Industry 4.0: the impact on Grupel’s digital transformation

The digital transformation of industry involves the development and implementation of automated mechanisms, the creation and management of databases, and the integration and interconnection of all these systems with each other and with the Internet.

This process, which includes the use of various technologies such as online platforms, cloud computing and, among others, artificial intelligence, brings great advantages to organizations that can make their production more efficient, qualified, and innovative.

Nowadays, the vast majority of products and almost all services are designed and/or produced by computer programs, and artificial intelligence is responsible for a large part of production, speeding up and optimizing processes, and also reducing their costs.

The use of highly automated machinery, robots and 3D printing are also well entrenched, bringing greater precision to various sectors; while digital analysis and interpretation of data enables greater traceability, both of materials and of the production process itself.

Power generation and the production of electrical generators have obviously not been left out of this change. And Grupel was no exception, since our main goal is to ensure the best experience for our customers and partners, and to grow as a brand, diversifying and innovating our product range and offering the best possible service.

For this reason, we are advancing in the process of industrialization 4.0, digitalizing all processes and improving, not our production times and capacity.

After the creation of ABC-type organization warehouses as a way to optimize production space and bringing the stock closer to the different production lines, we have automated the sheet metal processing process with the implementation of a Salvagnini production line. This line allows production to be carried out in half the time it took previously, which makes it possible to increase production capacity as well as to improve product quality. The line includes the most modern bending and material checking technologies, resulting in a significant improvement in bending accuracy, all in a fully automated way. In addition, it allows the production of all necessary parts while maintaining the traceability and production status of all products, as it is integrated with the company’s ERP management system.

In parallel, we are working on the implementation of a Shop Floor Management in the production facility, which allows us to reduce process times and improve our efficiency, as well as ensure traceability and supervision of the entire production cycle by integrating and linking all production processes with commercial and logistical tools.

A digitized factory brings significant improvements for everyone involved, from employees to management.

Production employees have more tools and clearer information to do their jobs more efficiently; engineers have a real-time view of machine operation and status and can focus on planning without having to worry about other tasks; supervisors and managers can see problems more easily and focus on solving them; and other areas, such as administration, sales, logistics, supply chain and marketing, also benefit from this link between processes and departments.

Ultimately, the industry’s biggest beneficiaries, the customers, also come out ahead, with products and services that are more tailored to their needs, efficient, and innovative.