Increased capacity and efficiency

Around the summer it is always busy at SunCircle, explains head of production Jaap Koster. "That busyness is fortunately not a problem, because we have made great strides in automation."

According to Koster, a lot has changed in the 10 years he has been in charge of production. "The only thing that has remained the same is the products we make. For example, we went from four locations to one location in Barneveld. Here we have now been able to double production! Thanks to the fully automated warehouse and the automation on the shop floor, the production process is much more efficient. Delivery reliability has also increased enormously as a result. Regularly we are even ready a week earlier and can deliver the order earlier if the customer wants."

Working paperless prevents ambiguity

The higher turnover rate also has to do with efficient walking routes and digitalization. The entire plant now works paperless. Each workstation has a tablet with the Smartbox tool on it that displays order information. "This tool is very user-friendly so that the same working method is followed in every department, whether in the sawmill, assembly or cloth making. An order never reaches the next department if the previous steps have not been completed; this prevents ambiguity. Also, the correct labels are automatically printed per order."

Internally, automation is important, but also for SunCircle's customers. "In the office, we can see exactly which steps have been completed and can pass on the right information to the customer. The process is transparent in real-time, so we can solve problems immediately. During product packaging, the order is checked and ticked off using a checklist before it goes out the door. This has greatly reduced the error rate."

Streamlining and improving the various processes never stands still, according to Koster. "For example, we now assemble a large part of our screen fabrics ourselves, allowing us to move faster. In addition, we now pack in cardboard. This is more sustainable, but also saves a lot in damage reports." 

In the future, SunCircle plans to do even more in-house. "Not everything is possible, but a lot. For example, we also have our transportation in-house. The good relationship between our drivers and our customers is very important."