TECHNOLOGY
Ambitious – Robert Johnston says Fitfactory aims to drive digital transformation by improving efficiencies , reducing environmental impact and enabling real-time decision-making from its new system .
We want to drive digital transformation by improving efficiencies , reducing environmental impact and enabling real-time decisionmaking from management .
Tech – Fitfactory Next Generation MES combines disconnected systems into one app to vastly reduce operational inefficiencies .
which allows the system to send data to the cloud , so customers can track when their machines are active , idle or off from anywhere ’.
“ A hot topic at the moment is energy reduction and carbon reduction , so we track the machines ’ energy consumption and costs so they can be more efficient .”
Fitfactory ’ s MES has already transformed its customers ’ way of working – and their feedback is helping make it even better . Robert explained : “ They come to us and say ‘ could you do this ?’ or ‘ perhaps you could add something else to it ’. And because we ’ re customer-driven and customer-led , that helps us drive it forward .”
And for Robert , that evolution – and ensuring it stays cutting edge - is part business , part pleasure .
He said : “ We ’ re committed to adopting the latest tools and best practices , but making software is my hobby too – I find it fun .
“ Our MES is about providing an integrated solution that ’ s bridging the gaps between disconnected systems and that ’ s quite exciting .
“ These ideas have been in my head for many years , so when you see them come to fruition and customers benefiting from them , that is quite satisfying .”
AI is everywhere nowadays , of course , and Fitfactory ’ s MES has embraced it – and will continue to do so .
Robert said : “ We ’ ve incorporated AI into the machine monitoring , for example , so we can detect when a machine ’ s active , idle or off .
“ We have plans for further AI integration to make use of real-time data we collect into the system , but I can ’ t say too much about that just now because someone may steal my ideas !
“ Another benefit of our platform is that although we connect to and promote connectivity to our own systems , we very actively promote connecting to competitors ’ ERP and MRP systems as well .
“ So , you don ’ t just have to use Factory ’ s technology for everything – you can use our MES with anything else you ’ ve got .”
With Fitfactory ’ s MES , data is collected real-time and goes into a secure , cloudbased system .
After an initial onboarding process , where customers are taken through how the system works , ongoing support , either on site or remotely , is readily available .
It ’ s been designed with simplicity and functionality in mind .
And , says Robert , it will keep evolving .
He said : “ We ’ re planning to introduce a fourth module , warehouse management , into the MES by the end of the year . “ And we ’ re about to release a machine shop layout view . So , as well as seeing the data for your machines , we ’ re allowing the customers to visually build their shop floor , like a diagram on the screen – at a glance , they can see basically a ‘ top down ’ view of the shop floor , all the machines , what they ’ re working on , are they active , are they idle , how long have they been active for ?
“ So , a whole wealth of information , very quickly , just by looking at a screen .
“ We have more than 400 customers and have barely touched the surface of those yet , never mind the rest of the market , so it ’ s very exciting .
“ We want to drive digital transformation by improving efficiencies , reducing environmental impact and enabling real-time decision-making from management .
“ You ’ re not just investing in our MES software , you ’ re investing in your own business , because it ’ s forcing you to improve your own processes , review your own systems and make your business more sustainable in the future .”
fitfactory . com
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