Digital tools in the manufacturing industry:
Small adjusting screws, high efficiency

When information becomes a needle in a haystack

Test reports, CAD drawings, material certificates – vast amounts of data are generated every day in production. Digitalization, automation and the ever-increasing requirements in terms of transparency and documentation are also creating new challenges for the manufacturing sector. Staying ahead of the international competition is no easy task. One buzzword that is increasingly being bandied about in the media in this context is “Industry 4.0”. This refers to the use of artificial intelligence and automation processes, but above all the networking of machines and systems. “Industry 4.0” is supposed to bring end-to-end communication, more efficient processes and greater transparency – e.g. in documentation. Does the hype deliver what it promises?

“Networking is an important keyword in the context of optimization measures. What applies to production facilities also applies to data and information management in the manufacturing industry,” explains Christoph Wendl, B2B software expert and CEO of Vienna-based Iphos IT Solutions GmbH. Wendl’s customers from the manufacturing industry, for example, are testing automated inspection processes in which sensors can record relevant data and analyze it with the help of AI algorithms. The use of such systems can stabilize production and significantly reduce the reject rate, as errors are detected and rectified at an early stage.

Strategic data management for greater efficiency

Networked machines? Check. Automated testing processes? Check. But what about the data behind it?
“Many companies overlook the fact that access to relevant information is just as crucial as automation itself,” says Wendl. “If test data, technical drawings or specifications can be retrieved quickly, errors can be detected at an early stage – before it becomes really expensive. Efficient data management is essential here. This is the only way to ensure that all relevant data from the test procedures is easily accessible and can be correctly assigned,” reports Wendl from practical experience. This is where increasingly intelligent search technologies come into play, making scattered data sets searchable and thus ensuring perfect order with minimal effort.

Why search technologies are the hidden game changer

From CAD drawings to material certificates, test reports and documentation – vast amounts of data are generated along the entire production chain that need to be managed and analyzed efficiently. “This data is often located in different systems, which makes it difficult to access quickly and leads to inefficient processes, delays and increased error rates,” says Wendl. “The time spent searching for documents every day is often underestimated. And yet the impact is enormous.” According to Wendl, implementing an intelligent search system can reduce the time spent searching for technical drawings or documentation by up to 70%. This not only leads to greater efficiency in the engineers’ day-to-day work, but also minimizes errors caused by outdated or duplicate data records.

Time savings and networked knowledge across all departments

The optimization potential is particularly impressive in the management of CAD drawings, for example, which often form the basis for technical decisions in production and testing. A smart search solution can help to find drawings quickly and reliably based on parameters such as material, geometry or production date – a clear time saver with improved process reliability at the same time. With searchit, Wendl’s IT company offers an in-house search engine that specializes in the needs of the manufacturing industry. In addition to various connectors and cross-source searches, the AI-based software also offers a preview function for DWG and DXF files to simplify the management of CAD drawings.

“Our customers notice very soon after the introduction of searchit that it is not just the large investments that contribute to the success. After just a few days, the more efficient information search ensures smoother processes and a better exchange of knowledge and information across all departments,” says Wendl, delighted with the success of his customers. The result? Greater employee satisfaction and significantly lower labor and operating costs in the long term.

However, cost reduction alone is not the only decisive criterion for using an in-house search engine. Sustainable success requires strategic handling of the flood of data that companies need to have under control in this increasingly digitalized industry. “Faster processes, lower error rates and a decisive knowledge and competitive advantage in their industry – that is the result for companies that fully exploit their data potential!” concludes Wendl.