Everything about moulding machines, extruders and granulates

Intelligent processes for improved efficiency and sustainability

Focus on digitalisation and automation

Injection moulding machines: Different concepts for varying demands

International trade fair for manufacturing technology returns after a four-year break

AMB: Meeting place for mechanical engineering prepares for full house

Grinding technology trade fair is fully booked

Trade Fair for Tool, Pattern and Mould Making

MEX Meeting Point: Kicking off Moulding Expo 2023

How innovative hot runner technology uses material more efficiently

Hasco’s standard mould innovations for tool and mould makers

New 3D CAD configurator for arc springs

Latest Articles in "Additive Manufacturing "

Network wants to advance industrial 3D printed parts production

Stratasys introduced three new colour resin materials for realistic soft-touch prints

First life cycle assessment of AM powder process completed

Procter & Gamble cleverly combines additive and subtractive technologies

Latest Articles in "Machining Equipment "

DMG Mori reports record figures in first quarter 2022

Trumpf unveils new lines of fiber lasers for demanding welding and cutting use

Schaeffler expands with new tool technology centre

Flexibility and productivity with solid carbide tools

Business digitalisation for metal manufacturers in 5 easy steps

Module Works appoints new Business Heads

Module Works to re-connect the CAD/CAM Industry

MV Tec expands deep-learning-based anomaly detection in Halcon 22.05

Latest Articles in "Hot Runners"

Hot runner systems: Optimised for syringe and pipette production

Controller cart keeps hot runner control units handy

Mold-Masters introduces manifold leak detection technology

How standardised components ensure optimum injection moulding results

Model railway manufacturer fast-tracks another EDM machine

EU counters dumped imports of graphite electrodes from China

This is how Electrochemical Polishing ensures smooth mould surfaces

High precision leads to new fields of economical applications

Latest Articles in "Quality Control"

Innovations in clamping technology for the metrology sector

Aerotech launches new ANT nanopositioning stages

Measurement system now with even higher accuracy

Laser scan systems make debut at Munich trade fair

Latest Articles in "Machining Accessories "

Industrial Robots: Multistation signs agreement with Axiome Robotic Solutions

Heat protection for sensitive shrink chucks

Energy efficient machines as a competitive advantage

Internal back-turning: a new possibility to increase productivity

Latest Articles in "Surface Treatment & Repair "

Safe and easy deburring and deflashing with new ceramic tools

New products for workshop equipment

Compact and effective laser cleaning of workpieces

Precision Micro unveils major investment following 2019 fire

Cannon Ergos collaborates with Boeing

Thermoplastic composite aircraft sidewall panels made of recycled carbon fibre

Vedanta launches first low carbon aluminium from India

Plastics processors report sales growth beset by uncertainties

Collaborative project: New approach to the production of thin-walled packaging

Digital transformation can seem a daunting task for metal manufacturers but, in reality, every company can go at the pace that suits it best, minimising the effort of implementing changes while maximising the benefits from each step. This article explains the benefits of digital transformation and how it can be achieved in five easy steps.

The implementation of digitalisation measures often comes with new technologies. However, there are five steps that can make it easier to become familiar with them. They are installed with little or no customisation so that they are operational ‘out of the box’ making it easy to get familiar with the software from each step before moving on to the next.

Manufacturers can stop at any step if they feel that is as far as they wish to go with digital transformation, giving them the flexibility to do what is best for their business while still having the option of continuing along the path at some time in the future.

When preparing manual quotations, it is typically possible to produce about three to ten quotes per day. With Lantek’s quotation module users can produce as many as 100 per day depending on their complexity while at the same time achieving greater accuracy and consistency. Customers using this module report that there is a link between speed of quotation and the likelihood of an order.

