Digitising production: Paperless manufacturing with SOMA work assistance

Digitalisation has brought about a profound change in industry and increased the need for paperless manufacturing, production and assembly. Companies are faced with the challenge of optimising their manufacturing processes and replacing inefficient paper-based workflows with digital solutions. In numerous manufacturing companies, the transition to paperless manufacturing is seen as a pioneering step towards a digitalised future.

However, effective digital production requires much more than just scanning and electronically capturing documents. It involves providing information and data in real time directly at the assembly workplace, as well as the option of electronic feedback and documentation. The SOMA flexAssistant worker assistance system enables an efficient manufacturing process through digital work instructions.

Paperless manufacturing offers many advantages, enabling faster production and assembly, improved quality control and increased flexibility of business processes. Digital and paperless manufacturing enables companies to respond more effectively to customer requirements and increase their competitiveness. By implementing paperless manufacturing methods, you increase efficiency through automated processes, benefit from reduced susceptibility to errors, better traceability of production data, lower operating costs and faster responsiveness to changing market requirements.

Digital production and manufacturing in companies

Holistic automation is crucial to the success of paperless manufacturing and production. Companies should not just digitise individual process steps, but digitally transform their entire manufacturing and assembly operations. By connecting their ERP system, document management system and other digital components, companies can ensure efficient and transparent production, manufacturing and semi-automatic or manual assembly across different departments.

• Greater contribution to sustainability
• Cost savings
• Greater flexibility
• Shorter throughput times
• Traceability of individual process steps
• Quality assurance
• Faster adaptation of production documents
• Product and process changes are always up to date
• Avoidance of delays
• Faster response

Advantages of paperless assembly for employees

Eliminating the need to search for order-related documents can lead to increased efficiency in order processing. By digitising production documents and work instructions, employees can quickly and easily access the information they need, saving time and resources. In addition, errors and delays can be minimised because the required documents are always up-to-date and easily accessible. Overall, paperless processes and digital instructions can increase the quality of work in the production process and contribute to improving employee motivation and satisfaction.

• No more searching for order-related documents such as drawings, work plans and production documents
• Option of digital display of order progress and any remaining work
• Labour cost savings and creation of employee capacity for other tasks
• Increased employee satisfaction and motivation due to lower error rate
• Faster familiarisation and training due to digital access to all necessary information at the assembly workstation

Conventional manufacturing methods based on paper-based processes often encounter a number of challenges and address a variety of issues in manufacturing and manual assembly. These include manual data entry, error-prone manufacturing processes and confusing checklists, longer lead times, limited transparency and traceability of production data, quality loss due to different document versions, and higher costs for paper document management and storage.

Paper-based manufacturing often results in long production times and inefficient workflows. Documents have to be distributed and processed manually, which can lead to delays and errors. By digitising documents and work instructions, companies can ensure that employees always have access to the latest information and avoid errors caused by outdated production documents. Paperless assembly enables faster information provision by replacing paper-based processes with digital ones.

How do you switch to paperless production and manufacturing?

The new development or transition to paperless processes in assembly and production is carried out step by step. First, the system is developed, in which the digital infrastructure is designed and the necessary software for worker assistance is developed.

The next step is to create an operating concept that defines processes and procedures. To test the system in a test environment, a prototype is then built. This is followed by training for employees to prepare them for working with the new digital tools and assembly processes.

During commissioning, the system is finally integrated into the ongoing operation. Project management supports the entire changeover process to ensure that schedules and processes are adhered to, and to monitor and document implementation.

flexAssistant worker assistance with SAP

SAP offers various software solutions that are specifically tailored to the requirements of the manufacturing industry. These include S/4HANA Manufacturing, Manufacturing Execution, Integrated Business Planning, Asset Intelligence Network, ERP and others.

The implementation of SAP solutions in paperless production requires careful planning and execution to ensure a smooth transition from traditional manufacturing processes to digital methods. The advantages of an SAP integration with flexAssistant are obvious:

• Direct evaluation of production orders from SAP in flexAssistant
• Always the current orders in focus

The implementation of paperless production in modern factories

The digital transformation in Industry 4.0 enables real-time monitoring of production processes, highly automated data collection and seamless integration of various systems in manufacturing. Companies that implement paperless manufacturing benefit from reduced paper consumption, improved quality control and faster decision-making based on real-time data. By providing digital work instructions and checklists, manufacturing documents are always up to date and do not delay the assembly process due to missing paper documents.

Digitising production processes: increased efficiency and productivity

The advantages of paperless production through the use of software solutions such as the flexAssistant worker suite lead to a competitive advantage, as companies can react more agilely and responsively to market demands. Through the intelligent linking of machines and processes, production becomes more profitable and flexible. The digital factory also offers the possibility of saving resources and reducing environmental impacts, which brings both ecological and economic advantages.

Paperless assembly and documentation, Pick-to-Light assembly workstations and smart manufacturing

The SOMA flexAssistant worker assistance system is an industry-independent solution for your manual or semi-automated assembly. Real-time process monitoring and data exchange with your ERP, pick-by-light or pick-to-light system at the workstation and digital work instructions make the worker assistance system a flexible all-rounder for your company. Find out how flexAssistant can help your company to successfully digitise paper-based processes, reducing your environmental impact, improving employee satisfaction and increasing the profitability of your production.

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