Development process
The development of organization, software and technology in the furniture production described Stefan Schneider, SieMatic. He concluded: The degree of organization in the furniture industry will and must continue to rise. The interface management calls for more attention. The assessment of the technology in the overall process is elementary.
Seamless data flow
Harald Sieber, SCHULER, presented in a best practice example the integration of technology, organization and software. This has been realized at VERISET (CH) as seamless data flow from the Point of Sale (POS) through to the production. The furniture manufacturer uses the ERP software SCHULER MCS.
Data for nesting production
KOLLER manufactures increasingly custom-tailored kitchens. For this purpose the owners set up a "factory within the factory" in their already existing production. It is equipped with nesting technology from the HOMAG Group and new organizational and EDP solutions. The entire required data is provided by the ERP software from SCHULER. Frank Schmid, SCHULER, presented the complete solution.
Transparency in furniture production
In automated material flow and manufacturing systems full transparency and safe part tracking are important factors for ensuring a high standard of quality and reliable delivery times. The successful realization of these demanding challenges depends on the application of the right "tools". Andreas Pöller, HOMAG IT-Engineering, knows them from a multitude of projects in the field of manufacturing execution systems. He reported by taking PELIPAL and VALENTINI as example (I).
Simulation technology for existing productions
By means of the tool simulation technology existing manufacturing systems in the furniture industry are increasingly optimized. Without interfering the operational processes, actions and strategies for optimization are analyzed and compared. Based on his experience with simulation projects in the furniture industry, Michael Kratzert, SCHULER, commented on opportunities and prospects.
Simulation technology in the plant engineering
Nowadays new manufacturing concepts are analyzed and optimized already in the planning phase. This enhances significantly planning and investment security. Even here, simulation technology is the right instrument. Frieder Schuler, HOMAG Group Engineering, explained the requirements and processes of simulation projects in the plant engineering.
Qualification of the employees
The furniture manufacturers often do not hesitate to invest enormous amounts of money in new technologies but they cut down costs for the training of their machine operators. However in order to be able to use machines and plants efficiently, a further qualification of the employees is indispensible. Clemens Suwelack, SCHULER, stated that clear management strategies are additionally very important for the employees. Only then they will be able to respond positively to motivation appeals, rules and rising expectations.
Technical necessities
The integration of organization, software and technology constitutes an elementary factor in the plant engineering. Bernhard Lammers, HOMAG Group Engineering, demonstrated the technical necessities with practical examples. He presented in detail the different demands of the mass producer and the "batch size 1" producer.
Innovations from the HOMAG Group
During the "Technology Update" Anton Niggemann, HOMAG Sales and Service, presented the technical innovations of the first half of 2010. At the occasion of the 50-year HOMAG Jubilee attractive jubilee offers of the HOMAG Group were presented. The HOMAG edition comprises besides 11 machines also software solutions.