A typical standard process in collaboration throughout the lifespan of the tool (from tool creation to usage) often lacks data transparency and can be described as follows.
There are many OEMs who own tools but have outsourced at least parts of the production to suppliers. This often leads to a complex communication between the suppliers and the OEMs.
Tools cost millions of euros, and therefore a precise process for tool monitoring is required. But above all, documentation necessitates protocols and datasheet, so that data transparency is given. Especially in complex processes, there is an increased susceptibility to errors if there are decentralized data components.
This involves the following difficulties:
- A complex participant structure: There are many different stakeholders involved in the process. This makes the process challenging, from tool procurement, to production, to tool monitoring, and it does not make the topic of data transparency any easier.
- Extensive documentation requirements: Let’s imagine an example in the tool lifecycle (from tool creation to tool monitoring). A lot of documentation is required, from the inquiry to the final order placement and the ownership transfer. This includes quality sampling, approvals and much more.
- Undocumented communication: This is often one of the difficulties that arises around tools.
- Decentralized datasets: When existing datasheets are only available as decentralized data repositories, data transparency is also not guaranteed.
Data Transparency over the Tool Lifecycle: Ensuring Accurate Data Collection and Maintenance by All Parties
Part of the scope of supply is to transparently provide all tool-specific and maintenance-specific data. The toolmaker is responsible for providing the tool-specific data, while the subcontractor is responsible for the maintenance-specific data.
If the party fails to deliver the files, it is equivalent to supplying a tool that does not comply with the specifications or not supplying the agreed quantity of parts.
How can you ensure the appropriate data maintenance or data transparency?
The solution: Ensure Data Transparency with Mould Lifecycle Management
- Data transparency is ensured by having centralized data repositories in the cloud.
- Very good cooperation: Data integration of different parties (OEMs, suppliers and tool manufacturers) is ensured. We achieve this with users and authorization systems for rights management.
- Reduced administrative burden for the OEM (original equipment manufacturer)
- The storage and analysis of all data related to tooling. This means that the maintenance history, specification of tools, operating status, best maintenance practices and details of tool components are recorded. In this way, we ensure that you have a central database.
- A comprehensive overview of the maintenance status of OEMs’ global production facilities, along with advanced features such as predictive maintenance and third-party value-added services
- All involved parties who need access get the current data.
- You can thus avoid errors, such as those caused by data redundancy.
- The data transparency for tool monitoring is therefore given.
Your main advantage: You have all data at a glance and no version problems. There is exactly one single source of truth about your documents and their status.
