Smart monitoring of packaging machines
IIoT Solution & RUBY App
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Mobile App Development
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Packaging 4.0
As early as the 2000s, the Westphalian machinery manufacturer Windmöller & Hölscher (W&H) in Lengerich recognized the future potential of IIoT and Big Data. As an innovation leader in the industry, W&H gained initial experience with a self-developed tool. In 2017, the specialist for flexible packaging machinery, with around 3,400 employees worldwide, began developing RUBY, a modular, cloud-based IIoT platform. RUBY enables detailed machine monitoring and optimization of production processes.
From service provider to strategic partner
As a key contributor slashwhy has been involved in the development of RUBY since the very start of the project. Initially, several external service providers were engaged, but in 2020 W&H decided to focus on slashwhy as its strategic partner. Throughout the course of the project, slashwhy impressed both technically and methodically, demonstrating high levels of expertise in UX and agile practices. Another key factor: slashwhy’s broad range of services and technologies allowed it to offer everything from conceptualization to implementation from a single source.
Enhancing customer engagement through a mobile app
The development of the RUBY IIoT platform paved the way for additional digital products at W&H. Thus, in 2020 the vision of a mobile app emerged as a direct touchpoint with decision-makers among its customers. The goal was an app that would provide a live overview of machine status, tailored precisely to the informational needs of management. : Is the machine running at full production speed? How high is the scrap rate? When will the current production order be completed?
Accompanying agile transformation
Like many mechanical engineering companies, W&H traditionally relied on a waterfall approach with detailed requirement specifications for its software development processes prior to RUBY. During the development of the IIoT platform, an iterative Scrum-based approach was introduced in collaboration with Agile Coaches from slashwhy. Equally, slashwhy’s User Experience Designers firmly integrated UX methods within W&H's development processes.
High success & lower costs thanks to UX
Building on the positive experiences from the IIoT project, the RUBY app’s development placed even greater emphasis on user needs — specifically those of decision-makers. By conducting extensive customer interviews at the project's outset, maintaining close UX guidance with usability testing, leveraging Design Thinking methods, and focusing on a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), the development effort was streamlined. A lengthy list of initial ideas was distilled into a lean solution with core functionalities that precisely met user needs. This is evident in both user test results and the app’s actual intensity of use.
Achievements & Outcome
- Data-driven error detection and alerts reduce scrap and downtime, thereby saving resources and costs.
- Digital monitoring and data insights provide W&H with an additional competitive differentiator and create opportunities to address future digitalization demands.
- By launching the app, W&H successfully established a direct touchpoint with decision-makers among customers, strengthening customer loyalty. On average, users interact with the app four times a day.
- The app stands out for its usability and has earns a full 5 out of 5 rating in the app stores.
We always feel that slashwhy takes full ownership of the product. Everyone involved fully identifies with the product. This is different from other service providers.”
Dr. Melanie Schuh
Product Management at W&H
Looking for answers?
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