Versalift: “We save the equivalent of 6½ workweeks a year — just on handling image documentation.”

Challenge
We had a lot of data stored in binders, Excel files, and email threads, but it was rarely used. At the same time, image documentation took up far too much time. Production workers took photos with a camera, stored them on SD cards, copied them, named and distributed the files, and then saved them again. Certificates were created by entering values from checklists into Word, then printing, signing, scanning, and saving them all over again. It made planning cumbersome — and we raised almost no formal supplier complaints.

Solution
The core of our IPW solution is digital checklists used on tablets in production. Our production is divided into stations, and each station has a series of checkpoints. Once a test is completed, IPW automatically sends emails to the relevant people with a link, so they can move on to their part of the process. At the same time, we have brought documentation, digital forms, and maintenance together in one place. We started by giving tablets to a few production workers who were already comfortable with digital tools. When we saw how well the system was being adopted, we rolled out more tablets.

Result
Now everything is in IPW. Production and quality work with the data captured in the checklists, while purchasing can pull statistics on supplier complaints to support negotiations. Customer complaints are turned into improvements in production, and the technical department plans based on facts. Status updates and change notifications are visible to everyone. For employees, that means they can see that what they register makes a difference. Personally, I really value IPW Network Groups and the IPW support site, because that is where I get truly useful answers and ideas. It is hard to find anything IPW cannot do.