[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title meta=”off” featured_placement=”background” _builder_version=”4.7.7″ title_font=”||||||||” title_text_color=”#ff6317″ title_font_size=”3.5em” meta_font=”|300|||||||” meta_text_color=”#ffffff” meta_font_size=”1em” background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(248,248,248,0.85)” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(248,248,248,0.75)” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” min_height=”20vh” height=”400px” custom_padding=”6vh||6vh||false|false” global_module=”403″ locked=”off”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″ custom_padding=”|||0px||” locked=”off”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.4″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”50px|20%|||false|false” border_color_left=”rgba(0,0,0,0)”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”|300|||||||” quote_font=”|700|||||||” quote_text_align=”left” quote_font_size=”16px” header_2_text_color=”#ff6317″ header_2_font_size=”30px” header_3_font_size=”23px” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” header_5_font_size=”14px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”|||25px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”#ff6317″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
We know digitalization<\/a> can be hard. Especially when your core expertise is anything else but software, things can get scary. However, with the right partners and an agile approach, you can easily develop a minimum viable product (MVP), learn quickly, and build the confidence to scale.<\/p>\n So, let\u2019s deconstruct a recent project we did for a manufacturing client.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”3″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”25px|20%|||false|false” border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”rgba(0,0,0,0)”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”|300|||||||” quote_font=”|700|||||||” quote_text_align=”left” quote_font_size=”16px” header_2_text_color=”#ff6317″ header_2_font_size=”30px” header_3_font_size=”23px” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” header_5_font_size=”14px” custom_margin=”25px||||false|false” custom_padding=”|||25px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”#ff6317″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n For any manufacturing<\/a> company, investing in technology (whether machinery or software) is a must. In order to make the most out of the (usually expensive) acquisition, one needs to use machinery at full capacity.<\/p>\n Our client is no different: the plant manager\u2019s explicit goal is to keep the machines productive at all times. For this reason, he invests significant time and effort to optimally plan and monitor all manufacturing operations.<\/p>\n The optimization needs to address several layers:<\/p>\n 1. The planners<\/strong> are in charge of establishing the production quota for each machine during each shift, day, or week. They also make sure that all equipment works at the maximum possible capacity.<\/p>\n 2. The machine operators<\/strong> do the actual work. For each batch they cover during a shift, the operators must refill their stock of raw materials or pre-processed items. The regular way to do it is to pick a pallet in person, from the warehouse, or from another machine and transport it to the workstation using a mechanical pallet transporter. Once they have the input materials, the operators use the application to record the number of processed items within performance targets (speed, failures, etc.).<\/p>\n Needless to say, the stocking part of an operator\u2019s job was uselessly slow, with a negative impact on overall efficiency.<\/p>\n 3. The technology<\/strong>: we had already equipped each workstation with PCs in a minimal configuration to assist the operators during manufacturing activities. During each shift, the operator can see the planned quantity and can record the actual progress. Due to the intuitive interface and pleasant user experience, the system is easy to learn and operate.<\/p>\n In order for us to bring the machines to maximum capacity, we would need to eliminate all useless downtimes. Within this system, the obvious bottleneck was the time spent restocking; therefore, we started looking into automating specifically this phase.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”3″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”25px|20%|||false|false” border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”rgba(0,0,0,0)”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.6″ text_font=”|300|||||||” quote_font=”|700|||||||” quote_text_align=”left” quote_font_size=”16px” header_2_text_color=”#ff6317″ header_2_font_size=”30px” header_3_font_size=”23px” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” header_5_font_size=”14px” custom_margin=”25px||||false|false” custom_padding=”|||25px|false|false” border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”#ff6317″]<\/p>\n We were partially lucky. Pretty much at the same time, the Danish robot manufacturer MiR A\/S<\/a> had a demo presentation of their autonomous robots for industrial transportation. Since we\u2019re Kaizen<\/a>-heads, we loved the idea of integrating them within the existing system.