking ,” the company explained .
A paperless approach is possible with tablets and mobile devices via kiosk or MIE Mobile Warehouse ( a warehouse management application to control inventory ; receive and ship items ; select items from a pick list and clock in and out of timesheets ). The app provides an intuitive graphical interface that communicates with the new MIE Platform , a web-services platform offering the same technical framework as MIE Trak Pro . MIE
Mobile Warehouse is an Android app .
“ MIETrak Pro allows users to ensure that all quotes are consistent and that profit margins are maintained across the board . It gives the user purchasing power in the form of ERP , meaning that users take control of all purchases within the organisation efficiently and ensure that they are getting the most for their money ,” outlined MiE Solutions .
Once installed , the customer support team will offer support network and training either in-house , remotely by telephone and / or on-site at customer premises . n
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