PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The FABRITIC project seeks to respond to the challenges related to improving the company’s competitiveness in national and international markets, as well as competing in quality and price.
The general objective of this proposal consists of improving productivity and competitiveness through the use of new technologies, based on innovation, in order to advance their efficiency and flexibility. Under this premise, the implementation of a continuous improvement process is proposed, and the intelligent management of plant operations, through the digitalization of information.
This proposal is aligned with international trends in the production of the future, smart factories and industry 4.0, and with other strategic areas for the European Union, such as the Green Pact and Responsible Innovation, with the aim of continuing to increase profitability. of the organization, improve access to global markets, strengthen international presence and, ultimately, continue to focus on business growth.
The business environment in which organizations move and develop their activity is today characterized by the application of technology at all levels and in all sectors, which requires that business strategies be constantly changing and updating, and in It seeks not only to obtain economic benefits, but also to create added value through sustainable growth. However, many organizations have not initiated the imminent and relevant change towards digital transformation that, among other aspects, conditions the future of companies.
In this sense, the adaptation capacity of companies demands investment in technology, with environmentally friendly production and consumption patterns. This involves adaptation to the needs of companies and, therefore, must focus on their innovation and continuous improvement.
It should be noted that the majority of companies in the Spanish agri-food sector carry out their industrial activities or a large part of them manually. This can result in negative results, such as: price instability and economic losses. Hence, investing in technology is essential.
Given this circumstance, different industrial policy proposals have been generated, with the aim of improving the functioning of companies, among which the industrial competitiveness agenda 4.0, the factory of the future, smart factory and industry 4.0, the Horizon 2020 program, the European Green Deal. These proposals highlight innovation, internationalization and business competitiveness, together with environmental sustainability, as the primary axes on which we must pivot.
In this order of ideas, CABOMAR is within the group of companies that requires adapting a part of its industrial processes. This is because it does not adjust to the new technological demands present globally, which translates into an unsustainable practice. This situation generates the need to improve productivity and competitiveness, in order to not put the viability of the company at risk.
GENERAL OBJECTIVE:
The general objective of this proposal consists of improving productivity and competitiveness through the use of new technologies, based on innovation, in order to advance their efficiency and flexibility. Under this premise, the implementation of a continuous improvement process is proposed, and the intelligent management of plant operations, through the digitalization of information.
SPECIFIC TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT:
To achieve the proposed general objective, the following specific technical objectives are intended to be achieved:
- Evaluation of the current situation of the organization, in terms of its production processes.
- Generate proposals for improvement in the production processes installed in the plant.
- Implementation of changes in production lines.
- Develop and implement software that allows recording traceability in each of the stages of the production lines, as well as the recording of variables to automatically control plant processes.
- Monitor processes to control and improve production.
RESULTS:
An evaluation of the level of implementation of LEAN tools has been carried out by analyzing four axes: methods, people, machines and materials.
Different management tools have been implemented and the lines of each process have been analyzed through a 4M analysis to examine the current situation and the different needs.
Depending on the needs, a first action plan was made, establishing priorities and implementing the appropriate tools, as well as improvements in the production lines, examples of which are detailed below:
- Centralization of the waste pipelines from the cleaning carousels.
- Tank reform
- Installation of collection baskets and gutters
- Product collection trays and implementation of band filters
- Installation of code readers and optimization of logistics processes
- Improvements in mixing lines and placement of transport improvement structures (guides, rollers, etc.)
- Different minor reforms related to ergonomics
These improvements, together with software analysis tools and established KPI monitoring, have allowed the development of the MES information system and improvements have been obtained in different indicators regarding OEE, improvements in the productivity indicator per hour and improvement in the % of stops. for breakdowns, on each line.
The project has been co-financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and CDTI with the aim of promoting technological development, innovation and quality research.
