Prysmian’s ‘fast track’
to manufacturing 4.0

Prysmian’s ‘fast track’ to manufacturing 4.0

This initiative allows Prysmian to leverage its best-in-class practices for digital manufacturing operations management, ready for the deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and big data analytics.

A transformational opportunity

Andrea Pirondini, Prysmian Group COO sees a natural evolution of the Group’s industrial footprint, while Stefano Brandinali, Prysmian Group Global CIO tells how plants will become more efficient, as well as more sustainable.

Efficiency for Prysmian is like oxygen for a person.

The challenge of Industry 4.0 may offer unprecedented opportunities to manufacturers; optimise production and processes while leveraging human expertise and increasing quality. Prysmian is entering this new era of manufacturing with an ambitious project named Fast Track, run in partnership with the French software provider Dassault Systèmes. This initiative allows Prysmian to leverage its best-in-class practices for digital manufacturing operations management, ready for the deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and big data analytics.

Prysmian’s Fast Track project is designed to support the full traceability of all manufacturing activities and materials, while managing events that could affect production processes and providing all the relevant real-time information needed to identify root causes of emerging issues and possible solutions.  “Efficiency for Prysmian is like oxygen for a person. If you don’t have enough of it, the game is over. But if you think life is about breathing, you’re really missing something. Our solid reputation is the result of a truly customer-centric approach”, says Pirondini, confirming that Industry 4.0 represents a crucial task for the Group.

He continues: “This is a transformational opportunity, allowing us to streamline the way we work and support a sustainable use of resources. It’s not just a matter of getting the best from state-of-the-art technology, but the chance to move forward fast enough to enhance our competitive edge”.  A Fast Track pilot project, started in Prysmian’s Calais plant (a beacon of organisation and efficiency in the Group), will provide the benchmark model for progressively deploying Factory 4.0 solutions – including increased automation and digitalisation – across all facilities worldwide.

We are changing our approach to problems and critical issues, preventing them from occurring

“The Fast Track project – and all other similar initiatives – could be used to schedule machine maintenance, making our plants safer and more efficient, and showing any deviation at an early stage”, commented Brandinali. “We are changing our approach to problems and critical issues, preventing them from occurring rather than just reacting to them. Technology will be key in this, particularly the use of the IoT among others”.