In today’s industry, keeping costs low while maintaining competitiveness is essential for companies in the sheet metal production sector. With the rising prices of raw materials and energy, finding ways to optimize operations has become increasingly important. Lantek, a technology leader in the field with a global customer base of over 30,000, has been providing innovative software solutions for over 30 years to assist manufacturers in improving efficiency, reducing costs, and increasing productivity and quality.
One approach to addressing these challenges is digitization. Lantek’s software tools are designed to help manufacturers make the most of every sheet of metal while optimizing processes. We will be highlighting the key areas where these tools can aid manufacturers in becoming more productive and competitive in a three-part mini-series of press releases. From nesting solutions like Lantek Expert/Lantek Flex 3d to manufacturing management with Lantek MES and evaluation with Lantek Analytics, these tools are fully integrated into Lantek’s modular software suite and work together to help companies cut costs and stay ahead of the competition.
Efficient resource utilization, cost reduction, and energy conservation are important goals for any manufacturing company. One way to achieve these goals is by implementing accurate production planning. This involves identifying production bottlenecks, pinpointing quality issues, and understanding technical manufacturing costs. With this information, companies can optimize material and machinery usage, reduce energy consumption and raw material costs, and improve quality.
To optimize production processes, companies need real-time information about what is happening in the manufacturing process. This information can be used to optimize the interaction between machinery, materials, and personnel, ultimately leading to better use of resources. Manufacturing execution systems (MES) are designed to provide real-time information to assist in this process. Lantek MES, for example, is a software tool that is specifically tailored for sheet metal production.
Lantek MES enables companies to select parts based on various parameters such as material type, thickness, and delivery date. It then nests these parts together for optimal use on a sheet or tube blank, thereby optimizing material usage and reducing the storage of unprocessed material and residual sheet metal. The software tool also manages the entire production process, including cutting, edging, painting, and more. It tracks part, material, and scrap inventories for each operation, assigns material to specific projects, and keeps track of material price changes. This information can be used to identify production bottlenecks and improve performance, availability, or quality.
MES like Lantek can significantly help companies improve their production planning and optimize material usage, enabling optimal use of machinery and ultimately increasing production capacity. By gaining a comprehensive understanding of the production process, companies can make informed decisions that lead to greater efficiency and profitability without needing to invest in new plants.
Energy and resource saving series with Lantek software - Part 1