<\/p>\n The robots themselves had everything that our partner needed:<\/p>\n On top of these, the robot was capable of performing a lot of operations, but they were above machine-operator expertise level (and definitely not possible during actual manufacturing):<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”3″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”25px|20%|||false|false” border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”rgba(0,0,0,0)”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”|300|||||||” quote_font=”|700|||||||” quote_text_align=”left” quote_font_size=”16px” header_2_text_color=”#ff6317″ header_2_font_size=”30px” header_3_font_size=”23px” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” header_5_font_size=”14px” custom_margin=”25px||||false|false” custom_padding=”|||25px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”#ff6317″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Now \u201call\u201d we needed was a piece of software to guide the robots from the same PC interface that the plant operators were using for regular manufacturing operations. Ideally, we would make the robot part of the manufacturing cycle and use one single interface for everything related to a manufacturing machine.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how we did it:<\/p>\n 1. The MVP \/ minimum viable product<\/strong> 2. Information gathering<\/strong> We were lucky once more when MIR A\/S\u2019s support team offered an online workshop and access to a virtual machine simulator that acts like a real robot. Suddenly, we could gather information at a much higher speed by testing and training the API\u2019s commands and methods on it. Tracking virtual robots\u2019 movements on the screen provided the instant visual feedback we needed to advance quickly.<\/p>\n 3. Prototype delivery\/testing<\/strong> Unsurprisingly, all went as planned. The robot + manufacturing interface was functional, and we had the proof of concept that bottlenecks can be eliminated by automating parts of the manufacturing process.<\/p>\n 4. Outlook<\/strong> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”3″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”25px|20%|||false|false” border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”rgba(0,0,0,0)”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.7.7″ text_font=”|300|||||||” quote_font=”|700|||||||” quote_text_align=”left” quote_font_size=”16px” header_2_text_color=”#ff6317″ header_2_font_size=”30px” header_3_font_size=”23px” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” header_5_font_size=”14px” custom_margin=”25px||||false|false” custom_padding=”|||25px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”#ff6317″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Developing the solution was fun and challenging, but it also provided some strong learning points, too:<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”3″ _builder_version=”4.4.4″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”25px|20%|75px||false|false” border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”rgba(0,0,0,0)”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.6″ text_font=”|300|||||||” quote_font=”|700|||||||” quote_text_align=”left” quote_font_size=”16px” header_2_text_color=”#ff6317″ header_2_font_size=”30px” header_3_font_size=”23px” header_4_font=”||||||||” header_4_font_size=”16px” header_4_line_height=”1.5em” header_5_font_size=”14px” custom_margin=”25px||||false|false” custom_padding=”|||25px|false|false” border_width_left=”1px” border_color_left=”#ff6317″]<\/p>\n As I write this article, the trial phase is in progress, but we are convinced that the outcome will be positive. Meanwhile, the customer\u2019s operational engineers and the development team are working together to build up the complete feature matrix of this robot integration and to create a release plan spread over the next 6 months.<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard work ahead but the breakthrough was done, and the stage was set for a refreshing and exciting new direction of what would otherwise be a conventional software product.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ background_color=”#eeeeee” custom_padding=”50px||50px||false|false” border_color_top=”#ff6317″ global_module=”1642″][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” locked=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_social_media_follow _builder_version=”4.4.4″ text_orientation=”left”][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”linkedin” url=”https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/berg-computers-srl\/” _builder_version=”4.4.4″ background_color=”#007bb6″ follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]linkedin[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”twitter” url=”https:\/\/twitter.com\/berg_software” _builder_version=”4.4.4″ background_color=”#00aced” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]twitter[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”facebook” url=”https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/bergCOMPUTERS” _builder_version=”4.4.4″ background_color=”#3b5998″ follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]facebook[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”instagram” url=”https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/berg_software\/” _builder_version=”4.4.4″ background_color=”#ea2c59″ follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]instagram[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][\/et_pb_social_media_follow][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term=”on” show_next=”off” _builder_version=”4.4.1″ title_text_color=”#ff6317″ custom_padding=”|25px|||false|false”][\/et_pb_post_nav][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.1″][et_pb_post_nav in_same_term=”on” show_prev=”off” _builder_version=”4.4.1″ title_text_color=”#ff6317″ custom_padding=”|||25px|false|false”][\/et_pb_post_nav][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”CONTACT” _builder_version=”4.4.1″ background_color=”#d2d2d2″ custom_padding=”75px||75px||false|false”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ admin_label=”Service Section Title” _builder_version=”4.4.1″ custom_padding=”||25px||false|false” animation_direction=”top” locked=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.1″ text_font=”|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_line_height=”1.1em” header_5_font=”|600|||||||” header_5_text_color=”#ffffff” header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”1.5em” custom_margin=”||||false|false”]29 years in business | 2700 software projects | 760 clients | 24 countries<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title” _builder_version=”4.4.1″ header_text_align=”center” header_2_font=”|300|||||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_text_color=”#ff6317″ header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”0.9em” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”25px||25px||false|false”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.4″][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.4″][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.4″][et_pb_contact_form email=”contact@bergsoftprod.wpengine.com” custom_message=”WEBFORM MESSAGE||et_pb_line_break_holder||\uff3f||et_pb_line_break_holder||FROM: %%Name%%||et_pb_line_break_holder||EMAIL: %%Email%%||et_pb_line_break_holder||PHONE NUMBER: %%Phone_number%%||et_pb_line_break_holder||COMPANY: %%Company_name%%||et_pb_line_break_holder||TERMS & CONDITIONS: %%Terms_and_Conditions%%||et_pb_line_break_holder||DATA PRIVACY POLICY: %%Data_Privacy_Policy%%||et_pb_line_break_holder||\uff3f||et_pb_line_break_holder||MESSAGE:||et_pb_line_break_holder||%%Message%%” success_message=”Thank you for reaching out! 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We will get back to you right away.” _builder_version=”4.4.4″ form_field_background_color=”#d2d2d2″ form_field_text_color=”#ffffff” form_field_focus_background_color=”#ffffff” form_field_focus_text_color=”#000000″ title_level=”h2″ title_font=”|300|||||||” title_text_color=”#ff6317″ title_font_size=”30px” form_field_line_height=”1.5em” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14px” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_bg_color=”#ff6317″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_icon=”%%3%%” button_on_hover=”off” border_color_all=”#ffffff” border_width_bottom=”1px”][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Name” field_title=”Name *” fullwidth_field=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.4″ form_field_background_color=”#d2d2d2″ form_field_text_color=”#ffffff” form_field_focus_background_color=”#ffffff” form_field_focus_text_color=”#000000″ border_width_bottom=”1px” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” 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button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Terms_and_Conditions” field_title=” ” field_type=”checkbox” checkbox_options=”%91{%22value%22:%22I have read and accepted the Terms and Conditions%22,%22checked%22:0,%22dragID%22:-1}%93″ fullwidth_field=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.4″][\/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Data_Privacy_Policy” field_title=” ” field_type=”checkbox” checkbox_options=”%91{%22value%22:%22I have read and accepted the Data Privacy Policy%22,%22checked%22:0,%22dragID%22:-1}%93″ fullwidth_field=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.4″][\/et_pb_contact_field][\/et_pb_contact_form][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How to: automation software MVP for manufacturing. A web application prototype, to maximize the loading degree of the production machines, using third-party robots\u2019 REST API.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":4468,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"2880","footnotes":""},"categories":[138,33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4466","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to","category-insights"],"yoast_head":"\nStatus quo<\/h2>\n
The MIR robots<\/h2>\n
\n
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Solution & prototype development<\/h2>\n
First, we\u2019ve put together a two-man team in charge of developing a minimal prototype within two weeks: a piece of software to embed within the operator\u2019s screen (i.e. the one used to record manufacturing activities).<\/p>\n
The robot offers a REST API that should make it possible to interact with our own software. Well \u2013 in theory, at least. Because in practice, API\u2019s extensive manual, covering 330 methods, was neither minimal nor quick to grasp, possibly pushing our minimum viable product\u2019s deadline for several more weeks.<\/p>\n
Precisely on deadline, three workstations had the prototype implemented: one single extra button on the operator\u2019s interface to contact the robot and schedule basic missions:<\/p>\n\n
Before expanding from three workstations to company-wide, the prototype needs testing and observing for several weeks. Further questions need to be answered:<\/p>\n\n
Achievements<\/h2>\n
\n
Next steps<\/h2>\n
We turn ideas into software. What is yours?<\/h5>\n
Get in touch<\/h2>\n