WaterWipes selects Cimlogic to implement an integrated OEE & quality solution to enhance their digital strategy & future growth plan
Cimlogic have been selected to implement an integrated OEE (overall equipment effectiveness) and quality solution at WaterWipes for real-time data collection, performance management and quality compliance.
The solution powered by TrakSYS™, the leading real-time MES software platform (developed by Parsec Automation Corp) will be implemented on 6 packing lines at WaterWipes’ production facility in Drogheda, Republic of Ireland. WaterWipes is a manufacturer of the world’s purest baby wipes, sold in over 50 countries. Part of the WaterWipes UC business with headquarters in Drogheda and regional offices around the world, WaterWipes are a fast-growing, global business.
WaterWipes’ products are manufactured under clean-room conditions using a unique water purifying technology and undergo stringent quality checks to ensure the product is of the highest standard. Therefore, the quality element of this solution is particularly important to WaterWipes.
The main objective of the project is to replace their existing OEE solution with a more accurate data capture system and utilise automated information from PLCs for instant data analysis. It will remove the internal islands of processes in the business and provide WaterWipes with the ability to promote a continuous improvement culture, whilst using a single source of truth data to uncover performance losses and improve the plant’s OEE metrics. Automated information from existing PLCs will be extracted into the system via state-of-the-art artificial intelligence.
WaterWipes require better visibility of performance to pinpoint information such as loss time analysis, changeover analysis, and losses based on automated reason codes. Error code mapping will be used to define equipment failure and root cause analysis, as well as generating automatic, meaningful data regarding top losses for real-time actionable improvement.
Quality SPC (statistical process control) will be used to collect real-time data from production equipment and present this automatically to the production team, allowing the number of processes such as inspection frequencies to be reduced. The automated quality check function will monitor and report critical quality issues, alerting team members of process variance. This will ensure the business is controlling quality, meeting compliance, and sustaining quality improvements.
Cimlogic will provide WaterWipes with an integrated OEE and quality system to help address their challenges, whilst achieving their OEE target in line with the ambitious growth plans set by the business (the company has seen high double-digit growth and increased market share in the last few years).
Bernard Longmore, VP Engineering at WaterWipes said: “The main objective of the project is to improve production efficiency. The investment is intended to provide information about production line performance, constructed in a manner to directly indicate the potential solutions required to improve efficiency. The integrated OEE system will provide consistently accurate machine loss information, which saves time for operators (replacing manual entry) and allows engineers to quickly evaluate improvements due to data accuracy.
WaterWipes chose Cimlogic as they demonstrated their ability to deploy their product at a machine level thereby significantly reducing implementation costs compared to other potential vendors, who are seeking to sell and deploy a front-end only solution. Their capability to support at an actual integration level saves time and costs on OEM and other contracted support, as well as project execution time, which would be required to align multiple vendors.”
Oliver Stone, Head of Operational Excellence at Cimlogic also added: “Cimlogic are delighted to be working with WaterWipes in providing an integrated OEE and quality solution to further improve and digitise their modern production facility. They invest heavily in the latest technology and processes to ensure that their customers receive the best quality products, and Cimlogic is very pleased to support their goals and digital journey.
Cimlogic provide clients such as WaterWipes with the latest technology solutions and industry expertise to ensure maximum return on investment. We engage our clients with technology and help them solve problems by adding value at every stage of the project. We look forward to establishing a long-term trusted partnership with WaterWipes.”
Image: WaterWipes’ logo
Editors Notes
About Cimlogic
Cimlogic support blue-chip companies worldwide to maximise production capacity, improve quality and drive profit through innovative IIoT solutions. Cimlogic offer complete manufacturing improvement solutions and support to improve efficiency and maximise productivity, ensuring optimum performance and fast ROI. To learn more about Cimlogic and how we support our clients on their digital manufacturing journey please see ‘About Us‘.