What news are there about FSP’s digitalization and other development activities? In this issue of For Surface Treatment, development manager Rauli Yrjänä again discusses topical issues in FSP and the surface treatment industry.
– We are pioneers in the digital development of the industry, Rauli Yrjänä says.
FSP’s development manager is pleased. Development of industrial internet is progressing as planned, and early this year the company implemented a mobile version of the internal feedback system TellUs. Paint shop personnel can use it to easily access information, report their observations and share development initiatives that can be beneficial for both routine operations and for developing practices and safety more broadly.
The mobile app has been well received, to no surprise.
– We have an atmosphere that encourages new ideas and activity. Our various projects and improvements also accelerate this activity: when the organization tries out new things and discusses them, this sparks further new ideas from employees, Yrjänä says.
Development of the feedback system includes a video tutorial for using the mobile application.
– I believe in videos and the potential of augmented reality, for example. In a video format, it is often easier to ensure that the message is understood: sometimes things are easier to explain through moving images than text, Yrjänä says.
However, communication will not be relying solely on mobile phones and apps. Electronic info screens are also planned for every FSP unit.
– Openness and flow of information are crucial for us both in terms of the well-being of our personnel and ensuring our quality. Digital info screens would help in sharing and receiving information, and their content flow could be partly automated.
VIRTUAL SAND BLASTING
Rauli Yrjänä’s goal is to develop FSP’s own operations but also to increase dialogue and development across the entire surface treatment industry.
As an example of this he mentions testing a painting platform of a paint manufacturer, a sort of painting simulator which enables virtual sandblasting and painting with VR glasses.
– We tried virtual painting in a conference room in our headquarters. After painting, we could read the numeric data and information on for example film thickness – how well the painting was executed, Yrjänä says. – These kinds of innovations can be useful for surface treatment students or professionals in the beginning of their careers.
Recently, the development manager has been contemplating the possibility of automatically measuring VOC emissions in surface treatment facilities.
– Our environmental permit obliges our units to calculate and report their VOC emissions. Currently, the calculations are made manually and periodically. If we could replace this process with an automated option, continuously producing data, it would make measuring and reporting easier and save working hours. I am confident that we will find a solution to this, too, Yrjänä says.
