Clear the way for the identification and traceability of each individual tool: The digital tool management system from Oerlikon Balzers creates access to life cycle data via the cloud, enables paperless sorting in and back of orders and ensures data transparency through all processes, from regrinding to coating to use during End customers.
In 2019, the surface specialist Oerlikon Balzers started the “Digital Workflow” project. The laser marking of tools with data matrix codes (DMC) created the basis for the allocation or reading of a lifelong tool number for digital identification. With the code, information can be digitally linked and retrieved - from the number of regrinding cycles to order, life cycle and usage data to test reports. The IT partner c-Com developed a high-performance open cloud application as the infrastructure. This processes all data for access by all project participants via their ERP systems.
The practical test followed at the end of 2020 with the pilot customer Brinkmann Schleiftechnik, who has tens of thousands of tools treated at Oerlikon Balzers every year. So far, the partly manual order processing has created a lot of effort, despite electronic data interchange (EDI). That has changed. Thanks to laser labeling, the tools ground at Brinkmann are now physically and digitally assigned to transport containers for onward transport, which also receive a DMC and are then sent to the Balzers factory. There the baskets are scanned and all data is retrieved from the cloud.
Because of the clear (digital) connection between tools and baskets, the tools can now be rearranged as required for further processing. For this purpose, a "super production order" is created which combines many of the orders sent into meaningful groups. After coating, the tools can be assigned to their baskets and original orders by scanning and sent back to the customer Brinkmann, who can call up all delivery data via the cloud. The linked customer platform myBalzers also supports this, which enables online orders and status queries and provides the necessary documents and receipts online.
Lots of future potential“We benefit from significantly greater transparency, less effort and smooth order processing. And we see a lot of potential with a view to better management of the tool life cycle, ”says Julius Brinkmann, project manager at Brinkmann Schleiftechnik. In the future, tool life, grinding processes and machining parameters can be recorded, analyzed and optimized throughout the life of the tool. Tool inventories can be better calculated and adapted to the order situation, which reduces storage costs. The processing of complaints benefits because all relevant data on the tool are immediately available. Oerlikon Balzers can better utilize its coating systems and reduce process costs.
Data security is also a top priority: each participant receives special access rights, the cloud servers are also located in Frankfurt am Main so that no data is sent overseas. "The networking of the entire supply chain in the open cloud is a big step forward for the industry, which up to now has implemented more in-house isolated solutions," says Giari Fiorucci, Managing Director of c-Com. Gerhard Peyerl, Head of Sales Oerlikon Balzers Germany, looks ahead: "We can present a pioneering package of solutions that we now want to open up to the market."
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