Think, dream, dare, do

Kind Technologies optimises production flow Rittal enclosures

How does an organisation ensure the transition from start-up to scale-up to go smoothly? For fast-growing Kind Technologies the answer partly lay in scalability: not only growing fast, but above all efficiently and smartly. Together with Rittal and itsme they took a closer look at the production process of their enclosures. By partially outsourcing the assembly work, the lead time has been reduced from four weeks to just one week.

Kind Technologies from Eindhoven, the Netherlands, which specialises, among other things, in the development and production of computer vision, the electronic eye in machine controls, thrives well. Three years after the start in 2013, they already won the FD Gazelle Award for the fastest growing enterprises in the Netherlands. They now focus mainly on the food processing industry, the agro-industry and the pharmaceutical industry. A deliberate choice, for the world’s population increases and is growing older at the same time. The demand for food and medicines rises continuously. At the same time, our resources and available space remain virtually the same. And in times of crisis the challenge only becomes bigger. 

COO Han Roelofs bears the end responsibility for the operational side of all projects: “In Canada we are installing a machine that processes beef tomatoes. That market-gardener has quite a few employees from Mexico who would like to return to their families because of the corona crisis. Such a machine replaces about 20 staff.”

Standardising processes

The high-end vision systems controlling such machines are often so advanced that the control is done by a PC, with Kind Technologies developing and producing the whole system. This includes software, but also enclosures in which the PC and all cables and accessories are concealed. And it was precisely in this production process, that some efficiency could still be gained.

Formerly, an engineer would look for a suitable enclosure by himself instead of going through the purchasing department. Next, mechanics would make the cut-outs by means of a jigsaw. And with every new order, everything would start again from scratch.

​​​​​​​But with the growth of the organisation, the need for standardisation grew simultaneously. Rob van Buul, team leader production and purchasing: “We have drawn up a top ten list of Rittal enclosures. This brand fits in with our long-term vision, because our customers have already been using these systems for years. It neatly presents itself when everything in their factory is built according to the same philosophy. It makes a more professional impression than when there is a mix of all kinds of different brands.” Han adds: “Our systems have been active in a production environment for 30 years. If we need a new enclosure in year 31, we can always turn to Rittal. It is a stable company with a long history.”

​​​​​​​“On top of that, the holes are now made by the Rittal MOD service. The holes and cut-outs are submitted by means of an EPLAN drawing. The Rittal processing service makes them and finishes them neatly. That prevents sharp edges and corrosion”, says Erik Janknegt, who represents Rittal as Industry account manager.

​​​​​​​Back to the production process. “A fixed selection of enclosures prevents uncontrolled growth. We documented possible exceptions so that we can build directly from the drawing. Moreover, by standardising and simplifying the processes, the production can partially be outsourced”, explains Rob.
 

“Building everything according to the same philosophy neatly presents itself”

Kind Technologies sat down with itsme because of their experience in optimising internal company processes. Together, they divided the production process in seven or eight assembly parts, for which the right external partners were sought. In this, itsme plays a coordinating role in which it constantly monitors the purchasing processes and the delivery reliability of the suppliers. And according to Han, this has its advantages: “We come to a solid agreement with one single party and not with all kinds of suppliers separately. And what also plays an important role is that as a company we are in full development. Sometimes we are forced to try to put things together with what we have. itsme understands the phase we are in and thinks along with us.”

After two weeks, all the assembled components are delivered as separate packages, after which Kind Technologies completes the final assembly of the computer enclosure. “Every delivery is tightly planned in order to guarantee our flow. Therefore, delivery reliability is crucial, for only in this way can we create a nice production train with a flexible shell of external companies participating in the construction”, says Rob. Moreover, itsme makes clear what the savings on the investments are. Purchases are done differently, causing an increase in some of the costs. But below the line this is compensated for by, for example, lower stocks and shorter delivery times.

Thinking outside the box

The new approach is paying off. Lead times have been reduced from 4 weeks to 1 week, using the current staff, which at the same time, can aim for improvement of quality. Says Han: “We don’t want to use our mechanics for cutting holes, but for assembling high-end systems.”
 

“We come to a solid agreement with one single party and not with all kinds of suppliers separately“

A rapid production also ensures greater flexibility in serving the market. Han: “If a customer needs a system immediately, we can deliver more rapidly thanks to our shorter lead times. This, in turn, ensures extra orders, for not everyone in the market is as flexible as we are. The external parties help us to cope with these peaks. Dennis van den Hurk, account manager at itsme, has been involved in the optimisation trajectory from day one: “The great thing about Kind Technologies is that they are not afraid to think out of the box. This efficiency approach is actually rather unique in the market, which makes it a completely different approach for us, too.”

Daring to think differently fits in fully with Kind Technologies’ slogan, a quote by Hergé, the spiritual father of Tintin: “By believing in his dreams, man turns them into reality.” Han: “We tell everyone not to be afraid to take a step forward, even if that doesn’t always work out. That is a bit of a metaphor for that quote from Hergé. People who not only think out of the box, but also dare to act that way. That ensures creativity.”

 

Kind Technologies as a matrix organisation Through various takeovers – Beltech, Vimec, Applied Vision Technology and KOAT – different companies come together in Kind Technologies under one holding company, each with its own company culture. Currently, more than 140 people, who are deployed worldwide, work there. But which processes are the best if every individual company has a long history of itself? To demolish the old structures, Kind Technologies has not only implemented standardisation in the production processes, but also in the organisation as a whole by creating a matrix organisation. In the mid term, they aspire towards a tripling of the turnover and a doubling of the current organisation to € 50 million.

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