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Production Technology
Production technology is a broad term that can encompass most aspects of production development.
This can range from improving and streamlining machinery, working methods and processes, implementing completely new machines or assembly lines for new, modified or existing products.
Technological development and digitalization are rapidly progressing. More efficient use of resources, stream optimization and shorter lead times are prerequisites for competitive production. Words like safety, quality and efficiency are often mentioned in the context of production development. Add to this the need to create sustainable production with new or improved solutions and services.
In production technology, we contribute experience, technology, methods and ways of working. Our production engineers have a genuine interest in technology and are positive, creative and driven people who enjoy working both independently and in teams.
It is also important for us to be flexible to carry out large and small projects alike, regardless of the size of the company. We can provide support for your operations in the form of project managers as well as team members in projects.
Examples of specialist areas
- Mapping and analyses of methods, processes and streams
- Implementation of Lean principles and continuous improvements
- Optimization of production and OEE/TAK calculations
- Deployment of new equipment
- Life cycle assessments
- Training
- Project management
- Workplace design
- Ergonomics
- SecuritySafety
- Quality controls
- Lean production
- Product development
- Design for X (DFX)
- FMEA, D-FMEA, P-FMEA
- AviX
We are continuously working with widening the scope of our tools. And we collaborate with several leading companies in support software for production development.
Want to know more? Book a meeting with us!
Below you can read more about some of the tools we work with and their benefits.
5S – maintaining order
A recurring problem at many workplaces is creating and maintaining order.
A lot of time is spent looking for tools, materials, drawings and documents. In some cases, the lack of order also poses a direct security risk. With five simple steps, based on the Japanese method 5S (Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, Shitsuke), a structured way of working can be created. Both in production and in the office. 5S is often the first step and the foundation of a longer improvement process.
A well-functioning 5S routine creates opportunities such as:
- Not having to look
- More efficient use of space
- Reduced risk of injury
- Facilitates cleaning and sanitation
- Better ergonomics
We can help you and we have training courses to suit all levels and companies. Interested? Book a meeting with our experts.
Poka Yoke – find and avoid problems
Poka Yoke is a method for avoiding or detecting mistakes before they happen. To take measures, as far as possible, to ensure that faults or deviations cannot occur in production. This applies not only to assembly but also to production processes.
In its simplest form, it is a mechanical key. For example, a male connector is designed so that it can only be inserted correctly into a female connector, or USB memory sticks are designed so that they can only be inserted one way.
The system is also used today in other more everyday contexts. For example, suspended booms are installed before road viaducts. This is to enable drivers to see if their vehicles are too high to pass beneath a viaduct. In the manufacturing industries, light markers are often used to instruct operators where a part should be mounted and whether it should be turned in a certain direction. It is also common for a torque tightening device to be connected to a light stack that shows red for incorrect tightening values and green for OK.
Looking for scapegoats when mistakes are made is seldom especially productive. Instead, put more energy into making processes fail-safe. It should be easy to do things right!
The tool helps you to, for example:
- Prevent waste
- Achieve smoother streams in the production process
- Attain more consistent delivery quality
- Simplify operator training
Want to know more? Book a meeting with our experts.
3D scanning
3D scanning is an incredibly powerful method for digitalizing physical objects and creating 3D models, measurement objects or, through further processing, creating production data.
Examples of application areas:
- Create 3D models where there is a lack of data. For example, on production items, interfaces in machines or for the manufacture of spare parts.
- Measurement when fine tuning process parameters (such as in injection molding).
- Inspection of outturn samples.
- Measurement and troubleshooting in rectifying quality problems.
- 3D scanning of premises
Here you can read more about what we can do for you in 3D scanning.
SMED – changeover efficiency
SMED, also known as changeover efficiency, stands for Single Minute Exchange of Dies and is a method used to reduce setup times. The method was developed in the automotive industry, where tools weighing up to several tons took hours or days to replace.
In SMED, the terms internal and external setup times are used. Internal setup times refer to things that MUST be done when the machine is idle. For example, disconnecting hydraulic hoses. External setup times refers to things that CAN be done while the machine is running, such as fetching new production orders, tools and materials.
The SMED approach is effective because it combines technical measures with a change in ways of working. By working intensively with SMED, large reductions in setup times can often be achieved. The key success factors are teamwork and creativity.
Today's entirely superior method for SMED analyses is to use video technology, such as AviX. The advantage is that the video constitutes a starting point that no one can question. The video can also be watched as many times as you like, and this helps to involve more people in the process. Another tip is to record video on several occasions. This is done to capture variations in production and to analyze the setup work using the video footage.
Benefits for you:
- Shorter cycle times
- Faster turnaround times
- Improved use of equipment
Want to know more? Book a meeting with our experts.
AviX – video technology
“What cannot be measured cannot be improved.”
This may be a somewhat drastic statement, but the fact is that by knowing your products and processes better, it is possible to achieve better results in the improvement of these products and processes.
AviX is a video-based software application and consists of several modules, all aimed at improving a company's competitiveness in both production and engineering. AviX is a way to gather all the data for, for example, method and time studies, line balancing and FMEA in a single place – in a single system.
Benefits of the tool:
- Improvements in the production process. The details from the AviX analysis make it easy to visually show improvement potential and problems.
- Reduced update and handling times. All data is interrelated and a change in the method sequence directly affects the balance and the job instruction.
- Do more in less time. When you analyze data in AviX, not only a sequence is created, but also the method/time study, job instruction, P-FMEA, etc.
Value stream analysis
Value stream analysis (VSA) is a tool used to map a value stream for a product or service. Through value stream analysis, potential waste can be detected while making clear the links between information streams and material streams. The analysis includes the entire value stream of a product and measures the performance of the stream in terms of time, products in action (PIA) and resource utilization.
In value stream analysis, activities are divided into three categories:
- Value adding.
- Non-value adding but necessary.
- Non-value adding and eliminable.
The first action will be to remove activities in the third category, non-value adding and eliminable activities. Next, the activities that can be eliminated or minimized in the second category, non-value adding but necessary activities, are examined.
Value stream analysis provides the opportunity to:
- View the full value stream.
- See the relationship between information streams and material streams.
- Identify sources of waste.
- Focus and prioritize improvement actions
- Create a picture of a desirable future state.
Want to know more? Book a meeting with our experts.
inspiration
Since the beginning in 1985, we’ve joined with our customers in solving tens of thousands of problems – and in most industries.
Explore possibilities we have discovered together with clients
Want to know more? Contact us about what we can do for you.
References
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Kenvue
Johnson & Johnson’s Consumer Business Spin-Off to Kenvue – Prevas Leads the IT Application Migration for Kenvue's Helsingborg Factory
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Municipality of Karlstad
Municipality of Karlstad secures the future of water supply and wastewater maintenance with HxGN EAM
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Hexagon Ragasco
Efficient stock management and reduced waste with HxGN EAM
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Göteborgs Spårvägar
Standardized and cloud-based maintenance system – collaboration between Göteborgs Spårvägar and Prevas
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