Production of forged and machined aluminium components for the automotive sector
https://www.tcnsrl.com/vehicles-division/Needs
Make detailed analyses and timely reports on processing cycles, efficiencies and timing
Optimize order planning and production plant saturation
Defining and organizing demand
Manage the lots
Improve procurement planning and subcontractor management
Implementation
The computerization project, which lasted about two years, was divided into two phases: first the installation of the system at the historic site in Cantarana (Asti), and then at the group’s new production centre in Alba (Cuneo). The timing has been agreed with the partner supplying the IT modules.
TCN VD also took advantage of the possibility of long-term rental which allowed to plan the costs of the project and to vary the composition of hardware and software as necessary without particular difficulties of administrative management.
The system is now used in various departments and involves production and logistics operators.
Results
Improvement in scheduling management
Visibility of order progress and plant production saturation
Easy to find data inside
Faster flow of information
Customer satisfaction
Interview
What needs have prompted you to consider adopting a new MES software?
"Before adopting the Metronomo.Net system from MecMatica, we did not have a point control of the advances" - says Laura Cinquemani, Head of Planning and Operations at TCN VD. "In fact the old system collected data by traditional methods and did not allow for detailed analyses and timely reports on processing cycles, efficiencies and times. So the lack of a modern and adequate MES system negatively affected the scheduling of orders, because we did not have enough data and consistent. Typically in our sector the programming is medium and long term, so we decided to immediately include the MES part of Metronomo in departments. Our objectives were to optimise order planning and the saturation of production facilities, to define and organise demand in the best possible way, to manage lots, to improve purchasing planning and also to improve the management of our subcontractors. The engine of all this information was the MES".
How did you get to know MecMatica and why did you choose it as your supplier?
"During the commercial negotiations with MecMatica - explains Andrea Zanini, Administrator of TCN VD - we immediately felt the feeling that we had found a potential supplier exactly meeting our production needs; This feeling was confirmed by the expertise of MecMatica’s technical staff who also took part in the pre-analysis and start-up definition phases of our system, integrated with the already existing SW part. In truth, the first contact was made thanks to the word-of-mouth, the excellent references transferred from a company already client of MecMatica that suggested us to evaluate the Metronomo.net solution. The feedback was immediately positive both on the SW product and on the technical staff involved. Metronomo.Net is an intuitive and easy-to-use system and includes many modules that have been activated step by step during the course of the project. As far as training is concerned, we have been provided with a technician, dedicated to TCN, who follows us monthly with scheduled appointments at our headquarters in Alba".
Now that the MES Metronomo.Net software is up and running, what significant differences have you noticed?
"Thanks to Metronomo.Net, useful data is easily found inside and our information flow that manages the production has definitely changed speed compared to the past. This change of pace is an added value not only for us, but also for our customers who get answers today in a timely manner to the needs of the automotive market" - says the entrepreneur.
In the light of Vs. first-hand experience, would you recommend MecMatica as a MES software provider?
"We are completely satisfied with the achievements achieved thanks to the MES solutions and in particular the collaboration with MecMatica, so that we ourselves suggest to colleagues and suppliers to follow our own path. We recommend MecMatica knowing, from our direct experience, that computer science and mechanics together bring a safe and immediate added value in the management of internal processes and indirectly also in the company marginality that results. In fact, if we all work better it is the whole supply chain that is strengthened, for the benefit of our competence as suppliers and our customers' own clients" - concludes Laura Cinquemani.
