Gopinath PS, BASE Automation Technologies Pvt. Ltd. PostedFriday, May 12, 2023 Q How has the company evolved since inception? What have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced along the way? A Base Automation Technologies started in 1995 and we began as a small control systems integrator and have evolved into a complete turnkey solution provider including mechanical, electrical & instrumentation services, as well as customized IT solutions. With the advent of Industry 4.0, we educated ourselves on the latest trends and helped customers from the discovery phase through the implementation of smart factory solutions. We have a couple of certified Industry 4.0 assessors which add a lot of value when we do Industry 4.0 Maturity assessment and creating a blueprint for their Industry 4.0 journey. One of our biggest challenges has been the adoption of automation across different levels. Initially, people were reluctant to adopt these technologies, but once they understood how automation could make their lives easier, implementation became more powerful, with requirements flowing through all levels, from operators to CXO-level personnel. Few other challenges we've faced along the way include keeping up with rapid technological advancements, adapting to evolving industry standards, and maintaining a competitive edge in a fast-paced market. Through continuous learning, research, and development, we've managed to overcome these challenges and deliver exceptional solutions to our clients. Q What are some factors that companies should consider when investing in industrial automation solutions? A When investing in industrial automation solutions, companies should consider factors such as understanding their specific needs, scalability, interoperability, return on investment, and vendor experience. Working with vendors/partners who understand technology, customer business functions, and contextualization is crucial. Ensuring a good fit for the organization, considering the needs of different personas, is also vital for successful implementation. Q What are the challenges companies typically face when implementing industrial automation solutions? How does Base Automation Technologies help overcome these challenges? A The challenges include integrating legacy systems, change management, and ensuring a scalable and good technology fit. Our approach is outcome-based, and we spend time in discovery at the shop floor to understand users' pain points. We leverage our industry experience and best practices to provide tailored solutions. We focusing on preserving clients' existing investments in legacy control systems by enabling them to communicate with IT systems without resorting to a rip-and-replace approach. Additionally, we focus on making sure our solutions address the needs of all levels of the organization, from operators to CXO level personnel. Q Can you share any success stories of clients who have implemented Base Automation Technologies' solutions and have seen significant improvements in their operations? A One of our success stories involves our tire manufacturing client in western India to transform their factory into a smart facility. We collaborated with a leading consulting company and implemented over 200 new requirements, leveraging Fourth Industrial Revolution use cases like advanced analytics and digitalization of operator touchpoints. Our solutions contributed to a 20% reduction in cycle times, 20% reduction in steam-specific consumption, 25% reduction in air-specific consumption, 46% reduction in total scrap, and 29% increase in on-time in full (OTIF) deliveries. Our assistance in data collection and digital monitoring systems helped them become the first tire brand in the world to win the Lighthouse certification from the WEF. Overall, these improvements led to approximately a 2.5 times increase in export and OEM sales in just two years. Q What are your goals for Base Automation Technologies in the next 5-10 years, and how do you plan to achieve them? A Our goals for the next 5-10 years include becoming a leading systems integrator in MES and Industry 4.0 solutions, also strengthening our core control automation solutions, and expanding into the USA and European markets by 2024. We plan to achieve this by: Continuously investing in research and development to stay at the forefront of emerging technologies and trends Strengthening strategic partnerships with key industry players to broaden our capabilities and reach Fostering a culture of innovation and excellence within our organization to encourage creative problem-solving and exceptional service delivery Developing targeted marketing and sales strategies to reach potential clients across various industries, showcasing the value and benefits of our solutions Offering comprehensive training and support services to ensure our clients can seamlessly adopt and optimize our solutions Prioritizing customer satisfaction by being responsive to feedback and continuously improving our offerings based on their needs
Q How has the company evolved since inception? What have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced along the way? A Base Automation Technologies started in 1995 and we began as a small control systems integrator and have evolved into a complete turnkey solution provider including mechanical, electrical & instrumentation services, as well as customized IT solutions. With the advent of Industry 4.0, we educated ourselves on the latest trends and helped customers from the discovery phase through the implementation of smart factory solutions. We have a couple of certified Industry 4.0 assessors which add a lot of value when we do Industry 4.0 Maturity assessment and creating a blueprint for their Industry 4.0 journey. One of our biggest challenges has been the adoption of automation across different levels. Initially, people were reluctant to adopt these technologies, but once they understood how automation could make their lives easier, implementation became more powerful, with requirements flowing through all levels, from operators to CXO-level personnel. Few other challenges we've faced along the way include keeping up with rapid technological advancements, adapting to evolving industry standards, and maintaining a competitive edge in a fast-paced market. Through continuous learning, research, and development, we've managed to overcome these challenges and deliver exceptional solutions to our clients.
Q What are some factors that companies should consider when investing in industrial automation solutions? A When investing in industrial automation solutions, companies should consider factors such as understanding their specific needs, scalability, interoperability, return on investment, and vendor experience. Working with vendors/partners who understand technology, customer business functions, and contextualization is crucial. Ensuring a good fit for the organization, considering the needs of different personas, is also vital for successful implementation.
Q What are the challenges companies typically face when implementing industrial automation solutions? How does Base Automation Technologies help overcome these challenges? A The challenges include integrating legacy systems, change management, and ensuring a scalable and good technology fit. Our approach is outcome-based, and we spend time in discovery at the shop floor to understand users' pain points. We leverage our industry experience and best practices to provide tailored solutions. We focusing on preserving clients' existing investments in legacy control systems by enabling them to communicate with IT systems without resorting to a rip-and-replace approach. Additionally, we focus on making sure our solutions address the needs of all levels of the organization, from operators to CXO level personnel.
Q Can you share any success stories of clients who have implemented Base Automation Technologies' solutions and have seen significant improvements in their operations? A One of our success stories involves our tire manufacturing client in western India to transform their factory into a smart facility. We collaborated with a leading consulting company and implemented over 200 new requirements, leveraging Fourth Industrial Revolution use cases like advanced analytics and digitalization of operator touchpoints. Our solutions contributed to a 20% reduction in cycle times, 20% reduction in steam-specific consumption, 25% reduction in air-specific consumption, 46% reduction in total scrap, and 29% increase in on-time in full (OTIF) deliveries. Our assistance in data collection and digital monitoring systems helped them become the first tire brand in the world to win the Lighthouse certification from the WEF. Overall, these improvements led to approximately a 2.5 times increase in export and OEM sales in just two years.
Q What are your goals for Base Automation Technologies in the next 5-10 years, and how do you plan to achieve them? A Our goals for the next 5-10 years include becoming a leading systems integrator in MES and Industry 4.0 solutions, also strengthening our core control automation solutions, and expanding into the USA and European markets by 2024. We plan to achieve this by: Continuously investing in research and development to stay at the forefront of emerging technologies and trends Strengthening strategic partnerships with key industry players to broaden our capabilities and reach Fostering a culture of innovation and excellence within our organization to encourage creative problem-solving and exceptional service delivery Developing targeted marketing and sales strategies to reach potential clients across various industries, showcasing the value and benefits of our solutions Offering comprehensive training and support services to ensure our clients can seamlessly adopt and optimize our solutions Prioritizing customer satisfaction by being responsive to feedback and continuously improving our offerings based on their needs