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Global Lab App connects test laboratories around the world
The thyssenkrupp chassis and shock absorber specialist is taking the next step in the digitalization of its global measurement technology.
thyssenkrupp BILSTEIN develops and builds shock absorbers for everyday use on the road and for performance use on the racetrack. To ensure the quality of the shock absorbers, the company regularly tests in its measurement laboratories whether each component has been manufactured exactly to specification. In the past, the individual sites used a mix of self-built tools and commercial programs that were not networked with each other. This often led to a lack of transparency and a uniform database. Today, there is a central digital platform that creates a uniform standard: the Global Lab App, based on the strategic vision of a global, digital platform for all thyssenkrupp BILSTEIN measurement laboratories.
The Global Lab App accompanies thyssenkrupp laboratory employees throughout their entire working day. It enables a wide variety of tests to be carried out and documented, such as series production parts for quality assurance, new parts from suppliers before they are used, prototypes from the development department, and special customized shock absorbers for racing cars for the aftermarket.
All tests are clearly stored in the app so that it is possible to see at any time who tested what, when, and where, and what results were achieved.
Inhouse solutions made by thyssenkrupp BILSTEIN
Because no software available on the market fully met the requirements, the Global Lab App is tailored precisely to the needs of thyssenkrupp's shock absorber specialists. Instead of various isolated solutions, there is now a central, central, and intuitive platform.
A major advantage is that all collected data is made available for analysis with business intelligence tools, enabling data-driven decisions. Another decisive advantage in terms of digitalization is the technological basis of the Lab App, which will enable artificial intelligence to be integrated into the testing processes in the future. Furthermore, the app has been very well received by the teams who work with it on a daily basis, as they were actively involved in the development process from the outset.
App connects all measurement laboratories worldwide
The development process took around 1.5 years from the initial idea to the official go-live, with technical development taking around eight months. Just six weeks after rollout, the Lab App had already successfully completed almost 4,000 tests.
The app is currently being rolled out step by step in all BILSTEIN measurement laboratories worldwide, including locations in Romania, Germany, the US, Mexico, and China. Once the transition is complete, approximately 65 laboratory employees and other colleagues from production and specialist departments will use the Lab App on a daily basis. The strength of the app is already evident: in the first three weeks after the official go-live, over 1,200 tests were successfully processed via the Lab App. A cross-functional masterpiece!
Measurement laboratories cover the entire value chain and ensure high quality standards.
Measurement laboratories cover the entire value chain and ensure high quality standards.
The measurement laboratories are a central component of the quality department at thyssenkrupp BILSTEIN. They ensure that the shock absorbers consistently deliver the high quality for which the company is known. The laboratories cover a wide range of tasks: Shop floor employees send random samples of the first and last parts produced to the laboratory to ensure dimensional accuracy. In addition, potential suppliers send their sample parts for testing before they are allowed to produce for thyssenkrupp BILSTEIN. Developers have newly designed or produced components measured to confirm that new machines are dimensionally accurate. In the event of unexpected failure or damage to a shock absorber, the cause is also investigated in the laboratory. To ensure the quality of their own testing work at all times, the laboratories regularly check that the measuring equipment and devices they use are performing correctly.
Incorrect or inefficient measurements can pose significant risks for the chassis experts at thyssenkrupp BILSTEIN. Defective components may remain undetected, which can lead to complaints, recalls, or damage to the company's image. Inefficient measurement processes increase effort, time, and costs due to unnecessary duplication of work, downtime, or re-testing.
Digital marketplace for testing technology and measurement services
Numerous smart features and innovations simplify processes for inspectors in the measurement laboratories and ensure greater transparency and efficiency. Production employees can send series production parts directly to the laboratory for inspection by scanning a QR code. A large dashboard shows which orders are in progress, open, or completed – all in real time. The app is also a digital marketplace: equipment, capacities, and the commissioning of global laboratories are organized transparently and standardized via the app. Employees from other departments can request tests directly via the app and track the status of their orders. Numerous language settings in the app enable worldwide use. The Global Lab App is therefore the all-in-one tool for thyssenkrupp BILSTEIN's measurement laboratories.
The developer of the Lab App however is not an experienced software engineer, but Maximilian Nocon, 24, working student in the Business Excellence team at thyssenkrupp BILSTEIN and even a technical commissioner in motorsport at the Nürburgring, where he assists with technical inspections and the digitization of vehicle approvals. The budding industrial engineer's passion for cars was evident even before he joined thyssenkrupp BILSTEIN, where he was involved in various projects, including the Formula Student team at TU Dortmund University. The latter was also his first point of contact with thyssenkrupp BILSTEIN, as the company's automotive division has been supporting the Formula Student initiative for many years.
