LACROIX

The teams at the Electronics activity of LACROIX work in a profoundly changing environment. Demands for flexibility and responsiveness against a backdrop of an exponentially increasing flow of information makes day-to-day management evermore complex.

Faced with these problems, the Smart Industry provides solutions based on the concept of the augmented operator. Promoting well-being at work as well as industrial performance are the essential prerequisites for making the electronics industry of the future a reality.

The concept of the augmented operator is driven by several objectives: to simplify the day-to-day work of our teams and boost their efficiency and autonomy while maintaining focus on missions that contribute high levels of added value, all in a more comfortable working environment.

In the end, it is about getting the right information to the right person at the right time, in a simple and intuitive fashion. These systems have been widely used in our personal environment for some years now.

Dominique Maisonneuve, Smart Industry Project Manager

Learn more about the technologies associated with the concept of the augmented operator

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Augmented reality and virtual reality

The learning process for complex assemblies can be very long. Augmented reality can assist operators, for example in the manual placement of components. Real-time validation of their actions enables operators to progress with greater confidence. These solutions reduce the risk of error and improve operator productivity thanks to an automatic control function.

In contrast to augmented reality, virtual reality immerses the staff member in a digital interface. In particular, it allows them to envision a future work environment in order to better optimize its layout. This further involves our teams in change management and encourages collaborative work. This system also contributes to the construction of the plant’s digital clone, which is useful in the product development phase to optimize production.

Digitalization of the workstation

Artificial intelligence makes automatically analyzed information available to staff in order to clear the path for decision-making. The tools also suggest actions according to the employee’s practices and habits.

In concrete terms, copying and pasting information and the everyday use of paper will no longer exist in the factory of the future. The digitalization of checklists and production reports is underway to relieve teams of some of their daily activity.

Thanks to applications that bring together as many requirements as possible, the production processes are simplified. We will take full advantage of this digitalized production data, which is suitable for archiving and analysis.

Cobotization

Collaborative robots are also a part of LACROIX’s Smart Industry, with the goal of making work less arduous. Performing repetitive tasks and/or carrying heavy objects are missions well-suited to a cobot. This assistance with their work provides a boost to the staff member’s comfort and performance.

Cobots are programmed via highly intuitive interfaces so that they can be used flexibly to assist with different tasks throughout the same day.

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The learning company

This technology gives our teams the freedom to meet their needs with the aid of technical solutions. Who knows better than the operator in charge of a mission what is necessary to optimize his workstation? With this in mind, the Electronics activity of LACROIX has for example made a 3D printer available to operators at its French factory so that they may make their own tools according to their needs. Gone are the days of needing to submit a request to technical services or to conduct project monitoring meetings. Now our staff is equipped to swiftly and inexpensively create the solutions they need themselves. An adaptable solution by definition.

Back to our Smart Industry strategy