User-centric design, the key to digital adoption
Kodis was able to design, implement and deliver the new solutions at both plants. "These digital services and smart software solutions offer significant benefits, such as real-time global information, greater operational management flexibility and reduced down-time," explains Schlöder. Above all, they have contributed to transforming the way people work on shopfloors. Moving from offline to real-time online data collection provides real benefit and up-to-date information in an agile environment. A practical example: paper and desktop computers have in many cases been consigned to history and replaced by tablets.
It is important that employees find innovations useful, easy to handle and effective. "We are currently in the middle of a change process that would not be possible without the new MOM system. JTI is connecting apps, machines, materials and people in order to truly manage our end-to-end manufacturing processes with a view to optimizing efficiency" says Schlöder.
"It’s vital to keep the end-user journey top-of-mind when developing digital solutions and the Kodis experts provide us with an exceptional service in that respect," says Schlöder. News of Kodis’ smart factory expertise has spread to other industries as well. Zamberlan considers this a strategic two-fold opportunity: "We are gathering valuable experience in other industries, which opens up opportunities for growth whilst also benefiting tobacco players."