Digital mold management system creates transparency in the concrete block plant

Figure: BFT International

The Koll production plant located in Bonn-Beuel is testing and developing the pilot version of the software

Figure: BFT International

With the aid of a mobile device the workers at the production plant are able to scan barcodes and RFID chips, thus confirming the so-called events, that the mold has been cleaned, for example

Figure: BFT International

Kobra, an industrial partner, is concerned with the development and practical tests of RFID chips. In the pilot phase, they are welded to an appropriate place outside of the mold (fig. on the left)

Figure: BFT International

As an alternative to RFID chips, barcode labels can be glued to existing older molds subsequently. Thus, the scanner can collect them as well and the data can be managed by the software (fig. on the right)

Figure: BFT International

Figure: OGS

Process of a scanning procedure

Figure: OGS

In category “planning/mold event” it can be read when a specific mold is/was where in the factory

Figure: OGS

Mold overview in the master data of the mold. The signal light indicates by means of the colors green, yellow and red how soon maintenance will be required

Figure: OGS

OGS develops, in collaboration with industry partners, a software for the management of concrete block molds. At any time, the users know the position of a mold, whether it has to be maintained and which mold is available in the plant as an alternative. The vision of future versions even goes far beyond this.

It is right in the middle of the season, the production is running at full capacity. Precisely then the machine operator reports that a concrete block mold is damaged and has to be replaced immediately. Fortunately, the company has a second mold for the production of the specific concrete block item. But, in which of the three branches is the mold and where there exactly? Nobody is able to give an answer offhand.

The scenario described, certainly, is the worst case – entailing the risk of production shutdown and financial losses. Nevertheless, the scenario is not made up out of thin air. In...