Elly Yates-Roberts |
This article was originally published in the Autumn 2019 issue of The Record. Subscribe for FREE here to get the next issues delivered directly to your inbox.
Hillphoenix is a large manufacturer of commercial and industrial refrigeration units and display cases. It has been a leader in energy-saving refrigeration technology. But its manufacturing inspection process relied on paper forms to document and track defects, making it slow and prone to error. Inspectors worked from memory, undermining consistency. Tracking and analysis were difficult.
The solution was a digital process based on Nintex technologies. Now, inspectors use an application on a mobile device to scan the item, then work down a checklist to document defects with notes and photos. Results are recorded and tagged in a SharePoint Online library. As needed, inspection reports are created, shared with the rework facility, and units are labelled for repair.
The process has standardised the inspection process and improved accuracy, efficiency and analytics furthering the core tenets of manufacturing 4.0 by making the business leaner and faster, improving customer service, and ultimately increasing profits.