Digital networking has found its way everywhere – from production (keyword “Industry 4.0”) to IT and administrative processes and customer applications. Throughout its history, EVVA has always relied on state-of-the-art technologies and has already automated numerous processes and implemented digitalisation projects.

Economic impact

It standardises and simplifies processes and analyses data to, for example, operate machines more reliably. The digitisation chain runs from the incoming order (via an order portal with defined product codes) through automated production processes to the dispatch of the product. Economic advantages include, for example, more efficient processes through automatic fault detection.
 

Social impact

"In principle, more jobs are created after every industrial revolution. It becomes more of a problem if automation and digitalisation are not implemented, because then competitiveness is at stake", says EVVA CEO Stefan Ehrlich-Adám.

EVVA owner Nicole Ehrlich-Adám adds: "Digitalisation relieves us from repetitive, tedious processes. But what makes humans so special, and what no machine and no algorithm can take from us, are our genius, our surprising and creative elements. That’s why I find the cooperation between people and machines very exciting and positive. Digitalisation reduces monotonous activities, and that is good. Work for people will be more qualified, more varied and also more self-directed."

Ecological impact

Our 4.0 machines and applications have the great advantage that they are

• are clean production-ready, i.e. do not require resources such as oil and water. In some cases, they can replace several conventional machines and thus save many tonnes of oil and water per year. Read more under Clean Production
   
• that pushes paperless working. EVVA has been able to save many tonnes of paper, largely thanks to digitalisation. Read more under Recycling materials
  
   

• However, digital installations require more power than conventional machines due to increased compressed air consumption. EVVA implements extensive energy-saving measures to compensate for this. More information under Energy & Emissions Overview

Selection of EVVA digitisation projects

• AI applications. EVVA was one of the first companies in the world to calculate cylinder locking systems using a computer back in 1977. EVVA also relies on technological edge when it comes to the use of artificial intelligence. An AI project begins with the question: Where do I have a problem and can AI help me with it? Then 1) the existing data is identified or provided, 2) this data is properly prepared for the problem, 3) the algorithm is taught how it should proceed to solve the problem, and 4) it is implemented in practice and the result data evaluated.
  
  EVVA uses AI in the following areas, for example:
  > Electronics production: trained AI that checks the assembly in real time. If the AI detects an error (e.g. an incorrect part), it is immediately rectified and does not go through the process unrecognised
  > In surface engineering to increase the quality of nickel plating
  > Planned use for locking system analysis, prediction of battery service life, etc.
   
• Data governance. EVVA is restructuring its data governance. Roles and responsibilities are more clearly defined, such as those for Data Officer (responsible for all data management within the company), Data Owner (responsible for data within a specific domain), and Data Stewards/Data Producers (who maintain metadata and ensure compliance with guidelines). This clear division prevents duplicate and inconsistent data entries. After all, digital processes can only succeed with a reliable data foundation.
   
• Digital learning platform for employees. Find out more at EVVA Academy
   
• Further digital team boards in production. Tasks, key performance indicators, occupational safety status and other information from the production area are no longer displayed in analogue form, but on a digital team board. This is centrally accessible to all production employees and can be viewed at any time, even without PC access. EVVA is currently expanding the range of applications for these digital boards, e.g. employees can submit improvement suggestions for production here at any time
   
• Ordering portal. The standardised EVVA digital ordering system for trade partners has been in use for several years. The advantage: A clear, unambiguous ordering process (through predefined product codes) that virtually eliminates input errors and increases EVVA’s order quality. Unstructured and incomplete orders are no longer a problem. EVVA uses its own programs to push the digitalisation of interfaces so that production orders can be planned, projected and ordered even faster and largely error-free
   
• Manufacturing. An EVVA project recognised by the Vienna Economic Agency is the “Assembly System of the Future”: depending on the order, the cylinder core filling machine at headquarters automatically selects the required locking pins from more than 160 different types and fills the cylinder core. The more complex the locking system, the more diverse the access hierarchies, the more it shows its benefits. Filling the core with the pins is a strenuous and time-consuming manual activity that a machine can perform. The assembly employees check the machine and production status on the monitor. They then combine the cylinder core with the cylinder housing on modern and ergonomically designed workstations.
  
  

  

  Another example is a key milling machine for the new mechanical systems, which can complete keys in just one operation - from the embossed blank, through the profile and pin holes, to the key tip and lettering. The machine requires highly qualified and well-trained specialist personnel
   
• Digital assembly lines in electronics production. All orders for our electronic cylinders are recorded digitally without order documents and programmed onto the workpiece holders. The assembly team can immediately access all order information such as the ordered functions and designs on the monitor
   
• Production app. EVVA uses this power app for electronic production control. It ranks orders by priority – interactively and in real time. Production employees can report work steps and any problems, e.g. missing parts, immediately and easily via the app
   
• Robotics. Collaborative robots (cobots) take over monotonous work steps in EVVA production or in our research & development department for product testing. Automated testing compresses 4 weeks of manual testing to 40 hours – while also reducing the potential for errors and shortening release times for new products and product functions.
   
• Additive manufacturing. In recent years EVVA has been able to build up a great deal of know-how with 3D printing processes. Nowadays, we use additive manufacturing in product development for sample parts, among other things - and also for machine components that previously had to be laboriously manufactured using CNC machines
   
• Shipping process. Employees can now request shipping receipts - which were previously forwarded manually - immediately and digitally from order management
   
• Switch from paper to digital documents. EVVA order management in Vienna, Krefeld and Hengelo now processes orders only digitally
   
• Highly secure encryption methods. The encryption of our EVVA electronic access systems, which can also be operated with a smartphone, is one of the most secure in the world (more on this under Data protection). KeyCredits allow the user to issue or change digital access authorisations within seconds
   
• You can read about EVVA’s current research collaborations and tests on digitalisation and Industry 4.0 under Cooperations and Partnerships