Výrobné podniky dnes čelia rastúcemu tlaku na cenu, kvalitu a dodacie termíny. Zároveň sa musia vyrovnávať s výpadkami materiálu, poruchami zariadení či nedostatkom kvalifikovaných pracovníkov. Ako im pri zvládaní týchto zmien pomáhajú moderné informačné systémy, hovorí Ján Kapoun, Vedúci kompetenčného centra Výroba spoločnosti SOFTIP.
You have been involved in production and production management at SOFTIP for several decades. How have customer needs changed over that time?
We have more than thirty years of experience in the planning and management of manufacturing processes. We started with the SYSKLASS solution, which primarily supported production planning processes. Gradually, we incorporated all of our experience and our customers’ insights into the system SOFTIP MONACO. Today, it is no longer just about creating and managing technical documentation. The solution covers the entire process, from preparing price quotes through technical preparation to production planning and management.
User expectations are also changing. The system must be functionally comprehensive, yet intuitive, technologically advanced, and accessible via a web interface. Its ability to integrate with the company’s ERP system is also important.
Where does effective production order management begin?
Už pri spracovaní cenového dopytu. Výrobca potrebuje reagovať rýchlo, ale zároveň musí správne odhadnúť náklady a reálny termín dodania. SOFTIP MONACO dokáže vyhľadať podobné výrobky a využiť existujúcu technickú dokumentáciu ako základ pre nový dopyt. Vznikne tak podklad pre kalkuláciu bez toho, aby podnik musel ešte pred získaním zákazky vytvárať kompletnú dokumentáciu od začiatku.
At the same time, it is possible to verify the necessary production and material capacities. This way, the customer receives not only a price but also a realistic deadline. This is very important because incorrectly estimated costs or an unmet deadline can turn an initially attractive order into a loss-making deal.
However, manufacturing companies often have to deal with unexpected events as well. How can an information system help them?
Creating a production plan is only the first step. The true value of the system becomes apparent when a machine breaks down, materials run out, or an order’s priority changes. A malfunction in a single piece of equipment can affect the entire chain of subsequent operations and shut down other workstations.
Our solution allows you to quickly recalculate the schedule, work with alternative workstations and procedures, and create simulation scenarios. In the graphical interface, the user can view the utilization of individual production resources and evaluate various alternatives without immediately altering the current schedule. This enables production to respond to changes in a significantly shorter amount of time.
For what type of business is this solution most suitable?
A typical customer is a small or medium-sized manufacturing company that produces more complex products with multi-level bills of materials, alternative materials, or manufacturing processes. These are often engineering firms with their own products or subcontractors to larger companies.
Strojárska výroba patrí z pohľadu informačného systému k najnáročnejším odvetviam. Pracuje s rozsiahlymi technickými dátami, výkresovou dokumentáciou, nástrojmi, prípravkami, meradlami, kalibráciami aj dôsledným sledovaním kvality. Preto je dôležité, aby boli technická príprava, plánovanie, zber údajov z výroby a ekonomické procesy navzájom prepojené.
What role does the ERP system play in this integration?
The greatest value comes not from an isolated production system or from ERP alone, but from their integration. ERP, for example SAP Business One, vytvára spoľahlivý základ podnikových, ekonomických a logistických dát. SOFTIP MONACO ho dopĺňa detailným riadením technickej prípravy a výrobných procesov. Spoločne vytvárajú platformu, ktorá umožňuje podniku zvyšovať produktivitu, rásť a pripravovať sa na ďalšie etapy digitálnej transformácie.
The advantage of SOFTIP is that we can handle the entire project—from process analysis through implementation to support and any necessary adjustments to the solution. This gives the customer a single partner who understands both ERP and the manufacturing process itself.
So what does the near future hold for manufacturing companies?
We are moving toward simpler and faster creation of technical documentation, automated capacity and material planning, and broader use of artificial intelligence. This can help users find similar products, work with information, and evaluate available options more quickly.
The long-term goal is more autonomous production, in which systems are able to process orders, prepare production, procure materials, and schedule shipments with minimal manual intervention. However, what remains key is what companies need today: to manufacture to the required quality standards, at competitive costs, and to deliver on time.
Spoločnosť SOFTIP im pri dosahovaní týchto cieľov pomáha riešeniami SOFTIP MONACO, SOFTIP MANUFACTURING a AddOn Production pre SAP Business One, ktoré prepájajú technickú prípravu, plánovanie a riadenie výroby s ekonomickými a logistickými procesmi podniku. Práve na túto blízku budúcnosť sme v SOFTIP pripravení a chceme našich zákazníkov pri jej zvládaní podporovať.
An abridged version of the interview was published