SRF reduces machine downtime from days to hours with AR-based solution TeamViewer Frontline
Industry: Manufacturing
Use case: Augmented Reality
The story in a nutshell
- India based SRF Limited is a multi-business chemicals corporation engaged in manufacturing of industrial and specialty intermediates.
- It has a workforce of more than 8,000 employees working across 11 manufacturing plants in India and one each in Thailand, South Africa and Hungary. The company exports to more than 90 countries.
- A remote support solution was required between the plants of SRF in technical textile division across 4 locations. Prior to that, technicians used to physically address issues in the event of downtime.
- With TeamViewer’s AR-based solution, SRF was able to save around 50% of time during this process, which resulted in greater customer and employee satisfaction.
Background
SRF Limited is a multi-business chemicals corporation engaged in manufacturing fluorochemicals, specialty chemicals, packaging films, technical textiles, coated and laminated fabrics. With TeamViewer’s AR Frontline solutions, the company has been able to reduce machine downtimes from sometimes days to a few hours, thereby, significantly improve productivity and ensure knowledge transfer, with huge savings in costs through remote assistance.
Challenge
Due to COVID-related travel restrictions, suppliers couldn’t install machines, prompting the need for a remote tool. SRF aimed to implement live issue detection for product quality on the machines and required remote training solutions for the shop floor, either from another plant or service provider, to address these challenges.
Solution
Using TeamViewer Frontline’s remote support solution Frontline Assist, SRF significantly expedites its maintenance and service procedures. Technicians from SRF’s Chennai Center of Excellence leverages ‘you see what I see’ technology to remotely connect with on-site staff via smart glasses, guiding them through troubleshooting processes.
This approach improved machine issue resolution by enhancing on-site staff’s field of vision through virtual instructions and markers, ultimately reducing machine downtime from days to hours. As a result, SRF has been able to further strengthen the resilience of its supply chain and excel in meeting its customers’ demands. Additionally, the AR technology facilitated on-the-job learning for SRF employees, enabling remote connections with senior colleagues in different locations.
Results
By implementing TeamViewer’s Frontline solution, SRF drastically accelerated its maintenance and service procedures. Technicians from SRF’s Chennai Center of Excellence remotely connected to on-site staff’s devices, efficiently guiding them through troubleshooting processes, leading to quick problem resolution. This approach translated to approximately 50% time savings in the process, ultimately boosting both customer and employee satisfaction levels.
“Through AR technology, we have been able to reduce machine downtimes from sometimes days to a few hours max. The newly implemented digital service and maintenance processes significantly improve our plants’ productivity and — at the same time — ensure knowledge transfer, ultimately resulting in higher customer and employee satisfaction.”
Vice President and CIO (Fluoro Chemicals and Technical Textile Business) at SRF Limited
The benefits speak for themselves
- Reduced downtime by up to 50%, increased productivity by 30%
- Quick resolution to issues through remote assistance from Chennai
- Travel cost savings of 20-30% through cutting travel expenses for technicians to address issues
- High employee and customer satisfaction due to streamlined workflows
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