Growing together: The partnership between R&R Formentechnik and EVOMECS

EVOMECS
Welcome to the interview, Björn. Thank you very much for taking the time. Before we dive into the details of the project, could you please tell us a little bit about your position and what your company does?

Björn Katthage
Hi! My name is Björn Katthage, and I am Managing Partner of R&R Formentechnik GmbH. We are a tool and mold making and contract manufacturer with currently 17 employees and are based in Halver near Lüdenscheid. Our company has been active since 2011, and about 5 years ago we entered the world of digitalization. This path ultimately led us to EVOMECS.

EVOMECS
That sounds exciting, Björn. Let's dive straight into the context of the project. What challenges and considerations prompted you to move towards digitalization?

Björn Katthage
The initial spark came from the need for more information about production. The idea of introducing a planning module was initially the driving force. However, we realized that we could not plan successfully without clear values and data. This led us to take a close look at the entire production process. This is where EVOMECS came into play, especially tool management, to create transparency and use the existing data effectively.

EVOMECS
What was your experience of introducing the system, and what specific functions or benefits tipped the scales in favor of EVOMECS?

Björn Katthage
EVOMECS was chosen because it supported our vision right from the start, even though we could not clearly formulate our own vision at the beginning. The flexibility offered to us allowed us to contribute creatively to the development. Of course, the implementation of the system was not without its challenges, as many functionalities still had to be developed or refined together. To a certain extent, we were also a real-life laboratory, which was sometimes exhausting, but which meant that the system could be strongly aligned with real needs. Today, EVOMECS is indispensable for us.

EVOMECS
What advantages and added value has the system brought to your company so far?

Björn Kattthage
The consistency of the process has improved considerably. For example, a workpiece cannot be set up if it has not been through incoming goods or QA and outgoing goods after production. Quality assurance has certainly benefited from this and we have fewer customer complaints.

EVOMECS
Are there already measurable increases in efficiency or quality as a result of digitalization?

Björn Katthage
We definitely have fewer machine downtimes due to tool breakages, basically no more collisions and no more incorrect tools. Process reliability has increased enormously, which leads to a reduction in machine repair costs and an increase in quality. We are currently working very hard on data preparation and interpretation and assume that we will be able to make these improvements measurable in the coming year in order to make the CIP effective based on valid data.

EVOMECS
That sounds very promising. Let's look to the future. What further steps are you planning with EVOMECS and what prospects do you see?

Björn Katthage
We are aiming for paperless production and are planning to use EVOMECS in quality management during production. We also want to tackle planning, which was originally the driver of our digitalization initiative, with EVOMECS in the coming year - this time on the basis of real data. We would also like to build a community together with EVOMECS and other users in order to exchange ideas and experiences and drive forward further development together. This reflects our ambition to grow not just as an individual company, but as part of a dynamic community.

EVOMECS
That sounds like exciting plans for the future. Thank you, Björn, for these insights into your experiences with EVOMECS and your future prospects. From the EVOMECS side, we are lucky to be able to work with you in such a cooperative and progressive way.

Björn Katthage
It was a pleasure, best regards to Stefan and thank you very much for the interview.