Digitizing data to boost industrial performance with Power BI!

From data integration to reports and dashboards, the LACROIX teams worked together to achieve a simple and efficient data processing system, whatever the source (PDF, Txt files, Excel spreadsheets).

Using Microsoft’s Power BI application, the teams created interactive reports and dashboards. They provide reliable insights into key performance indicators (KPIs) such as manual efficiency, overall equipment efficiency, scrap/reject levels, etc.

By adding filters to the reports, production teams can focus on specific indicators and track performance metrics in real-time. As an added bonus, mobile access to dashboards enables users to monitor performance from anywhere in the world.

Figure 1. Visualization of hourly performance 

By automatically refreshing the report, team leaders and operators have access to fresh and up-to-date information allowing management to anticipate failures and to minimize risks whilst being aware of potential issues to be able to correct them as soon as possible.

Thanks to the Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) operation dashboards, the overall productivity of industrial equipment has been improved.

Figure 2. Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) performance example

Automated and digitized monitoring of scrap rates, a guarantee of success! 

An example of how Power BI is applied in our polish plant located in Kwidzyn. 

Data is refreshed every morning and gets broken down by the Customer Focus Team: timeline data is also systematically generated on a monthly, weekly as well as on a daily basis. The Pareto principle* is applied by product family and then by product and individual workstation. 

The results of scrap analysis are presented to the operators. The customer-focus teams and the operators work together to implement corrective actions. 

Thanks to the implemented report analysis, our production results have been significantly improved over the last year (2022) with a scrap rate reduction of 40%. 

*The Pareto principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, is a common principle to help determine the highest priority tasks with the highest impact. Once those high-impact tasks are identified, you guarantee an increase in your productivity and therefore, your profits. 

Automating data entry and digitizing analysis reports minimizes manual data manipulation and reduces the risk of errors. LACROIX thus guarantees the accuracy and quality of performance data over the long term. By making accurate, reliable data available at anytimes, teams are empowered to identify areas of improvement and make data-driven decisions that steer their operations in the right direction.

Digitizing industrial performance monitoring revolutionizes the way LACROIX measures and analyzes its manufacturing processes. By harnessing the power of advanced analytics, employees can make proactive decisions, optimize processes and boost customer satisfaction.

LACROIX’s digital transformation thus serves as a catalyst for driving its industrial success through data-driven strategies and continuous improvement.

The digitization of data with Power BI has been a real catalyst for industrial performance at LACROIX Electronics. Through interactive data visualization, real-time monitoring of performance indicators and long-term analysis of KPIs, the company was able to optimize its operations and make informed decisions. This success testifies to the growing importance of technology in the industry of the future.

To continue exploring the innovations shaping this booming sector, dive into our next article: “How 5G is revolutionizing the industry of the future?”