Farby Kabe Sp. z o.o. is a leading manufacturer of products needed for creating facades and interiors. The Swiss company, operating since 1995, continuously strives for self-improvement and maintaining high product quality, and thus implements increasingly advanced techniques for the production of materials, including paints, plastering compounds and repair and renovation systems. Farby Kabe Sp. z o.o. and Profesal Sp. z o.o. have been cooperating for 4 years. After such a long time, business contact is still maintained, along with continuous technical support.
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Implementation objective
Due to its rapid growth, Farby Kabe Sp. z o.o. encountered difficulties in organizing its maintenance department. The ever-increasing number of machines available in the company’s machine park prompted a desire to automate and streamline the company’s daily operations. Initially, problems such as a lack of systematization of data entry, data circulation and flexibility in accessing data were identified, resulting in longer search times for necessary documentation or specific information about employees, customers or partners.
The solution used to meet the above needs of the company was the implementation of the CMMS Profesal Maintenance Premium system. Thanks to the capabilities offered by the system, the company has automated the process of data collection and the speed of finding and filtering key information. With the use of the system, making changes or correcting errors no longer has to be done in an analogue manner.
How did the CMMS system help?
The system’s functionalities enabled several users to add and verify the information entered, which minimized the chances of errors occurring and, if they did occur, ensured their efficient detection and immediate correction. The speed and intuitiveness of the data entry module significantly improved and relieved the employees of Farby Kabe Sp. z o.o. from the tedious task of collecting data in files on computer disks or paper versions of contracts or invoices.
An additional advantage of implementing the CMMS Profesal Maintenance Premium system is the possibility of integration with systems already in use at the company. Farby Kabe Sp. z o.o. took advantage of this feature, and the integration of SAP ERP systems with CMMS Profesal Maintenance led to increased process efficiency, expanded communication between departments, and improved the quality of data acquisition and processing by the systems.
Daily data exchange between the two systems’ databases means that all necessary information is entered once, eliminating the need to enter it twice—in each system individually. System integration, and the resulting improved information flow across the CMMS-ERP interface, increased accuracy in the organization of production and service work. Combining the systems also facilitated monitoring of leased machine locations, travel costs, and the time required for potential repairs.
Another challenge Profesal had to address was the need to find a way to efficiently handle reports of failures or malfunctions. Slow service for equipment repair also became a noticeable issue. Response times, crucial to the company’s operations, were slowing due to the analog process of reporting problems. The necessary machine data had to be located among documents, and the fault manual, often unknown to the newly hired employee, had to be provided by a specialist.
Paying particular attention to the specific nature of Farby Kabe Sp. z o.o.’s work, the implemented system allows for intuitive data entry regarding faults, including their location, machine number, and problem description. Assuming that not all machines are currently located in the same factory, which may occur due to the company’s lease agreements, the system must collect all information related to machine location and provide easy and transparent access.
Due to the cyclical nature of maintenance activities, the system provides advance notifications via email and text messages, delivered directly to the phones of technicians present at the plant. This functionality facilitates preparation for maintenance, resulting in improved efficiency and work organization. This has become particularly important for the company due to the scheduled annual maintenance of machines such as double-speed furnaces, as well as mandatory CO2 emission measurements. For Farby Kabe, it was crucial that the notifications also include information about occupational health and safety training.
Mobile terminals are another solution that helps increase efficiency, shorten response times to breakdowns, and simplify service operations. The Profesa Mobile terminal, included in the system, allows for troubleshooting issues in the maintenance department and production from a phone or tablet. The intuitive interface allows for quick reporting of faults. Notifications sent electronically are received by those responsible for repairing the defect. When adding information about the problem, users can attach photos, provide a detailed description of the situation, and select the specific machine to which it relates. Access to all machines in their fleet is valuable for Farby Kabe Sp. z o.o.
Using mobile terminals, service technicians can easily send confirmation to the maintenance manager after completing the work on a specific machine. The mobile platform also facilitates maintenance rounds, during which the employee, thanks to a list of guiding questions, completes the task accurately and quickly, minimizing the likelihood of missing a step.
“The support provided by Profesal included not only the time allocated to implementing the tool, but also training and assistance after the system went live. Thanks to the implemented solutions, we can develop even more effectively and improve the services we provide.”
Robert Smorąg, IT Department Manager
Farby Kabe Sp. z o.o., in line with its continuous development, needed a tool to monitor the actual state of its operations and report results, allowing it to draw concrete conclusions and implement changes that benefit the company. Insight into the costs allocated to production and maintenance of machinery, as well as oversight of customer contracts, became particularly important. The problem was the lack of systematic product records.
The newly introduced ability to collect data in the CMMS system regarding costs, invoices, and customer and tenant relationships has enabled transparent reporting, setting standards, and implementing changes. The system allows for insight into continuously generated charts that clearly visually illustrate the company’s strengths and weaknesses.
Thanks to machine failure reporting, the maintenance manager can focus on machine profitability and identify the need for increased investment in preventative maintenance. For Farby Kabe Sp. z o.o., MaintenanceTV—a visualization system available on a TV placed in a clearly visible location on the production floor—is an additional convenience that helps quickly and efficiently monitor work progress.
As the company grows, creating and analyzing reports is an incredibly important element of its strategy. By drawing the right conclusions from them, Farby Kabe sp. z o.o. continually improves the quality of its products, focusing on ease of application, availability, and the distribution of its offerings. Building relationships with customers and maintaining their trust is also crucial. The company ensures these aspects by maintaining international Quality Management standards, and the implemented system capabilities help ensure their accuracy. Profesal offers system modification and monitoring services based on customer needs and responding to customer needs.
The collaboration between Farby Kabe sp. z o.o. and Profesal sp. z o.o., which did not end after implementation and employee training, continues, enabling both parties to continually develop.
