Beko-IT
IT solutions
as a reason for pride
as a reason for pride
Automation, digitalization, electronic document management to improve the quality of the company's work.
In 2006, Beko factory started operating in the city of Kirzhach, Vladimir region.
One of the main structural subdivisions of the factory is the IT Department.
To speak about the past, present and future of the department that ensures the vital activity of the enterprise, we have chosen Alexey Okel, the head of the IT technical group and Alexander Sukhin, the software developer.
There are 11 employees in the IT Department. Some deal with hardware, others develop software. The team, as Alexey Okel says, is friendly. Therefore, it solves the tasks assigned to the department successfully.
One of the main structural subdivisions of the factory is the IT Department.
To speak about the past, present and future of the department that ensures the vital activity of the enterprise, we have chosen Alexey Okel, the head of the IT technical group and Alexander Sukhin, the software developer.
There are 11 employees in the IT Department. Some deal with hardware, others develop software. The team, as Alexey Okel says, is friendly. Therefore, it solves the tasks assigned to the department successfully.
Text:
Svetlana Fedorenko
photo:
Yevgeny Likhatsky
Svetlana Fedorenko
photo:
Yevgeny Likhatsky
Employees of the Information Technology Department (from left to right): Vladimir Moisiyenko, Alexey Okel, Vadim Yeremin, Nurlan Abdizhalilov, Alexander Sukhin
– All the tasks of the IT Department can be divided into three main parts, – says Alexey Nikolaevich. – Firstly, work with IT equipment (computers, scanners, phones – something that works on line or in offices).
Secondly, development and introduction of software solutions necessary for the operation of the factory and allowing the employees of Beko to perform the tasks assigned to them.
Thirdly, ensuring the business processes of the enterprise – interaction between departments and with external structures: electronic document management, confirmation processes within the company, electronic signatures and much more.
And, of course, there are many other tasks that are difficult to combine into a single solution.
Without false modesty, I will say that from the point of view of computer support, we fully control the work of the enterprise because in the modern world, a computer is the main working tool for many (if not all) positions, except, perhaps, for those people who work on the assembly line.
Secondly, development and introduction of software solutions necessary for the operation of the factory and allowing the employees of Beko to perform the tasks assigned to them.
Thirdly, ensuring the business processes of the enterprise – interaction between departments and with external structures: electronic document management, confirmation processes within the company, electronic signatures and much more.
And, of course, there are many other tasks that are difficult to combine into a single solution.
Without false modesty, I will say that from the point of view of computer support, we fully control the work of the enterprise because in the modern world, a computer is the main working tool for many (if not all) positions, except, perhaps, for those people who work on the assembly line.
Advanced technologies in action
The most modern technologies are used at Beko, which can be surely called advanced in terms of IT support for production processes. And this is a consequence of the fact that the Russian factory is part of a large holding company Arcelik consisting of a large number of individual factories, companies, sales offices in different countries of the world.
– To ensure the simultaneous operation of all the enterprises of the group, we need to use advanced IT technologies, – says Alexey Okel. - One of our leading systems is SAP.
It allows you to control almost all the working processes taking place inside the enterprise, starting with the development of design solutions and ending with the shipment of the finished products to stores. There are systems specific only to Russia, for example, 1C. All accounting requests, communication with the tax authorities, the employment fund and other entities go through it. I must admit that the need to combine, on the one hand, the compliance with corporate international requirements and, on the other hand, the compliance with local legislation of our country poses certain specific tasks for us but we are solving them. For warehouse subdivisions, we use Mambar or Axion systems, which allow us to track the stocks of spare parts, materials and other things including synchronization of this data with SAP.
At Beko, integration between production and software is highly developed, and even production machines have intelligent modules of the ProView system that monitor the number of parts produced, the level of defects, the implementation of the plan and automatically create reports on key parameters.
– To ensure the simultaneous operation of all the enterprises of the group, we need to use advanced IT technologies, – says Alexey Okel. - One of our leading systems is SAP.
It allows you to control almost all the working processes taking place inside the enterprise, starting with the development of design solutions and ending with the shipment of the finished products to stores. There are systems specific only to Russia, for example, 1C. All accounting requests, communication with the tax authorities, the employment fund and other entities go through it. I must admit that the need to combine, on the one hand, the compliance with corporate international requirements and, on the other hand, the compliance with local legislation of our country poses certain specific tasks for us but we are solving them. For warehouse subdivisions, we use Mambar or Axion systems, which allow us to track the stocks of spare parts, materials and other things including synchronization of this data with SAP.
At Beko, integration between production and software is highly developed, and even production machines have intelligent modules of the ProView system that monitor the number of parts produced, the level of defects, the implementation of the plan and automatically create reports on key parameters.
Head of the IT Technical Group Alexey Okel
Energy management and a video wall
Every year, new IT projects are implemented at Beko. They are aimed at improving the working conditions for employees and increasing production efficiency.
