Chocolatier Nói Síríus uses digital automation to increase production line efficiency

Abstract

BRUSSELS—Rockwell Automation, Inc., the world’s largest industrial automation and digital transformation company, is partnering with Icelandic chocolate maker Nói Síríus to help the company improve maintenance and increase production line efficiency.

Nói Síríus, a leading Icelandic chocolate producer and valued brand, was looking for ways to increase the reliability and efficiency of its production line, as well as streamline support workflows to reduce the burden on its maintenance team and increase productivity.

After considering a number of options, the company decided to standardize its maintenance operations management using Rockwell Automation’s Fiix CMMS (computer-based maintenance management system) software. With Fiix, Nói Síríus was able to gather information on the performance and maintenance status of all the major machines on its assembly line.

“This has been a very collaborative and successful project,” said Asa Arvidsson, regional vice president of sales, Northern Region, Rockwell Automation. “Together with Nói Síríus, our consultants helped design new and improved maintenance workflows using the Fiix platform. It is very rewarding to see the improvements that have been made in such a short time. We greatly appreciate the partnership with Nói Síríus and look forward to seeing the results of the predictive maintenance project.”

In just four months, the maintenance team went from working primarily on reactive maintenance to spending the majority of their time on preventative maintenance, designed to prevent downtime before it happened. The Nói Síríus maintenance team was able to minimize disruptions caused by the need to quickly fix unforeseen issues by using Fiix’s intelligent queue management capabilities. The new CMMS platform allowed the team to collaborate with operations staff to prioritize the work queue.

Now, more than six months after the initial implementation, Rockwell Automation and Nói Síríus are working together to network the entire manufacturing facility. Once complete, in collaboration with Rockwell Automation consultants, the chocolate maker will transition to a data-driven, predictive maintenance model that will help it further maximize uptime, reduce costs and increase productivity.

“Since implementing Fiix, our maintenance staff has become much happier,” says Guðmundur Ingi Einarsson, Technical Manager at Nói Siríus. “They are now focused on preventing downtime rather than reacting to it. We have the data we need to intelligently prioritize our work and find solutions faster. In addition, the predictive maintenance project promises further improvements in the future.”

About Noi Sirius

In 1920, in the heart of one of the most isolated countries on Earth, Iceland, a small confectionery company began in a basement in Reykjavík – Nói Síríus was born. Despite humble beginnings, a relentless focus on producing the best products with the best possible ingredients has made Nói Síríus the largest confectionery manufacturer in Iceland and the absolute leader in almost all confectionery categories, growing to over 30% market share.

About Rockwell Automation

Rockwell Automation, Inc. is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imagination of people with the power of technology to extend what is human, making the world more productive and sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 29,000 problem solvers who are dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries.

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