SPS Technologies, a specialist fastener, assembly and precision component manufacturer for the aerospace sector, has increased productivity by 23%, equating to 273 additional productive hours a week across fifteen machines, after utilising smart technology from FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics.
Employing 335 people at its site in Leicester, UK, SPS Technologies operates as part of PCC Fasteners, a manufacturer of critical fastening systems for aerospace and defence applications, including power generation, wind turbines, marine and performance motorsport.
With increasing inflationary cost pressures, skills shortages and longer lead times for machinery and equipment, the company challenged itself to increase the overall productivity of its manufacturing operations. The business was looking for an overall uplift in output and to achieve this it needed to engage in a number of strategic projects, including machine utilisation.
To do this, SPS turned to the manufacturing analytics platform, FourJaw. “Increasing productivity is a key lever to help offset inflationary increases and keep pace with demand. Finding a solution that could help us increase throughput before looking to purchase new equipment, which itself is a time-consuming and costly exercise, to maximise the output of our current machines was vital,” comments Richard Baker, continuous improvement manager at SPS Technologies. “To increase productivity, we needed to understand how productive machines were and what opportunity for improvement was available. To achieve this, we required accurate and timely data from our equipment. It soon became apparent that we would require the assistance of a technology platform to work with our machines, which would be easy to roll out across the factory floor to deliver a ‘near instant’ measure of efficiency.”
SPS Technologies chose an IoT hardware and Cloud-based machine monitoring solution from FourJaw Manufacturing Analytics, starting with a trial of ten machines over six months. Thanks to its success, SPS has recently rolled FourJaw out further, bringing the total number of machines being monitored to 50.
The impact of the technology has been significant, it has removed inefficiencies in procedures; improved communication between the machine operators and the inspection lab; reduced downtime awaiting results of critical inspection processes; increased shift capacity by planning and scheduling work more efficiently; as well as improved cross department cooperation, which ensures problems are identified immediately and support is given to keep machines operational.
“All of these activities have led to an increase in machine productivity of 23%, which equates to 273 additional productive hours per week on the machines that have the platform running, which we see as a significant result for the business operationally and commercially,” concludes Richard.
Biog
Having spent a decade in the fastener industry experiencing every facet – from steel mills, fastener manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, as well as machinery builders and plating + coating companies, Claire has developed an in-depth knowledge of all things fasteners.
Alongside visiting numerous companies, exhibitions and conferences around the world, Claire has also interviewed high profile figures – focusing on key topics impacting the sector and making sure readers stay up to date with the latest developments within the industry.
