Managing the complexity

Today’s competitive supply landscape, customers' changing consumption habits and seasonal peaks have led many global players to rely on automation to deliver quality goods to customers all year round. As many companies leap toward customized automation, the future of the supply chain is in the hands of innovative intralogistics solutions that maintain quality while protecting productivity and efficiency. 

Global companies – including L’Oréal in the USA and Fazer Group in Finland – have found in automation integrator, Cimcorp, a reliable partner to future-proof their intralogistics. With access to the deep pool of technology and solution offerings in the Muratec Group, Cimcorp matches intelligence platforms and automated distribution systems to optimize material flow within distribution centres. 

The turnkey solution integrator sees detailed project management as a crucial success factor in delivering timely and accurate automation projects. Robotic automation requires thorough planning to reduce uncertainty and achieve project targets – to be on time, within budget and avoid compromising safety or quality. 

Managing robots 

"Investing in intralogistics automation is not cheap," says Kai Tuomisaari, Vice President, Sales at Cimcorp, "so establishing the correct workflow saves resources for Cimcorp customers and ensures the business vision is front of mind in every part of the project. This meticulous approach ensures that human and machine communication is smooth and efficient throughout the project and after installation, so there are no off days and loyal customers are not left without their favourite products." 

Cimcorp views its project managers as the glue that connects the business vision with day-to-day implementations. Without certified and capable project managers, robots cannot start to do their job upon commissioning. The company believes its project managers have two essential ingredients to deliver successful projects and foster long-lasting partnerships with clients:   

Planning for success   

Complex projects require detailed planning, monitoring and management. "Every automation project requires a unique structure to provide accurate management support for the client," explains Kai Tuomisaari. "Our objective is to assign the right teams to the task and set realistic and reliable project milestones to ensure timely delivery. Using a transparent project management structure, our project managers work directly with customer contacts and suppliers, each in their fields, to take care of contracts, financials, schedules and responsibilities between all parties."

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In Fazer Bakery’s case, a larger Cimcorp team was always on hand to ensure that every touchpoint in the project process was covered. The larger the project, the more people involved and the more critical it is to clarify responsibilities. Commenting on the collaboration process with Cimcorp, Mika Suvanto, Factory Director at Fazer Bakery, says: "We got an hour-by-hour installation schedule beforehand, which was adhered to throughout the process. The project management was excellent and unprecedented."

Another element of successful planning is future-proofing, especially in the supply chain sector. "Future-proofing is crucial to promoting business growth and profitability," says Tuomisaari. "Cimcorp project managers customize processes to mitigate risks and ensure fast adaptation to changing demands."  

Planning for change  

Change management is the final element for continued success in robotic and automated projects, to hone the project management process. "Cimcorp is committed to the four pillars of project management: trust, respect, accountability, and change management," says Kai Tuomisaari. "Of course, trust and respect are earned by demonstrating know-how and experience. Accountability is key to maintaining trust and respect and is the foundation for long-lasting relationships with customers."

Jonathon Hart, Director of Physical Flows at L’Oréal USA, commends Cimcorp's change management, saying: "The global situation threw us a huge, unpredictable challenge. Cimcorp’s response has always been professional and always with a sense of urgency through start-up, collaboration, and the day-to-day operation."

For more insights on seamless intralogistics project management, download Cimcorp’s Ultimate Guide to Project Management eBook.