Ronnie van den Hurk and Janwillem Verschuuren are the owners of De Cromvoirtse. We asked them and ICT manager Helmi de Backer about automation within the company, including the realization and positive impact of their SCSN connection:
Ronnie begins: 'Engineers can make wonderful drawings these days. We want the option to calculate and process them fully automatically so that the customer receives the drawings exactly as they envisioned them.'
So you are already well on your way with digitization?
Ronnie: "Yes, many of the steps in our production process are automated. Human hands are still involved, but the standard work on weekends concerns about 100 cutting hours completely unmanned. We are a 24-hour company with a digital line running through the company, from our online portal to the tablet of the driver who delivers our product to the customer. This is part of what we call 'Industry 4.0' at De Cromvoirtse."
How did you get started with digitization?
Ronnie: 'Digitalization is a process that has taken many years thus far, and we are far from finished.We have a very clear vision of it within De Cromvoirtse. Since 2003, we have been calculating long products and saw work; customers could already order online. In 2008, we started calculating cutting work online. Still, the most significant step we made in terms of digitization was in 2012 with the switch to fully automated sheet metal fabrication. That gave the whole company quite a boost.'
"Digitalization is in our genes.For example, De Cromvoirtse has been working with an ERP system for 30 years."
'We check with new personnel whether they have an affinity for digitization or automation. That's not a necessity at every position in the company, of course. Still, automated vehicles are driving around on the shop floor here. So it is the intention that an operator should be able to deal with that, regardless.'
How did the SCSN connection come about?
Janwillem: "We were working with a DSX standard and eventually connected to SCSN through TNO. We were all developing separate initiatives, but decided to join because SCSN was becoming the standard in the chain within the Netherlands and throughout Europe. We went from one-to-one coupling to one-to-many coupling. It's part of the future to control not only order messages but also everything around status, order planning, or invoicing, from beginning to end, entirely within the digital structure. So those are good next steps, and we definitely see future prospects in it as well."
For whom does SCSN especially have many advantages?
Suppliers
Helmi: "For our customers, we can't offer it yet, so we don't have any benefits there as of yet.Currently, the benefits are mainly with our suppliers from whom we can receive orders through SCSN. MCB can send price catalogs when the market price changes, and we can process those. That is really a very big plus."
Time savings
Helmi: "Communicating via SCSN saves an enormous amount of time. This is the biggest gain at the moment. Hopefully, in the future, we can also communicate purchase order confirmation, packing slips and invoices via SCSN. We already get those from MCB, but we are intercepting them because we still need an adjustment on the ECI-Ridder side. We do want our customers to eventually be able to order from us via SCSN as well, but that is more difficult because we do not officially supply items. Every item is unique and involves many operations, so a proper SCSN solution must still be devised for this purpose."
Ronnie: "So, for now, we are still working with our own application that allows customers to enter orders from their ERP system into our portal at the push of a button. Eventually, we will also make the move to SCSN with our customers. We are just waiting for the market to get there."
Have you had any challenges with establishing the connection?
Helmi: "One prerequisite is that you have an ERP system of your own. That's really all it takes. It's really quite simple. You have to fix your item file, and that's about it."
ICT in order
Ronnie: "Even with the presence of ERP systems, you can still run into challenges.For example, the ICT level within an organization must be in order; in addition, the cooperation of the suppliers of the ERP systems must be committed and provide the proper support. This is sometimes a challenge because companies are extremely busy, and companies, therefore, often have other priorities.
What does the future hold for you in terms of digitization?
Connecting customers
Janwillem: "We plan to connect our customers to the SCSN.We have our own calculation system, which will have to work with the information we receive from customers. Some technical challenges are still involved, but we'll look at that when the time comes."
How do you get your customers excited about SCSN?
Cheaper and more transparent
Janwillem: "Our customers have been working with our portal for a long time.We give our customers discounts if they order through our portal. By offering more information or a price advantage online, we ensure that our customers experience benefits from digitization."
Janwillem: "This is necessary because customers have to make adjustments in their working methods. When they find that forwarding a PDF also works efficiently, they don't focus on the benefits of digitization. But when they find that they also quickly and easily receive another order confirmation, an invoice, and notification of all deliveries digitally, they do see the benefits."
Ronnie: "SCSN as a foundation has a lobbying function to get the network well accepted in the market and convey its importance in the metal industry. This includes other industries, for that matter. Often digitalization for companies does not fall under short-term plans but rather is a long-term urgency, given the chance of losing competitiveness. This is one of the reasons why we are committed today to promoting the SCSN and digitalization in general."
Are you currently missing any posts or topics within the SCSN?
Janwillem: "I think editing is high on our list, so working out the edits. Right now, it's more the standard sizes and bundles. So the customization is not quite there yet. "
Ronnie: "The customization is important; that's why we also have our own system as a precursor because we still need to be sufficiently supported in this regard by SCSN.
About De Cromvoirtse
De Cromvoirtse is known as an innovative supplier in the manufacturing industry.Especially within the field of customization in metalwork. Think of profiles, tubes, laser-cut sheet metal, products with press brakes, or cutting products with sawing operations.
Contact
Do you have questions about the possibilities of digitization or SCSN for your company following this blog? Or are you interested in creating an SCSN connection? Then feel free to contact one of our Digital Product Specialists, Maureen Schonbrodt or Anne de Bresser.