ETO Automation allows companies to reduce errors and the time used manually to modify heavy-engineered models and elevates the quality of the design outputs. Creating processes and rules to catch engineering knowledge, a configurator delivers a 3D model, created based on specific parameters settled by the client's needs. Any modification needed is quickly made changing the parameters and consequently generating a new 3D model.
Automating the engineering can be a game changing improvement for engineering business, however it is not all products/systems that are equally a good candidate for this or are mature enough, and the value and benefit is different. We will help in building a priority and business case for each product or systems.
We say there are two types of modularisation. In product modularisation where you optimise the product to use the same modules and reduce complexity in the product and cross product modularisation, to use the same models cross many products. In all our automation projects we use modularisation when and where it brings value
Normally companies do not have a master model containing all variants or in some cases not even a 3D model. Scandinavian Digital creates the Master 3D CAD model on behalf of our clients. It is build it fully modularised, standardised and following the SD’s methodologies ensuring that the products are fully ready for the digitalised journey .
As an enabler we break down the product together with one or more of the functions in a company sales, engineers and manufacturing and identify possibilities, to standardise, modularise or automate. What makes the best sense and brings the biggest value.
If you need repeatability – if you need to be able to configurate and automate, then you need to agree on the customer requirements for your products. What is allowed and what is not allowed. This means that we need to know the rules, options and the constrains of what should be possible. This is a standardisation process for sales and products. We do the same for engineering, procurement and manufacturing. This is one of the most important element in gaining business value – repeatability is the goal.
Agile way of working has been a big success in software development for many years. Ensuring that you can implement a major project and get value fast with a low risk. Scandinavian Digital has built our own method to utilise Agile Engineering with physical products.
Over time SD has anchored its project management methodology around Agile principles. We have learned that in order for true change to happen in organisations with a long legacy in specialised engineering, 3 pillars need to build on a solid foundation of direction and be guided by a leading landscape visible to everyone.
Cross-functional TEAMS need to be built with respect for the existing history. A TAKT will need to installed as the drum-beat that will sound the repetitive rhythm of regular events, i.e. separate sessions for planning, execution and reflective learning. Rapid and early prototyping will result in constant TEST for evaluation of work and refinement. At Scandinavian Digital we have learned that unless the right LEADERSHIP can direct the combined work in the right direction and remove roadblocks that prevent FLOW self-managing teams tend to result in pure chaos that will be very difficult to combine on a larger scale.
We are true believers of VISUAL MANAGEMENT in the absolute literary sense. Project team members and other stakeholders need to be aware at all times of what it happening, where we are going and the status of issues and successes. Seeing is believing and at Scandinavian Digital we prefer to bring all details forward in the light, rather than store them away.
