Quality control on fire, with Eurobond production system

Eurobond process development engineer Craig Cheshire explains that the firm wanted more transparency in its production capability to identify efficiencies at each stage of manufacture. The new system was also expected to help drive up OEE (overall equipment effectiveness), support rigorous standards of quality control and cut time-consuming paperwork for engineers, he says. Blackburn-based InfoServe365 installed a bespoke touch screen, web-based management information system at Eurobond's plant in Cardiff to monitor production of the firm's steel-faced laminate fireproof panels. "InfoServe365 has helped us to develop and improve our production processes," comments Cheshire. "But the biggest benefit is in quality control, through improved traceability. InfoServe365 gives us immediate access to highly accurate information on every stage of the manufacturing process which helps us to guarantee the long term performance of our panels," he adds. He explains that InfoServe365's intuitive and flexible data collection system means that, at a touch of a button, Eurobond's production and management teams can easily access business information, such as the amount of steel coil used, whether the adhesive mix was right and if the temperatures during the manufacturing process were correct. The system also monitors a variety of daily, monthly or weekly downtime events, both by day and by shift, to provide powerful historical and real time production analysis reports that clearly pinpoint where system improvements can be made.