– Not so long ago, we implemented the project on energy management, - says Alexey Okel, the head of the IT technical group. – This allows us to control the consumption of all energy carriers of the factory: electricity, gas, compressed air, water.
It also allows to take into account resources and to predict their consumption, as well as to calculate the cost. By the way, based on this project we are taking measures to use resources more carefully. Recently, we have been actively implementing electronic document management. This allows us to move documents almost instantly, to keep record of sending and receiving. It completely eliminates the situation with the loss of original documents.
It also allows to take into account resources and to predict their consumption, as well as to calculate the cost. By the way, based on this project we are taking measures to use resources more carefully. Recently, we have been actively implementing electronic document management. This allows us to move documents almost instantly, to keep record of sending and receiving. It completely eliminates the situation with the loss of original documents.
The video wall project has become a major one and it affects almost all employees of the factory. This is a complex software and hardware package consisting of nine large monitors mounted near the main entrance in a single unit. The video wall in real time mode allows us to show important production indicators, to display the news and to post information about vacancies, new employees and appointments. Moreover, the integrated software allows managing this information package by the efforts of the Administrative Department only, without involvement of the employees from the IT Department. It is remarkable that the software developed by the Kirzhach IT Department is now used for similar purposes in Turkey.
Digitalization is a step to enhance the product quality
At the Russian Beko factory, everything related to production is clearly monitored.
For example, knowing the serial number of a product you can tell exactly when it has been produced, and you can get information about all the control points and the results of test operations. Now Arcelik in general and Beko in particular pay great attention to the digitalization of production. They strive to organize the work so that more and more operations are automatically controlled, which will reduce the number of errors, ensure quality control of the actions performed.
- Digitalization of production is a very important step towards improving the quality of the end product, – says software developer Alexander Sukhin. - Imagine an operator who performs the same operation every day for 8 hours especially if it involves performing precise actions. The routine, constantly repeating movements – and, as they say, the eye becomes blurred, a person involuntarily begins to make mistakes but does not notice it. And here the computer comes to the rescue.
IT technologies help not only to detect an error in time but also to correct it.
One of the main goals of digitalization is to minimize the human factor, to make sure that every action is checked by computers, scanners, cameras. We want to ensure that the customer reliably gets the best and high-quality product. Beko also implements IT projects that allow to increase the performance of employees, to solve specific problems and to increase labour productivity in general.
For example, knowing the serial number of a product you can tell exactly when it has been produced, and you can get information about all the control points and the results of test operations. Now Arcelik in general and Beko in particular pay great attention to the digitalization of production. They strive to organize the work so that more and more operations are automatically controlled, which will reduce the number of errors, ensure quality control of the actions performed.
- Digitalization of production is a very important step towards improving the quality of the end product, – says software developer Alexander Sukhin. - Imagine an operator who performs the same operation every day for 8 hours especially if it involves performing precise actions. The routine, constantly repeating movements – and, as they say, the eye becomes blurred, a person involuntarily begins to make mistakes but does not notice it. And here the computer comes to the rescue.
IT technologies help not only to detect an error in time but also to correct it.
One of the main goals of digitalization is to minimize the human factor, to make sure that every action is checked by computers, scanners, cameras. We want to ensure that the customer reliably gets the best and high-quality product. Beko also implements IT projects that allow to increase the performance of employees, to solve specific problems and to increase labour productivity in general.
“
We have provided an opportunity to work from home for almost two hundred employees
And we did it in the shortest possible time, clearly, in a cool manner, without interruptions.
This is a reason for pride
And we did it in the shortest possible time, clearly, in a cool manner, without interruptions.
This is a reason for pride
– A lot of attention is now paid to the automation of production, - continues Alexander. – There are many points on the assembly line where the computer tells the operator whether, for example, he puts the right component. A person does not need to memorize the compatibility of models and materials. He simply brings a component to the scanner and the computer tells him: "yes, this part fits" or "no, this one does not fit".
Moreover, until the operator scans the necessary component, the product (a refrigerator or a washing machine) will not move from its point. All this is a guarantee that the correct and necessary components will be installed in each specific model.
At some points robots are working. Their function is to increase the pace and to facilitate the work of people in the most routine and difficult operations. For example, when washing machines are assembled the tank module with counterweights weighs about 50 kg. It needs to be loaded into the body of the washing machine and fixed. A person will not be able to do this operation, so special robotized actuators work at this point helping the person. A lot of robots work on auxiliary production lines: press machines, moulding machines, door filling etc.
Moreover, until the operator scans the necessary component, the product (a refrigerator or a washing machine) will not move from its point. All this is a guarantee that the correct and necessary components will be installed in each specific model.
At some points robots are working. Their function is to increase the pace and to facilitate the work of people in the most routine and difficult operations. For example, when washing machines are assembled the tank module with counterweights weighs about 50 kg. It needs to be loaded into the body of the washing machine and fixed. A person will not be able to do this operation, so special robotized actuators work at this point helping the person. A lot of robots work on auxiliary production lines: press machines, moulding machines, door filling etc.
