On Thursday, February 4, the fourth edition of the Productivity Forum will be held. This year’s event will be virtual and will focus on process optimization and digital transformation.
Geprom will participate as an exhibitor and sponsor in the CEAM event, where success stories and notable experiences in process automation and Industry 4.0 will be presented. High-level industrial companies like Seat, VW, Celsa, La Farga, Siemens, Serra Soldadura, among others, will also be taking part.
The Productivity Forum will take place from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm, concentrating practical and highly useful information in these fields into a single morning.
For registration and more information, visit: CEAM Productivity Forum – 4th Edition
As a preview of the event, Javier Arias, Manager of Digital Transformation at Geprom, gave an interview to CEAM about the topics that attendees will enjoy.
INTERVIEW
Javier Arias Martos | Commercial Director & Digital Transformation
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/javier-arias-indusria-4-0
- What is your company’s activity? Which sectors do you target with your products and services? When was the company founded, and in what context?
Geprom’s activity is focused on providing turnkey solutions related to industrial automation and digital transformation to our clients. The most important factor that differentiates us from our competitors is that we have two highly qualified teams in two different worlds that converge: OT (Operational Technology) and IT (Information Technology). The OT team consists of professionals with many years of experience in the mechatronics world, dealing with projects related to sensing, automation, robotics, and PLC programming, among others. On the other hand, the IT team is a young and dynamic group with experience in new technologies and software development, which brings OT’s foundation into the world of Industry 4.0. This holistic knowledge of the industry makes us unique and enables us to accompany our clients throughout their digitalization process.
The solutions we offer are applicable to any company in the industrial sector, although our history of projects has led us to specialize in specific sectors such as automotive, food, chemicals, and manufacturing companies.
Geprom was founded in 2017 by a team of professionals with extensive industrial experience who decided to launch a new project together to develop automation and Industry 4.0 projects in a more agile and industry-focused way.
- What innovative solutions do you offer to companies aiming to improve their productivity levels? What advantages might they bring in the current context?
The most common solutions implemented by Geprom are based on automating manual processes or optimizing already automated production lines, as well as real-time monitoring and control of production processes using MES platforms or other MOM (Manufacturing Operations Management) platforms for quality control, maintenance, or logistics. However, when talking about innovation, the most disruptive solutions we are implementing are based on the Digital Twin concept, Artificial Intelligence, advanced analytics, and predictive technologies.
The advantages that these technologies can bring to the industry in the current context are many, such as reducing unit production costs, improving quality rates, or increasing production capacity in factories. However, acquiring and implementing this technology is not enough to guarantee achieving these objectives. A solid initial consultancy to detect the actual needs and the technological maturity of each production plant, based on experiences from previous implementations, is crucial for the success of factory digitalization. That’s why at Geprom, we have specialized consultants in various areas to guide our clients from this consulting phase.
- Do you think companies are betting enough on digitalization?
Personally, I am very pleased with the commitment that the Spanish industry is making toward digitalization of its production centers. As with anything, being the first to invest in something new is not easy, and the pioneers of digitalization in Industry 4.0 are already seeing results that are making other companies follow suit. There’s still a long way to go, but we’ve reached cruising speed.
- Is our industrial sector ready to carry out the necessary digital transformation?
The reality is that the level of readiness in our industrial sector varies significantly depending on the sector and the size of the company. We must keep in mind that not all industrial processes allow for a high level of digitalization or automation, and although we all talk about Industry 4.0, there have been other industrial revolutions that some companies have not yet undergone. So, to answer directly, not all factories are ready to carry out an effective digital transformation. This is why it’s important to conduct a good internal audit to identify the necessary steps to take, even if we have to start with Industry 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0.
- What is the most common mistake made during the implementation of technologies, and in your area of expertise?
In my professional experience as a digital transformation director, I have seen many successes and some failures in implementing enabling technologies for Industry 4.0. While there is no magic formula that guarantees 100% success, I can tell you that in all the projects where technology implementation has failed, certain factors have been repeated:
- The project was managed by a small, non-diversified team.
- The real technology users were not considered during the implementation.
- Technology was chosen first, and then they searched for where to apply it, instead of first identifying concrete needs and then seeking the appropriate technology in the market.
- IT systems that the technology would need to integrate with were not considered.
- What advice would you give to a company looking to implement a digital transformation plan for its processes, products, or services?
It is advisable for all companies thinking of investing in digital transformation to start by creating a solid roadmap. This involves talking to all departments and mapping the production process, its IT/OT ecosystem, and the real inefficiencies affecting the three pillars we target: costs, time, and quality.
Once this is mapped out, it’s important to understand the enabling technologies of Industry 4.0 and how they can help. It’s very likely that the company doesn’t have enough experience in this area, which is why it’s crucial to partner with a technological partner who can help with creating this roadmap.