Needs

Implementation

The collaboration with MecMatica started in 2011. They found a partner willing to translate their paper-based operation into software: many opportunities have developed.

The first step was the transfer of the programs from CN to management, thanks to the Colwin module; subsequently, the path related to quality was addressed, in order to obtain the relevant certifications. Production analysis and alert development have completed the digitisation process.

Results

Interview with Simone Piccinotti | CEO

How was MINUTER founded and in what sector does it operate?

Minuter was born in 1995 and will therefore be 30 years old next year. It comes from my need to give up the work as an employee, which I did for a couple of years but no longer felt like mine. My ambitions and desires for professional satisfaction were certainly different. I found the opportunity to pursue this path with the collaboration of my father who, now aged 50, put himself on the line to help me and teach me the trade. In Minuter today we operate in the world of turning parts and our reference sectors are part of the world of industrial regulation and automation: specifically pneumatics, fluid, gas, electronics and production of solenoid valves.

What are the company values?

Minuter’s corporate values come from my life: I am very close to the world of sport, I am a sportsman, I played volleyball for several years and I practiced cycling. So I think the main values are passion, competence and achievement of the goals we set ourselves. We try to instill these principles in ourselves, passing them on daily to our employees.

What are the characteristics of your products?

Mainly our products are small in size. In the world of automatic turning and turned parts we are strong for small diameters: three-quarters of our products range from a diameter of 1 up to a diameter of 20 mm. Our products, in addition to having small diameters, have a high quality level: this has given us the opportunity to maintain stable work over time as on certain sizes we find little competition at our height. An objective for the future is to widen the range of diameters: we are working on developing the necessary skills.

When and for what needs did you turn to MecMatica?

MecMatica was first approached in 2011 when they were still a small reality, a bit like us. We found a partner willing to listen to our needs to translate our operations, until then managed in paper way, into digital. In addition, at that time with Diego Cavalleri, one of the founders of the company, a beautiful relationship was established: this allowed us to be followed in detail and have software that reflected our ideas and needs.

What solutions has MecMatica provided to your company and what benefits have they brought?

The first module that we implemented and developed with MecMatica was Colwin, which arose from the need to save programs and transfer them from our NC machines to our management system, in order to have a traceability, An organization and uniformity in the management of the various parts of the programme. At the time, in fact, programs were still managed with memory cards, with the laptop on board machine or even with sheets of paper... a bit 'prehistoric thing. This allowed us to take the first step in the process of digitization.

Once Colwin and its transfer of programs were operational, we continued with the Metronomo.Net module for quality management, which allowed us, among other things, to obtain also the various certifications related. We have also adopted the MecMatica system for control plans, management of tools and all the quota collection part because it has always been a priority topic for us. We then developed, with the help of Metronomo.Net, the part relating to process quality, in order to be able to provide certain times on delivery dates to our customers.

Another important aspect we introduced together with MecMatica was the analysis of production. They collected and listened to our different needs and we developed a daily analysis of the production, where the individual costs and operating margins are also extrapolated on each work order and on every single moment of the production phase. This allows us to go and analyze the history of various productions, identifying critical points in order to be able to work efficiently and achieve our goals. Thanks to the analysis of production we have made a big leap in quality and we think that this is one of the most important topics addressed in concert with MecMatica.

In addition, we have had problems with tool life management for years. With MecMatica, we were able to identify a system where, thanks to various touch screen monitors deployed for the company, our employees can make production declarations on board the machine and have at hand all the necessary information, From the various digital attachments to the data of planned contracts on resources. Through the module of management of the counters of Metronomo.Net we also always have a real photograph of our company to be able to monitor and, if necessary, improve also the management of the operators during the day. We are now able to optimize scrap and provide common operational guidelines, including tool maintenance, without having to wait for breakages, non-conformities or other situations that could delay production.

At the moment we are working to be able to cost every single order also from the point of view of the tool thanks to the support of MecMatica: our goal is to analyze the individual work order also based on the data of the tools consumed and used.

Another fundamental module, developed for us by MecMatica, concerns the management of alerts: we could no longer live without them. For us, they were fundamental because they allow us to always know if there are anomalies in production, facilitating interventions. This module of Metronomo.Net manages an internal automated messaging, to trigger certain events pre-set by us: the receipt of a new work order, a new quality control to be carried out, the replacement of a tool at the end of its life and much more. All this has really changed life in the company: we are able to be more efficient, timely and above all optimize waste and inefficiencies.

How have you been supported by the MecMatica team after the delivery and installation of Metronomo.Net? And how does the relationship continue today?

MecMatica has provided us with constant and professional support from the beginning: our experience in terms of service has always been positive. Surely these standards will be maintained in the future as it is a company with an experienced team, but also young and dynamic.

How can MecMatica support you for your future goals?

As anticipated, we are currently working with the MecMatica team to optimize monitoring and cost management, an element that today has become essential to be competitive in the current market, in constant evolution.

Another objective of Minuter is sustainability: we perceive the importance that has today the protection of the environment. We have tested some new MecMatica modules that detect energy consumption, both on the entire contract and on individual production: this has already allowed us to identify some energy inefficiencies related to the machines, also in terms of Transition 5.0. We have already installed the photovoltaic system, but avoiding energy waste because a machine does not work properly or is not suitable for a specific production is a fundamental thing for us, also because we are certified ISO 14000, regarding environmental management.

Why would you recommend MecMatica’s Metronomo.Net suite?

I would recommend the MecMatica applications because they have greatly improved our work. In addition, the team that follows us is a young and dynamic group: it supports us professionally in the change that takes place every day.  We are confident that our collaborative relationship will continue in the years to come.