In this expert interview, we spoke to Lucie Felt, Project Manager at Sarplast Industrie, a SME specializing in plastic injection molding. Through her testimony, we explore the practices and challenges associated with Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMEA) in the specific context of the plastic injection industry.
In particular, we will learn about the use of Skill Software's solution, recognized for its effectiveness in risk management and production process optimization. This interview offers a detailed overview of the FMEA methodologies used by Sarplast Industrie, the benefits observed following implementation of Skill FMEA Pro, and practical recommendations for companies wishing to improve their risk management in the plastic injection sector.
Could you tell us about your job and the challenges you face in terms of FMEA?
I'm Project Manager at Sarplast Industrie, where I'm responsible for various projects involving the assembly of components on plastic parts. Our company specializes in plastic injection molding with a diverse range of products, from technical parts for pump casings to appearance and engine parts for the automotive industry, as well as office furniture. We also do overmolding for certain customer requirements.
With regard to FMEA (Failure Mode, Effect and Criticality Analysis), our customers often ask us to carry out process FMEAs to assess the risks associated with production processes. We use Skill FMEA Pro software for these analyses, enabling us to effectively identify and manage the risks associated with our activities.
In the plastic injection industry, process FMEAs are essential for identifying and managing the risks inherent in production processes. Plastic parts manufacturers face complex challenges due to the diversity of their products and the variability of their manufacturing processes. The use of specialized software, such as Skill FMEA Pro, offers a methodical approach to assessing these risks.
This type of software enables manufacturers to meticulously analyze each stage of the plastic injection process, integrating precise data on materials used, machine parameters and operating conditions, it facilitates a thorough risk analysis.
Manufacturers can thus optimize their production processes, reduce unplanned downtime and minimize manufacturing defects. What's more, by anticipating potential risks, they can implement preventive measures to improve the quality, safety and reliability of their products.
How is Skill Software's solution integrated at Sarplast?
Skill FMEA Pro has been integrated into our company for several years, long before my arrival. Its use has become a standard for carrying out process FMEAs. Personally, I was trained in the use of this software as soon as I joined Sarplast, and I haven't used any other solution to carry out FMEAs.
The software is used within the company, in particular by the quality department and the project department. In the latter, we are responsible for creating FMEAs, both for plastic injection processes and for other processes linked to the manufacture of our products, such as assembly, jointing, etc.
In an industrial company specializing in plastic injection molding, FMEA software needs to be adaptable to and used by different departments, including the quality and project departments. Indeed, the quality and project departments have distinct objectives and responsibilities when it comes to FMEA.
The quality department concentrates on modifying process FMEAs (PFMEAs), as part of an update in relation to manufacturing processes or a specific customer request. The project department, on the other hand, is responsible for upstream assessment of the risks associated with production processes, and integrates project-specific data such as part specifications, manufacturing processes and technical constraints. FMEA software enables risks to be anticipated and managed from the earliest stages of product development.
The ability of software to be used by different departments within a company ensures a consistent, integrated approach to risk management throughout the product life cycle. This ease of adaptation promotes informed, proactive decision-making, helping to improve the quality, safety and reliability of the products manufactured by the company.
Can you tell us about the benefits and results of using Skill FMEA Pro?
Skill FMEA Pro has demonstrated its ability to adapt to various industrial sectors. Although our company specializes in plastic injection molding, the software has proved just as effective for assembly applications using special machines. This versatility makes Skill FMEA Pro a valuable tool, capable of meeting the needs of various industries, without being limited by their specificity.
The functionalities offered by the software are extremely useful within the framework of our projects, in particular for carrying out process FMEAs. Some features are essential, such as statistics generation and raw data visualization, while others are more incidental but nonetheless interesting. For example, the ability to quickly assess the level of completeness of a FMEA can prove invaluable for more experienced users.
The training provided by the Skill Software's team is highly enriching and practical. Hands-on experience with real-life examples greatly facilitates learning, enabling users to ask specific questions and deepen their understanding. However, even after two training sessions, there are still aspects of the software to be explored. This is where technical support comes in, offering immediate assistance with tips and tricks that enrich the user experience and help us solve any problems encountered. Collaboration with the Skill Software's teams is very fluid and responsive. This relationship, based on the sharing of knowledge and experience, contributes to enhancing the efficiency of the software's use.
