The factory hall is nice and full, at Technologies Added in Emmen. Where for decades a traditional lamp factory was located, now all kinds of things are made. But nothing traditional. This is the manufacturing industry of the future.
A collection of factories under one roof
More variations, more custom, less cumbersome operations, less overhead. In Emmen, products are created in a way the world has barely known before. A way, too, that could increasingly become the standard. The advantages are numerous.
At Technologies Added not just one product is made. At the same time, very diverse products roll off different tires. What is more: what is produced can vary from day to day. This is because the production lines can easily be adapted to what needs to be made. In essence, this is a collection of factories under one roof.
And that is exactly the breakthrough. An in-house factory for production is no longer necessary. An entrepreneur draws and develops, then has a specialist make it. First in small numbers, then in large ones, with numerous configuration options. Technologies Added is that specialist, the first smart factory in the Netherlands.
Technologies Added has set up the production system so that "customization" is standard.
joris bishop - director
Director Joris Bisschop is convinced that his company has one leg already in the future.
More and more clients are seeing that, too. We work with them, that's how it is. They want something produced, we take care of it in consultation with them and arrange it exactly as they want. It is often only during such a meeting that they discover that the possibilities are much greater than they thought. For example, that a bicycle can be made in all the colors of the rainbow.''
Technologies Added has set up the production system so that "customization" is standard. The software is essentially the gold of the smart factory. Compare it to putting together a kitchen with a 3D planner. Bisschop: ,,Our configurator works very well. Our clients can go directly into the system to modify their product. The changes go directly to production, to the work instructions. And the quality is monitored immediately.''
That's quite a difference from how a traditional factory works. There, every adjustment requires a lot of time and effort. The system in Emmen takes over many preparatory steps. Advantages are many more. In the smart factory, for example, production takes place only on demand, potentially saving unsalable stock. ''I am convinced that we are reducing the waste mountain a bit by doing that.''
We are mainly a godsend for SMEs. We focus on the assembly of products.
Larger companies already outsource that, smaller ones can't. We can become part of their primary process, playing a role from production to delivery to the customer. They can offer our configurator to their customers and meet specific requirements very directly.''
The next step is to extend the system toward parts suppliers. They will then receive orders automatically. ''Parts are ready, our system gives a signal that another number of them are needed, and the logistics take effect. That's how it's going to be. That's what we're working on now.'' Internal logistics is already done entirely that way.
This method of production is very scalable. ''Internet, a hall, our system and you can go wild. That's how it's simplified. In the near future, smart factories after our example will appear in the world. Close to the market. That's how we help local SMEs everywhere.''