Electrical system for textile machines: an integrated approach to production and logistics

The supply relates to the creation of the electrical systems for weaving machines according to the customer’s design.

The challenge here was to create an integrated production and logistics system between supplier and customer that can feed production lines designed with a Lean and just-in-time approach.

The starting point was to come up with a design for the electrical system that could be adapted to meet the customer’s production requirements: this led to the idea of fully integrating all components, electrical cabinets, electrical control units, onboard connection cables, motors and utilities.

Secondly, information systems have been developed that integrate supplier and customer ERP/MES management systems so that product configuration, production planning and material procurement activities are always aligned and tailored to the customer’s actual production needs.

Currently, we produce between 3,000 and 3,500 systems per year, supplying the manufacturing customer’s assembly lines with a 2-day buffer stock and daily deliveries. The supplier’s and customer’s planning and production systems are perfectly synchronised.

The technical production system that has been produced and implemented over the years has grown out of a close partnership between customer and supplier and has involved practically every department in the company: technical, purchasing, production and quality, logistics and shipping. Suppliers and consultants made a crucial contribution for the adaptation and implementation of the information systems.