Tontec & Industry 4.0

To cope with the requirements of the fast-changing market, customers will be demanding products with more customization, but with shorter delivery time and lower prices, at the same quality level, if not higher. This will present challenges to all manufacturers including Tontec to employ a high degree of automation and extensive networking of the order processing system, machines, equipment and logistics.

In view of this, we are transforming our manufacturing system by integrating information technology into our manufacturing operations and applying smarter machines and devices. For instance, some of our plants have already connected their plastic injection molding machines with the respective Manufacturing Execution System (MES) to allow effective data exchange between the machines and the host computer, which in turn exchanges data with the SAP S4/HANA ERP system to facilitate production planning and manufacturing cost reporting.

This marks only the start of our journey towards Industry 4.0. We will make continuous efforts to optimize our factories, as we envision a highly digitalized system in the future. Eventually, our production data will no longer be managed centrally; instead, it will be displayed and evaluated on a mobile, decentralized basis, using smart devices such as tablets and mobile phones. Our staff will monitor the manufacturing process and intervene only when it is necessary.