Manufacturers

are Heroes

We help you save time and improve efficiency and quality

Digitalize Understand Machines Let's Talk 

The information comes from your existing machines and systems

Clients

"... I especially appreciate Tark Tööstus' focus on understanding and finding opportunities to better utilize our company's resources for business growth, meaning their work doesn't include 'nice to have' developments but rather solutions that bring real value to the company." Marek Hirs, Rait AS Production Manager

Digitalization

World

Firstly people, then processes, and finally solutions

In the world of manufacturing, there are

- people, machines, processes

- products, orders, materials, actions, etc.

The goal of digitalization is

to automatically collect data in order to

improve accuracy, speed, and reduce costs

More specifically:

  1. Data collection - from machines, rooms, people
  2. Data visualization - in reports, graphs, and dashboards
  3. Data analysis - by experts and automatically
  4. Machine control and automation - e.g., reduce production speed if the outbound warehouse is full
  5. Machine Learning, AI, and simulations - it’s cheaper to plan on paper than to reconfigure production

Business Architecture

Holistic understanding, creating value

All activities should move the company towards value.

All systems should support business and fit with people and processes.

Information must flow top-to-bottom and left-to-right, reliably.

Our focus

1. Business architecture - how to support the business with modern solutions.
Compatible with Enterprise Estonia Digitalization grants.

2. Data and visibility - how to collect data from machines, people, and processes and transfer it to connected systems (e.g., ERP).
The lack of data and manual work are the biggest obstacles to digitalization.

Business architecture with Tark

All systems must support the business goals

  1. CRM=Customers
  2. ERP=Products and orders
  3. APS=Production planning
  4. MES=Production management
  5. SCADA=Machine control via sensor data
  6. FIN=Accounting and people

Potential solutions if...

Productivity Increase

Sensor data shows machine operation in real-time.

Faster Fault Detection

In case of defects, data from different machines and systems can be checked to quickly find the errors.

Predictive Maintenance

Automatic data collection allows predicting equipment failures, reducing the risk of downtime and maintenance costs.

Simplifying Audit Reports

Reports require a lot of manual work. With data available, reports can be generated automatically.

Additionally, some audits require data completeness and history, which cannot be ensured manually.

Planning is Simple

Orders, BOMs, material availability, delivery info, employee schedules, and production line speeds are all in one place.

Simplifying Communication Between Customer and Departments

A new order reaches the project, engineering, and procurement departments. After confirmation, the information goes to production.

Master Data is Defined in One Place

Each dataset should have one place for adding and modifying, e.g., customer data is in the CRM, and the material list is in the ERP.
Other systems must use this data, not re-enter it.

Inventory Simplification

If the BOM (recipe) of products is available, we know how much material has been consumed for each finished product.

Process Optimization

Six Sigma describes process variability - how much reality differs from the model and past production.
If there is a process model for production, sensor data, and operator notes, the production efficiency can be automatically assessed.

Predictive Maintenance Using Machine Learning

Use machine learning to predict maintenance needs and avoid unexpected equipment failures, reducing work interruptions.

Demand Forecasting and Raw Material Optimization

Machine learning allows precise forecasting of seasonal demand, optimizing production and inventory management.

Production Speed Control

If the outbound warehouse is full, production speed is automatically reduced to avoid overproduction.

System Adjustments According to Orders

System settings automatically change according to the order to ensure production efficiency.

Energy Monitoring

Equipment is automatically turned off when not in use, optimizing energy consumption according to production needs.

Automating Preparations

Example: production equipment warms up for 2 hours - if automatically started according to the production schedule, operator time is saved.

Quality Control Using Machine Vision

Machine vision systems monitor production lines, detecting product defects and ensuring consistent quality.

Ensuring Safety with Machine Vision

Monitoring employee movement near production lines to automatically stop equipment if safety risks are detected.

Factory Layout Simulation

Factory layout simulation allows virtually testing different machine layouts and workflows to find the most efficient configuration.

Simulating the Production of New Products

Simulate the production of new products to assess their impact on existing production lines and capacity.

Process Simulation

Simulate production processes to assess their efficiency and find opportunities for optimization.

