VMT Plastic Solutions improves efficiency, quality, and Lean work using RS Production®

"I recommend RS Production to all production companies. It's great to have all OEE data in one place available to all decision makers. The system helps make production more efficient even if production is in good condition initially. RS Production helps us improve equipment efficiency and is a linchpin to improved quality and customer satisfaction. The outcome for us is we can serve our customers with more cost-effective, high-quality products."

Marja Mäkinen, CEO at VMT Plastic Solutions

Since its foundation in the 1970s, VMT Plastics has grown for almost 50 years. The company produces plastic products and specializes in advanced blow and injection molding solutions for the automotive industry and equipment manufacturers. 

        Staying in the forefront has always been key to the company. CEO Marja Mäkinen says:

        “We are continuously investing in business development and aim to be amongst the first in our industry to promote improvements, such as working by Lean production. Our growth is founded on high quality, cost-effective products which we can produce and price predictable”.

                "RS Production helps us improve equipment efficiency and is a linchpin to improved quality and customer satisfaction. The outcome for us is we can serve our customers with more cost-effective, high-quality products." says Marja Mäkinen, CEO at VMT Plastic Solutions

                Problem

                There was no method for systematic data collection in production, and reliable information was scarce. Production information was fragmented and scattered. Data, such as production times, amounts, and other essentials, were recorded on paper and collected from different production areas. Additionally, everyone made entries their way.

                            The older production systems provided insufficient information, making it challenging to find bottlenecks and use manufacturing data for continuous improvement programs and Lean production. 

                                    Production monitoring was inadequate; problems took time to identify and resolve root causes took much work. The factory could only calculate production efficiency in the rearview.

                                                The older production systems provided insufficient information, making it challenging to find bottlenecks and use manufacturing data for continuous improvement programs and Lean production.

                                                Solution

                                                VMT Plastics Solutions got in touch with RS Production through Good Solutions partner Novotek Finland. After a quick introduction, the factory started using RS Production for OEE monitoring in all its blow molding production lines. 

                                                                The aim was to find a solution where all production data is available from one place with easy access to accurate, product-specific production data from the production machines.  

                                                                                    RS Production now enables production teams to compare performance, find losses and make fact-based improvements. In this way, RS Production supports Lean production providing the facts needed to minimize the Six Big Losses.

                                                                                                        More importantly, RS Production empowers decision-makers at all levels to contribute to VMT’s smart factory development. 

                                                                                                                            RS Production now enables production teams to compare performance, find losses and make fact-based improvements. In this way, RS Production supports Lean production providing the facts needed to minimize the Six Big Losses.

                                                                                                                            Results

                                                                                                                            Introduced in 2020, RS Production enabled fact-based decisions making throughout the factory. The results quickly showed as production efficiency stabilized at a significantly improved level.  

                                                                                                                                                    A key component in the quick results and achieving the future targets are made crystal clear by CEO Marja Mäkinen:

                                                                                                                                                    “RS Production provides a holistic and systematic overview giving clarity and visibility into our manufacturing to decision-makers at all levels. We get real-time control of machines, products, and basically whenever we manufacture a piece. We no longer need to calculate efficiency in the rearview. Instead, we know what we produce, with the right quality and therefore can offer our customers cost-effective, high-quality products.”

                                                                                                                                                                                VMT Plastic Solutions are implementing RS Production throughout their factories together with Novotek Finland.

                                                                                                                                                                                                            VMT Plastic Solutions are implementing RS Production throughout their factories together with Novotek Finland.