Among FMEA software publishers, Skill Software stands out for its ability to adapt to a multitude of industrial sectors, an indispensable quality for meeting the specific needs of each field. The versatility of Skill FMEA Pro software is a significant advantage, demonstrating its effectiveness not only in the plastic injection industry, but also in assembly contexts with specialized equipment. This adaptability provides users with a tailor-made tool, adjusted to the requirements of their respective industries.
In this context, Skill FMEA Pro's advanced functionalities offer a multitude of tools for carrying out FMEA analyses. In addition to essential functions such as statistics generation and raw data visualization, the software offers more sophisticated features, such as the ability to quickly assess the level of completeness of a FMEA. These features enable even the most experienced users to improve the efficiency and accuracy of their risk analyses.
To help you get to grips with the tool, the training provided by the Skill Software team plays a key role in the effective adoption of the software. Focusing on concrete examples, these courses give users the opportunity to apply their knowledge directly in a practical context, tailored to their own project issues.
Throughout and after the training period, collaboration with the Skill Software teams is characterized by a fluid and responsive relationship. This two-way relationship is essential for effective use of the software, and contributes to a positive customer relationship. The quality of this customer relationship, marked by the responsiveness and proactivity of the technical department, reinforces the added value of using the FMEA software and is much appreciated by users in various industrial contexts.
Indeed, the complexity and richness of the functionalities offered by FMEA software such as Skill FMEA Pro require high-quality technical support to enable users to take full advantage of the tool. The responsive support and expertise of Skill Software's teams help to optimize the user experience and effectively resolve any problems encountered, thus reinforcing customer confidence and satisfaction...
Which elements of the Skill FMEA Pro solution do you find most beneficial?
One of the elements I particularly appreciate in Skill FMEA Pro is the ability to efficiently manage data and customize analyses according to our specific needs. Thanks to the manager mode feature, it's possible to homogenize the database, correct spelling mistakes and instantly translate technical terms into different languages. This feature enables a complete scan of our database, guaranteeing consistency of language in all the FMEA analyses we carry out. And thanks to the automatic link between elements, this ensures a global update of the FMEA in the event of modification, thus avoiding errors and inconsistencies.
In addition, advanced features such as extracts enable us to generate detailed reports in Excel or PDF format, and present the results in a fluid and professional manner. This feature makes it much easier to communicate results with various stakeholders, both internally and externally, saving considerable time and providing a clear, comprehensible presentation of the data.
To guarantee the consistency and reliability of FMEA analyses, a high-performance FMEA software package must offer advanced functionalities for efficiently managing a voluminous database and automatically harmonizing changes made to it.
One of the fundamental pillars of Skill FMEA Pro lies in its ability to efficiently manage a complex database, an essential feature for companies operating in diversified industrial sectors such as plastic injection molding. This ability to manage large quantities of data guarantees exhaustive, in-depth analysis of processes, enabling potential risks to be identified and appropriate preventive measures adopted.
Manager mode functionality offers precise control over the database, enabling users to maintain linguistic and conceptual consistency across all FMEA analyses (functional analysis, FMEA, monitoring plan, etc.). This automatic harmonization of data is fundamental to ensuring the accuracy and reliability of results.
In addition, automatic linking between the various elements of the database is a major asset. It ensures that any changes made to one element are reflected consistently and instantaneously throughout the entire analysis, thus avoiding synchronization errors and potential inconsistencies.
In addition, Skill Software's software offers a range of customizable visual formats, providing additional flexibility in the presentation of results. This enables users to generate detailed reports according to their specific needs and the people involved. For example, detailed reports in Excel or PDF format make it easier to communicate results with internal and external stakeholders, while dynamic graphs and tables enhance data readability and comprehension...
In a few words, how would you describe Skill Software and their Skill FMEA Pro solution?
Skill FMEA Pro is a highly suitable tool for FMEAs in all sectors.