Software developer Alexander Sukhin
Organization of the distant work mode as a reason for pride
In the spring of 2020, due to the aggravation of the epidemiological situation, the quarantine was announced and more than two hundred employees of Beko were transferred to the distant working conditions.
The arrangement of the distant work mode was the task of the IT Department.
– Solutions to counteract the pandemic in our company are developed at the highest level, – says Alexey Okel, – at the headquarters they elaborate recommendations for factories including ours. One of these recommendations is the introduction of a cluster mode of operation when all employees who are not directly involved in production are divided into two groups that do not intersect with each other: while one group works at the factory, the other works at home. Of course, we had to provide technical capabilities to work remotely. For this we bought a large number of laptops, duplicated some computer programs for access from home. During this period, the load on the IT Department has increased significantly but we have passed this critical stage very well and coped with the tasks set. By the way, we are still trying as much as possible not to take our colleagues out of the distant work mode. If there is an opportunity to work from home so as not to put ourselves in danger, we provide this opportunity technically.
The arrangement of the distant work mode was the task of the IT Department.
– Solutions to counteract the pandemic in our company are developed at the highest level, – says Alexey Okel, – at the headquarters they elaborate recommendations for factories including ours. One of these recommendations is the introduction of a cluster mode of operation when all employees who are not directly involved in production are divided into two groups that do not intersect with each other: while one group works at the factory, the other works at home. Of course, we had to provide technical capabilities to work remotely. For this we bought a large number of laptops, duplicated some computer programs for access from home. During this period, the load on the IT Department has increased significantly but we have passed this critical stage very well and coped with the tasks set. By the way, we are still trying as much as possible not to take our colleagues out of the distant work mode. If there is an opportunity to work from home so as not to put ourselves in danger, we provide this opportunity technically.
“
From the point of view of computer support, we fully control the work of the enterprise because in the modern world, a computer is the main working tool for many
– I would like to compliment the guys from the technical group of the IT Department, – says Alexander Sukhin. – It's hard to imagine but they have provided an opportunity to work from home for almost two hundred employees. And we did it in the shortest possible time, clearly, in a cool manner, without interruptions. This is a reason for pride.
– And what other reasons are there for pride? – we have asked Alexey Okel.
– The main reason for pride is those people who work in our department, – Alexey Nikolaevich answered. – Our department is growing and we are very happy about this.
We are glad that people do not leave us because there is good atmosphere in the team.
By the way, most of our employees have more than 10 years of continuous work experience.
And the head of the IT technical group is proud of the fact that the employees of the department are constantly learning, developing professional skills, improving their qualifications and tracking the innovations.
– You should always study, - says Alexander Sukhin, - learn something new, otherwise you will not stay long in this profession. Every time there are new problems that cannot be solved by the old methods. Now Yelena Ukhacheva and I are undergoing RPA training "Robotic Process Automation" from our company. We have passed the specialized training on solving complex technological situations and competent decision-making. We have trainings on project activities on a regular basis. From the point of view of trainings, Beko is one of the leaders. They always strive to teach their employees something new.
– And what other reasons are there for pride? – we have asked Alexey Okel.
– The main reason for pride is those people who work in our department, – Alexey Nikolaevich answered. – Our department is growing and we are very happy about this.
We are glad that people do not leave us because there is good atmosphere in the team.
By the way, most of our employees have more than 10 years of continuous work experience.
And the head of the IT technical group is proud of the fact that the employees of the department are constantly learning, developing professional skills, improving their qualifications and tracking the innovations.
– You should always study, - says Alexander Sukhin, - learn something new, otherwise you will not stay long in this profession. Every time there are new problems that cannot be solved by the old methods. Now Yelena Ukhacheva and I are undergoing RPA training "Robotic Process Automation" from our company. We have passed the specialized training on solving complex technological situations and competent decision-making. We have trainings on project activities on a regular basis. From the point of view of trainings, Beko is one of the leaders. They always strive to teach their employees something new.
The main task of the IT Department is to ensure the continuity of production
– The Russian Beko factory has been operating for 15 years. How much have the tasks facing the IT Department changed during this time? – we asked Alexey Okel.
- Production needs to operate and to have no downtime and stoppages, and the pace needs to increase, – answered the head of the IT technical group. – This was our task then, and it remains now.
– The main goal of our department is to support and ensure continuous and high-quality production, - Alexander Sukhin echoes Alexey's words, - but the tools, devices and programs for this are constantly updated, we try to do our job better and choose the best tools for this.
- Production needs to operate and to have no downtime and stoppages, and the pace needs to increase, – answered the head of the IT technical group. – This was our task then, and it remains now.
– The main goal of our department is to support and ensure continuous and high-quality production, - Alexander Sukhin echoes Alexey's words, - but the tools, devices and programs for this are constantly updated, we try to do our job better and choose the best tools for this.
© Beko 2021