Process automation for an industrial welding SME

Against a backdrop of ever-changing market conditions and increasingly demanding customer expectations, a family-owned SME specializing in industrial welding and working with major OEMs was at a decisive turning point. The takeover of management by the founder's son marked the beginning of a new era, focused on modernization and the adoption of advanced digital solutions. Visua was asked to develop a customized solution to meet these new challenges.

Traditional production management, from the design office through to manufacturing and assembly, was based on Excel spreadsheets. This method, while familiar and reassuring, had significant limitations. It led to delays in updating information, affected the accuracy of project follow-up, and made customer invoicing complex and late. As a result, it had a direct impact on the company's cash flow and working capital requirements, highlighting the urgent need for a digital transformation.

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To meet these challenges, TeamIA proposed an integrated digital solution:

• Process digitization: Digitization began with importing and adapting existing Excel documents into a new database management tool. This enabled a smooth transition to digital processes, while maintaining familiarity with existing systems.
• Operator input interface: An intuitive user interface has been developed for daily report input by operators. This innovation has made it possible to associate each welding operation with a specific operator, a welding plan and a customer project, thus ensuring accurate and reliable traceability.
• Dynamic Dashboards: Real-time dashboards have been created to provide a global, up-to-date view of the welding workshop. These tools have facilitated project tracking and enabled greater responsiveness to diverse production requirements.
• Accurate, automated invoicing: thanks to the system, invoices are generated and sent directly from the data entered, speeding up the invoicing process and considerably reducing errors.

Implementing this solution has had several positive impacts on the company:

• Operational efficiency: Digitization has significantly reduced the time spent on manual data management, freeing up time for higher value-added activities.
• Real-time tracking: project managers and the design office now benefit from instant, accurate project tracking, which considerably improves decision-making and responsiveness.
• Quality improvement: Detailed monitoring has enabled us to better identify training needs and adjust practices to optimize the quality of welding operations.

Brand Image Transformation

Visua's solution has also had a major impact on the company's image. By providing accurate, up-to-date data on project progress, the company has strengthened its reputation with major principals, positioning itself as a reliable and competent industrial partner.

Adoption of Lean Management

Visua's approach is based on lean management. This process optimization has not only improved operational performance, but has also had a positive impact on the working environment by fostering a culture of continuous improvement and efficiency.

ROI and Financial Impact

The financial impact of the Visua solution is significant. With an estimated saving of 4 full-time equivalent days per month, the solution has enabled resources to be redeployed more strategically, improving the company's competitiveness and profitability.

This case study illustrates how TeamIA, with its expertise in digital solutions, supported a family-owned industrial welding SME in its transition to modern, efficient management. By adapting its solutions to the company's specific needs, Visua not only solved existing operational problems but also opened up new opportunities for growth and innovation, demonstrating that tradition and innovation can coexist harmoniously for future success.