With Lantek’s quotation module CAD models and DXF files can be imported and, via links to the Lantek Expert CAD/CAM software, provide accurate cutting times and material consumption. It stores hourly rates for the machines, employees, non-CNC operations and subcontracted operations as well as material costs which can be updated as they change. Calculation formulas are part of the system so that the results are repeatable, predictable and accurate. The layout of the quotation is customised to suit your company style.

This module controls the paper trail for each order, generating internal sales orders for each job, producing order acknowledgements, delivery notes and invoices. Traceability is increasingly important for many manufacturers and the tools in this module provide a way of keeping track of each order, its manufacturing status and communicating with the customer in a professional and timely way while reducing administrative effort. This module also helps in keeping track of where business is coming from, which are the best customers and which customers are not accepting quotations — information which can help in optimising the sales process.

It is often difficult to find where parts are in the workshop and, depending on the customer mix, it is often important to bring together parts from many different orders onto one sheet of material. With MES Manager it is easy to release multiple sales orders to the workshop and nest multiple parts from different customers on one or more sheets of material. Tracking provides valuable information about the status of each job as it goes around the workshop together with data about manufacturing times for each operation. This data can be compared with the quotation to highlight any discrepancies. Gathering this information can be used to optimise the quoting process, identify manufacturing problems and to evaluate the efficiency of machines and other processes. Of course, MES can operate in a paperless environment which is faster and more reliable with higher accuracy by using data capture. However, Lantek software allows these options to be added as and when it best suits the customer’s business.

This provides information about the stock of material and remnants in the factory. It also tracks the material and its cost as it is purchased, automatically updating the material costs in the quotation module. It links to Lantek Expert making it easy to use remnants and material that is available during the nesting of a mix of different jobs. Full traceability makes it possible to see exactly which batch of material is used for each job.

Are open systems the route to the Smart Factory?

Implementing data capture will have a major impact on the ease and accuracy of the information collected from the workshop. Manual systems rely on conscientious use of paper-based reporting systems. Automated operator reporting takes away the need to fill in paper reports and produces results in real time, allowing any necessary corrective action to be taken immediately. There are several ways in which this can be done. For newer machinery the machine control can be connected so that as soon as the operation starts and stops, the times are automatically recorded. Other options include barcode readers or tablet enabled verification. These options are ideal for secondary operations such as welding or painting. The key benefits are high accuracy for operation times and quality control data sent back to the system as it happens. It can also give an early warning should processes be going wrong. With more accurate information quotation accuracy will be higher, profitability of each job can be verified and changes to manufacturing processes made based on live data.

Lantek has a worldwide support network and its commitment to an extensive software development programme provides the user with confidence in the software supplied by the company now and for the future. The system is intuitive so training concentrates on best practices to deliver the highest possible return on investment. With these five steps, which can be taken in almost any order and at any pace, every company in the industry can start on the path to digital transformation.

* Shane Langston is Solutions Sales Manager at Lantek UK.

How Covid-19 has changed the sheet metal business

Expert software drives CNC machinery and helps realise a Smart Factory

Cookie-Manager Imprint About Media Privacy General Terms and Conditions Help

Copyright © 2022 Vogel Communications Group

This portal is a brand of Vogel Communications Group. You will find our complete range of products and services on www.vogel.com

Lantek; Ametek GmbH Division Creaform Deutschland; Plastpol; Engel; Arburg; Boy; Metav; Landesmesse Stuttgart; Uwe Nölke/ VDW; Uli Regenscheit/ Landesmesse Stuttgart; Hasco; Günther; Brandgroup; Public Domain; Stratasys; 6K Additive; Trumpf; DMG Mori; Schaeffler; Mapal; Module Works; MV Tec; Ewikon; Christian Schörg/ Hasco; Mold-Masters; Nick Matthews; PMM; Procter + Gamble; DK Fixiersysteme; Aerotech; Keyence; Multistation; Diebold; Datron; MAQ; Boride; HSB Normalien; Emag; Precision Micro; Cannon Group; Business Wire; Polymerfan; Christophe Brissiaud , Collomb Mécanique