In total, Bauck has equipped eight machines in the filling area with the production software smartOEE. Using the FASTedge SFT15 shopfloor terminals, production employees register production orders and enter relevant information directly at the line.
From In-House Development to a Reliable Standard Solution
Before partnering with FASTEC, the company used a self-developed solution. This was time-consuming and required significant maintenance effort.
A key advantage is that with FASTEC, we have a reliable partner who takes care of the entire backup and handles most tasks in the background. Thanks to the modular structure of the system, we remain flexible for the future and can add further functions at any time.
Melanie Hinrichs, Kaizen Manager / Production Process Optimization at Bauck GmbH
Precisely Record Downtime Reasons – The Basis for Optimization
To ensure that digitalization delivers real added value, downtime reasons must be recorded accurately. At Bauck, smartOEE performs this task reliably: If no signal is triggered by the light barrier within two minutes during ongoing production, the system automatically switches to the state “unjustified downtime.” Production employees acknowledge this directly at the terminal and assign it to predefined downtime reasons. Additionally, free-text entries can be stored to capture more detailed information for later analysis.
At the same time, the company continues to expand automation and thereby reduce the workload for production employees. When a new production order is started, smartOEE automatically sets the state to “setup.” This functionality is planned to be extended via I/O signals. If defined line components report a malfunction, the corresponding downtime reason can then be recorded automatically.
Alerting Enables Fast Response in Maintenance
For alerting in maintenance, Bauck uses the FASTEC Mobile Client. If an unjustified interruption occurs on a machine for ten minutes, the department automatically receives a notification.
In addition, the terminals are equipped with two buttons that allow production employees to request support immediately – a direct way to minimize downtime and shorten response times.
Visualizations and Automated Reports Create Transparency
A centrally placed screen in front of the cafeteria provides greater transparency for the entire company. It displays the current states of six packaging lines, including overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Automatically generated reports also provide detailed insights into production performance.
Since installing the screen in our cafeteria, all employees can see the current state of our machines at a glance. This brings departments without direct production involvement much closer to our products and processes.
Melanie Hinrichs, Kaizen Manager / Production Process Optimization at Bauck GmbH
Easy Digitalization: Getting Started with a Rental Model
To keep investment costs low and remain flexible, Bauck chose the rental model for smartOEE and the FASTedge SFT15 terminals.
For us, the rental model is currently the most attractive option. We benefit from lower initial investment costs and can allocate our budget more strategically elsewhere. In the event of a defect, we also receive a replacement quickly.
Melanie Hinrichs, Kaizen Manager / Production Process Optimization at
For the future, Bauck plans to further expand its digitalization efforts with additional functions from the FASTEC portfolio.
