Digitalization is already a guarantee for increased efficiency and sustainable growth in many industries. Special machine construction, on the other hand, often still struggles with fundamental challenges. In particular, there are often still obstacles to the implementation of productive workflows and cross-departmental collaboration in the engineering projects of special machine manufacturers. In this blog, we take a closer look at where the problems lie.
Fragmented software
Special machine builders often use a variety of different software tools that are not compatible with each other. This makes data exchange between applications, employees, departments, and external parties considerably more difficult. Project participants have to transfer data manually, which is not only time-consuming but also very error-prone. Not to mention the fact that modern technologies such as AI, automation, or realistic 3D simulations can hardly be used at all on the basis of fragmented software landscapes.
Lack of standardization
Many special-purpose machine manufacturers have not established standardized workflows. This forces them to invest unnecessary time and resources, thereby exposing themselves to significant economic risk. For example, the lack of standards means that work has to be done multiple times. Because there is no central data storage for all project participants, engineers redesign parts of systems or components from scratch even when a very similar variation already exists, but they do not have access to the data for that variation.
Knowledge silos
Because the engineering processes at many special-purpose machine manufacturers are not fully digitized, teams and individuals work in isolation. This results in knowledge silos, data islands, and a lack of transparency. Project participants quickly lose track of current versions and new requirements, work with outdated documents, or repeat work that someone else has already done. If employees fall ill, critical knowledge gaps quickly arise. Important data may then no longer be accessible.
Bring together all participants and data
Special machine manufacturers should push ahead with the digitalization of their engineering projects if they do not want to fall behind technologically. They need to replace their fragmented IT landscapes and isolated processes with centralized, holistic software solutions and workflows that bring all project participants and all data together in one place. This will ensure greater transparency, better collaboration, and increased efficiency—and boost their competitiveness.
