Reinder Hoekstra, COO of the Meijer Group, talks about how they innovate and improve their production processes.
Meijer Metal: Innovative supplier in the metal industry
The company Meijer Metal, located in St. Jacobiparochie Friesland, specializes in metalworking and tube machining. They mass-produce single products as well as composite frames and enclosures to customers such as OEMs particularly in the mechanical engineering and logistics sectors.
Where the company started in 1921 as a contracting company, it grew into the Meijer Group today, consisting of Meijer Metal and Meijer Handling Solutions. An efficient and innovative partnership with a focus on quality, delivery reliability and chain integration.
Reinder Hoekstra passionately leads, among other things, the production process at Meijer Metal and Meijer Handling Solutions. For 6.5 years he has been committed to improving and innovating production processes within the company, of which the last 4.5 years as COO. “What I like most is working at a manufacturing company and making beautiful products together with an enthusiastic group of craftsmen.
Meijer Metal strives for a skilled safe working environment. “With the introduction of KUMATECH’s automation solutions, we have taken a big step toward a sustainable and efficient future.”
Increasing efficiency in a dynamic supply chain
Meijer Metal had been working with welding robots for a long time. Inside these cells, everything was fully automated, but the manual loading and unloading processes around the welding robots took a lot of time and limited the optimal utilization of the machines.
“We were already working with welding robots, but lacked an efficient way to make the supply and removal of these robots autonomous. To complete the investment in welding robots, we wanted to include this part within the process” explains Reinder.
Therefore Meijer Metal started looking for parties who could automate the logistics process around the welding robots. Several concepts were worked out, in which flexibility was an important factor. “After all, as a supplier it is essential to be able to respond quickly to changing customer demands and the associated production adjustments.” After a thorough review, the choice of AGVs proved the best fit for their needs.
KUMATECH as AGV supplier and partner
Looking for a supplier who could automate the logistics around the welding robots with AGVs, Meijer Metal sought a reliable partner with innovative technologies.
“It was crucial for us to find a supplier that is very committed and shares our vision that if we want to keep the Dutch manufacturing industry in the Netherlands, that steps have to be made in automation to move towards industry 5.0. Both the suppliers and ourselves must be convinced of this and that commitment was essential here. And this is what we found at KUMATECH,” says Reinder.
In addition, the work culture of KUMATECH fitted seamlessly with that of Meijer Metal. They thought along with us but at the same time dared to be critical and clear when necessary. The fact that KUMATECH and Valk Welding (supplier of welding robots) had worked together successfully on projects before strengthened the trust. Moreover, it was a great advantage that KUMATECH as an AGV supplier is located in the Netherlands, with short lines of communication and direct support.
Meijer Metal started with 4 AGVs (Tractor Tom model) and 4 automated KUMATECH storage towers to supply and remove the welding robots fully autonomously. This has since been expanded to include 6 storage towers with as many as 7 production cells. At these cells the products are all supplied and removed autonomously, in addition to the welding cells these are now also milling cells and a bending robot(!).
Support on the work floor
By deploying the AGVs and storage towers, Meijer Metal has been able to increase the uptime of the production cells and is able to run 24/7. Involving employees was an important part of the process.
“If you’re going to do something like this and if you’re going to get into it, you also have to make sure that you include the people in it, and we did that from Day 1,” he said.
Within Meijer Metal, a project group was formed that included colleagues from the shop floor. Everyone was given space to share their opinions and voice any concerns. “That was absolutely important” Reinder continues ”People still wonder what is happening to their jobs. You have to take those questions seriously and answer them honestly. That has actually made people see technology not as a threat but as support.”
The repetitive and heavy work is now done by the machines, allowing employees to focus on more challenging tasks that give them more satisfaction. It contributes to a more efficient organization while helping to address the shortage of skilled workers. The shortage of skilled workers is also being felt at Meijer Metal.
Cooperation
KUMATECH’s working method has also played a role in its acceptance within the work process. “We do consider KUMATECH a little bit like a department within our company. So amicable and social that communication runs smoothly. Properly, efficiently and decisively, though. This is also the way we like to work with companies.”
Short lines of communication, a shared vision and transparency made it possible to switch quickly when challenges arose, resulting in an efficient and pleasant project progress.
“We have always had a very pleasant cooperation with KUMATECH in all these projects so far. I think in terms of value for money they make good products that are easy to implement and that is a big plus.”
With people and technology towards success
Creating support within the organization is now no longer a point of discussion at Meijer Metal, but a natural part of their approach. “Make sure that you involve people and don’t plump for an AGV somewhere in a hall, because that won’t work. If the technology is not embraced by the people on the shop floor, you miss its power,” Reinder advises in conclusion.
Together we continue to build an efficient and future-proof production environment, is the ambition of Meijer Metal. We at KUMATECH are proud to contribute to this and look forward to contributing to their success in the future.