Case Studies: Shiftconnector^® in operation

Ascensus, a specialty chemical manufacturer based in Elma, WA is now using Shiftconnector to coordinate shift handover.

Prior to implementing Shiftconnector, Ascensus used a combination of Office tools, like Excel and Outlook, to try and manage the myriad processes related to shift handover. When Gene Shields was hired in 2018 as the Chief Information Officer, he was tasked to oversee a big boost in production capacity as well as a focus on reliability and safety. This led him to identify and implement best-of-breed software solutions like Shiftconnector for accomplishing specific goals within his organization.

Click here to learn more and hear directly from Gene about the role that digitization and Industry 4.0 play at chemical manufacturers like Ascensus.

Materials manufacturer Covestro converts shift operation to the digital shift log "Shiftconnector" in 90 production plants.

With Shiftconnector, Covestro is using a new electronic system as part of its digitization initiative to improve shift handovers throughout the company. This means that the advantages of digital change will be directly passed on to the people in the production plants. 

Röhm, a company steeped in tradition, is a globally leading provider of methacrylate products, including the world-famous PLEXIGLAS^® brand. With 15 production sites on four continents, Röhm supplies future markets such as automotive, the electronics industry, and medical devices – and recently started using Shiftconnector^® to support its business.

With the help of Shiftconnector^®, a software solution from the global software provider eschbach, chemical company Röhm has digitalized its processes and, in so doing, achieved lasting improvements in the areas of safety, quality and productivity.

• The importance of maintaining production during a pandemic.
• How DSM has met the challenges of the current crisis.
• Feedback from production teams on Shiftconnector^®.

• DSM Nutritional Products AG Plant Manager Sisseln (CH), Christian Ebner

• How to reduce shift to shift contamination.
• Set up virtual handovers.
• Enable remote teams to work efficiently.
• Extraordinary actions and contingency plans.

• Roche Pharma Manufacturing Engineer, Mathias Gerchel

At Bayer CropScience in Muttenz Shiftconnector^® of eschbach supports an efficient and safe operation and serves equally as a means of information and communication.

• Two production plants with multi-purpose plants
• Production of a variety of products by means of flexible tags
• Three-shift operation seven days a week
• Manufacturing of a product partly across several buildings and multiple plants
• Mutual exchange of information important
• Electronic shift book supports communication between the individual shifts
  

The CropScience Division of Bayer created a global standard to share data with their manufacturing teams, using PI Asset Framework and Event Frames. See how Shiftconnector became a driver for standardization while empowering plant workers and OpEx-Engineers to shorten batch cycle times and boost asset performance.

Robert Kraus works at Bayer Crop Science for Product Supply. In his current role he is in the lead to outline and implement the data & analytics strategy for the crop protection manufacturing facilities.

In the process industry, the optimal use of the assets can have decisive influence on operating results. Process engineers and plant managers often find themselves in a sandwich position. Corporate management requires accurate figures on losses or unused production capacity. At the same time, the continuous improvement of the process with shop floor teams must be driven forward.

Requirements

Due to numerous production sites throughout the whole of Germany, there are different control centers which were consolidated. This however led to shortcomings in shift changeovers and while communicating maintenance tasks. 

Special Features

• Location-independent access to data, also while being on the move 
  
• Maintenance orders visible for all responsible members of staff
  
• Changed operations visible in an audit-proof documentation 
  

 implemented features:

Analyses, solution concept, configuration and implementation, training as well as user support and software updates.

• analysis
• solution
• implementation
• continuous user support
• software updates
  

• analysis
• solution
• implementation
• continuous user support
• software updates
  

Stadtwerke Baden-Baden is a municipal utility company with the task to supply electricity, natural gas, water and heating to fixed-rate customers, to trade clients and to the industry. An additional area of responsibility is to run the public swimming pools and to offer services in telecommunication.

eschbach has rendered the following services:

• analysis
• solution concept
• commissioning
• software updates and user support
  

Müller-Technik GmbH is a medium-sized plastic injection molding company with its own tool making department producing for the automotive industry. At its location Steinfeld, the production focus is on insert technology, multicomponent molding, internal gas pressure process as well as tandem technique and from May 2015 onwards cleanroom production (ISO class 8). 

eschbach delivered:

• analysis
• solution concept
• configuration and implementation
• training and continuous user support
• software updates
  

• analysis
• solution
• implementation
• continuous user support and software updates