We're exploring how to unlock the power of data in manufacturing with insights from our special guest, Michaela, Sales Manager SMT from Critical Manufacturing, the MES sector of ASMPT. Michaela walks us through the transformative journey of the company post-acquisition, discussing how their deep knowledge of the SMT area and collaboration with ASMPT have significantly enhanced their operations. Michaela articulates the essential role of data in their systems, from collection and contextualization to the influence it has in the physical world.
Together, we explore how efficiency and scalability can be achieved in manufacturing environments despite the talent crunch? Michaela enlightens us on the importance of designing user-friendly products that offer flexibility and scalability. We learn about their low-code solution and containerized approach which make their system more accessible and easy-to-deploy.
Like every episode of EMS@C-Level, this one was sponsored by global inspection leader Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Adaptable Automation Specialist Launchpad.build (https://launchpad.build).
You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.
Speaker 1:
Hello, I'm Philip Stoughton. I'm on the ASMPT booth, but more particularly on the area of critical manufacturing. Michaela, it's been five years since the acquisition. Tell me a little bit about how that's been and how the integration is and how access to maybe such a large customer base has been influential to your business.
Speaker 2:
That's a very interesting question. Basically, with the MES, we support the end-to-end process. Since we are part of ASMPT, we have a very deep knowledge right in the SMT area and having very good close loops with ASM software especially, also going then very deep down in terms of integration in the SMT area.
Speaker 1:
It's really interesting At the moment. We've been talking about Industry 4.0 for 10 years. It feels like we should be making even more progress with that. It's been a lot about gathering the data from the line. We seem to have got through a lot of that process with respect to standards and moving forward on that. Once you have that data, what are you able to do with it? How are you able to manipulate it? What are the kind of tools you're using to do?
Speaker 2:
that that's actually the trend, I think, where it is going right now. We have many activities being on the market, trends going in that direction of big data. Basically what we are doing there. I think the first point, what is very important is to create a solid base to capture a huge amount of data, kind of I would say, right now, unlimited data. Right now the machines are so advanced that they can send so many information via sensor. Then, in the next step, you kind of need to contextualize it, especially when it comes right now to our offer in terms of big data.
Speaker 2:
We have an integrated IoT data platform and a very how to say, like one single solution approach. When it comes to the MES, if it's working in this kind of integrated way, then you contextualize the data at the moment. When you save them, then you have a very powerful basis in terms of following up with the data. You can go in very advanced analytics and then you can directly influence with your results the physical world and you can go into machine learning algorithm If it comes to the speed. So imagine, for example, what is Uber doing. They are kind of gathering weather data, traffic data and so on. They give you in a very, very fast manner already results about pricing, about your way. We use similar technology to basically make this fast speed of reaction, then possibly in manufacturing environment.
Speaker 1:
Okay, that's really interesting when I look at what's going on in manufacturing environments at the moment, particularly MES companies. The challenge for them seems to be to drive more efficiency, drive scale, but also do that with a limited amount of talent. Getting new talent is difficult. They don't want to spend too long training them. How important is that in the way you design your product?
Speaker 2:
I think that's how to say another trend we identified. It's going a lot in the direction of flexibility, scalability and to make the product as easy as possible to use. We have it, on the one side, in the features that we provide to the operators or people using them the system on a daily basis. Basically, for example, if you have a re-work activity and the AOI is identifying an arrow, this is getting supported by e-cut files. This is identifying then the arrow and sending this information directly to a re-work station. As an example, we have then the reference bare part and not reference bare part, the reference checklist.
Speaker 2:
To that Things get very easy because you always have this data supporting your decisions and action on a daily basis. So, besides that, I think what is very important, we have a very easy way in terms of modeling the solution. So it's a low-code solution and we do not need to have this strong knowledge to basically scale the solution. So if we have, for example, deployments in a multi-site approach and other sites, we have deployments also via containerized deployment, what makes it very easy and fast to do your deployment, so you can decide whether you want to have it in the cloud, on-premise and within minutes you can do updates or deployments of the entire solution.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, it's really important, isn't it? When you look at the industry, particularly here in Europe, you have very small single-plant players, you have multi-plant players, you have some players that have got one or two lines, some that have got maybe a dozen or more. You have to be able to provide a service that's tailor-made for each one.
Speaker 2:
Exactly. So that's a huge challenge as well to cope basically with all the requirements of different industries. I think we have a very good set in terms of process coverage and also industry coverage, and it's very complete in terms of features. I think what is very important as well is the architecture, so that is in the solution, because this is basically very lean and is providing you this quick reaction. I mean, most of the customers have the challenge right now to change a lot or to change fast, to react to the requirements of the market and within this powerful architecture that is behind, like with the integrated data platform, in combination with a complete, one single solution of the MES, you are very good to go in that direction.
Speaker 1:
Fantastic. Well, Mikaela, thanks for your time. Thanks for spending a few minutes here at Prolachronica. I hope the show is good for you and I hope I'm talking insane. Thank you.