Risks

If You Digitalize

Business and Processes:

  • Short-term productivity loss until employees get used to the new system

Employees May Be Resistant

  • because they want stability
  • because they could have reached these solutions themselves
  • because they've seen multiple "innovative solutions" that didn’t work

Technology Suitability

  • Process and system fit is low - it seems simple but may contain complexities
  • Installing updates is slow and may cause downtime
  • Solutions are expensive
  • Adding solutions is slow, and fixing deficiencies takes time
  • New solutions may create security holes

It's important to understand the environment (people, processes, systems)
and do thorough preparatory work

If You Don't Digitalize

If you don't adapt business and processes:

  • Competitors become more efficient
  • New tools don't fit the whole picture

If you don't train employees:

  • Employees are engaged in manual work:
    • not focusing on value-added tasks
    • are demotivated
    • mistakes occur
  • Efficiency growth is limited

If you don't upgrade equipment:

  • Equipment ages, and failures happen more often
  • Availability of spare parts decreases
  • System warranty and support expire
  • When new network-connected solutions are added to the factory, security risks arise in old systems

Business continuity is key

Digitalization Costs typically

Adding Solutions Takes Months

Mapping the current situation and creating a prioritized plan

  1. Mapping needs and skills
  2. Setting priorities
  3. Detailed analysis
  4. Procurement
  5. Building and installation
  6. User training
  7. Process implementation
  8. Reaping benefits from solutions

Good preliminary work and thorough planning help avoid unexpected costs and delays.

Transforming Business Takes Years

Mapping the current situation and creating a prioritized plan

Systems:

  • Optimizing existing solutions
  • Installing new solutions

People:

  • Training
  • Support
  • Hiring

The primary focus of digitalization is on people and processes. Tools support them.

Our Vision

  • Adding solutions is fast - hours not months
  • Metrics show process and business
  • Information is connected and reliable
  • We create value by optimizing the whole
  • We ensure reliability; then we automate and add AI

Smart KRATT and MES

PLC Motor
Kratt collects data
Mobile ERP

Includes:

  • Machine integrations: 125 EUR/month
    Subsequent ones 50 EUR cheaper
  • MES: 125 EUR/month
  • Setup: 0 EUR
  • Support: 2h/month
  • We respond within 24 hours
  • Devices provided by us
  • Installation by you
  • Sensors provided by us if needed

Prices are indicative but rather accurate.
First, we check machine and software licenses.

More info and a free demo



How to Simplify Digitalization?

Kratt

Top-down: Business Goals

Usually:

  1. We start with a factory tour to understand the environment.
  2. We set a common goal:
    • increasing efficiency
    • improving quality
    • productivity
    • accelerating the introduction of new products to the market
  3. We then map the processes:
    • workshops by department
    • connected systems
    • employees
    • connected systems
    • metrics and other important details.

The result:

  • Process and architecture diagrams
  • Textual description
  • A shared understanding
  • A roadmap showing how to reach the goals

To ensure success:

  • We involve key executives - those who know and lead
  • We explain the created value and train the employees
  • We use existing systems and solutions where possible
  • We move agilely, creating value with each step
  • We ensure that the proposed solutions match employee skills and address the gaps
  • We create solutions tailored to Your company’s individual goals

In general: factories have been operating for decades, people there are competent, and improvement projects are already ongoing.
However, there are still ways to be more efficient.

Kratt

Bottom-up: Creating Visibility

Our solution, Kratt, collects data:

  • directly from the machine (e.g., CNC machine, Siemens PLC, etc.)
  • from sensors, motors, or frequency converters
  • by measuring the current flowing through the wire (without cutting the wire)
  • from people

You can see the data in 15 minutes

Setup Process

  1. Video call to understand your environment
  2. Pre-work if integration is needed
  3. Pre-work if additional sensors are needed
  4. We install Kratt and connect to the devices
  5. 15 minutes later: you see the data
  6. A week later: video call to analyze the data with you
  7. Three weeks later: meeting to apply the information to processes
Let's Talk 

Impact of Digitalization

According to McKinsey report