FACE TO FACE
‘ Shopfloor Operations Management ’ or SOM is directly integrated into the coordinating control .
customer portal launch and , most importantly , a step change in Schuler ’ s service philosophy , service culture and internal processes . ISMR decided to find out more by chatting to Torsten Petrick , Service Executive Vice President , Schuler , who now also manages Schuler ' s Weingarten site .
Schuler Service , with its specialists around the world , helps customers to increase the output of their lines and ensure availability . Today , it offers a staffed hotline with 24 / 7 support for Schuler ' s own brands and thirdparty products , 40 locations worldwide and “ the largest spare parts warehouse of its kind ”.
Schuler ’ s Digital Suite is a package of over thirty key services products and applications for customers . ‘ Shopfloor Operations Management ’ is the latest application from Schuler ’ s Digital Suite , which can be used to optimise and control an entire press shop . SOM shows the current production situation at a glance and reveals any potential problems early . The performance indicators can be compared with past shifts and orders to optimise future processes . In February this year , Schuler and AutoForm announced their collaboration , combining AutoForm ’ s Digital Twin and Schuler ’ s Digital Suite technologies to develop new digital press shop solutions .
Other digital solutions include applications from machine vision as well as systems for component tracking and energy optimisation . The EcoForm platform investigates every area of the press to save weight , energy costs and find better lubrication methods . The Digital Suite brings together solutions for networking forming technology and is continuously being developed . Schuler also offers systems for the mass production of metal bipolar plates for fuel cells .
“ We have placed a stronger focus on what we can provide to our customers in terms of value . Our approach to service , encapsulated by the new branding , is now different because customers are more interested in the total cost of ownership of a press and are also thinking more strategically and long term .
Schuler ’ s stand at Blechexpo / Schweisstec 2023 in Stuttgart , Germany .
Showing a customer that he can reap a return on his press modernisation investment in 4 / 5 years because our Digital Suite products are saving him significant energy / scrap / operational costs etc . is heralding a change in Schuler ’ s service mindset . ESG issues ( environmental , social and governance ) are at the forefront of this ,” Torsten Petrick , Service Executive Vice President , Schuler , told ISMR . This new service mindset spurred Petrick
Torsten Petrick , Service Executive Vice President , Schuler , demonstrates Schuler ’ s new customer portal .
‘ Shopfloor Operations Management ’ or SOM offers full connectivity to customer ERP / MES systems as well as open data interfaces to AI solutions .
to start an internal programme at Schuler to refine habits , attitudes and products in its service business , and to focus on personal accountability and responsibility for its service teams . Salespeople are no longer selling on price , but on value . Equipment modernisation takes on an additional dimension when digitalisation and ESG are added to the mix . “ This spurred us to change our service branding and message to ‘ Service Made for You ’ to show customers and the market that we want to bring value to customers . These services are the new products that are tailormade to the customer . We will also listen more to customers as part of this new philosophy , working and acting ‘ outside in ’. For customers , this will make service processes a lot easier and more collaborative for them . Our service brand is primarily driven towards small and mid-sized companies ,” he explained .
New customer portal
To support its modern approach to service , Schuler presented its new customer portal at Blechexpo / Schweisstec in Stuttgart .
“ The customer can sign in and see all his machines ; documentation ; inspection history ; machine energy usage and access cyber security reports etc . He can also request spare parts ; file repair orders ; ask for support / service or even upgrade / update his machinery . The portal can also be accessed on mobile devices , tablets etc .,” Torsten Petrick outlined , demonstrating the new portal to ISMR on Schuler ’ s stand .
“ It is important to say that Schuler services , such as Die Protection , can also be applied to presses that are not Schuler ones . They will manage production processes regardless of press
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