Driving Digital Transformation in Manufacturing: Insights from Hekuma's Journey
Digital transformation extends across the entire product lifecycle. This post is about Hekuma achieving success with handling their spare parts business.
In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, manufacturing companies that design and produce complex products—such as those in the automotive, aerospace, heavy equipment, medical devices, and machinery sectors—face heightened pressures. The necessity to innovate, comply with regulatory standards, and maintain efficiency in the production, assembly, and servicing of products with hundreds or thousands of parts demands not only digital tools but a digital transformation.
One company leading the charge is Hekuma GmbH, a global provider of advanced automation systems for injection molding machines. Hekuma’s story exemplifies how digital transformation can empower manufacturers to streamline complex processes, enhance product communication, and deliver superior value to customers. By exploring Hekuma’s initiatives alongside digital transformation trends, decision-makers in manufacturing can gain actionable insights to modernize their operations and maintain a competitive edge.
The Role of Digital Transformation in Manufacturing
Digital transformation is not merely the adoption of digital tools to replace analog processes—it represents a fundamental shift in how a company operates, innovates, and delivers value to customers. For manufacturers of complex products, it means creating agile, responsive organizations that are resilient to market changes and capable of accelerating delivery while reducing costs and improving product quality.
Digital transformation encompasses the entire product lifecycle, from design and manufacturing to service and spare parts management. It brings capabilities like real-time product data, interactive digital twins, and automated workflows that enable a business to reimagine traditional processes and drive efficiency.
Understanding the Digital Twin and Model-Based Enterprise (MBE)
One of the most impactful digital transformation concepts is the creation of a 3D Digital Twin. A 3D Digital Twin is a virtual representation of a physical product that is enriched with all metadata (from the originating 3D CAD system/s) and can be accessed by any stakeholder. This enables engineers, service teams, and even end customers to visualize and interact with complex products in real time, improving communication and decision-making.
For example, Model-Based Enterprise (MBE) initiatives utilize the digital twin to manage business processes directly through a centralized, accurate 3D model. With MBE, companies can streamline workflows, reduce errors, and drive more informed decisions across departments, ensuring that everyone—from design to field service—has access to consistent and accurate data.
Hekuma’s Digital Transformation: 3D Integrated Spare Parts Catalogs
"The fact that we can generate our spare parts catalogs automatically directly from the Inventor data takes us to the next level in terms of the efficiency of catalog production and the quality produced”
- Helmut Schmid, Service Manager at Hekuma.
Hekuma provides a compelling case study on the power of digital transformation. The company has embraced digital transformation by adopting PARTS-PUBLISHER software from Quanos, which allows it to generate interactive, 3D-integrated spare parts catalogs. Here’s how this transition has revolutionized Hekuma’s service and support:
- Automated Catalog Production: By leveraging 3D CAD data directly from their design platform (Inventor), Hekuma can automatically generate spare parts catalogs that are accurate, comprehensive, and consistent. This automation eliminates the need for manually creating perspective illustrations—a time-consuming process—and instead enables 3D CAD data to be converted instantly for catalog use.
- Enhanced Customer Interaction: Hekuma’s catalogs integrate 3D illustrations, allowing service technicians and customers to explore complex assemblies interactively. For example, 3D models allow users to rotate, zoom, and even view internal components of Hekuma’s machines, making it easier to understand each part’s structure and assembly. This level of engagement not only enhances clarity but also boosts customer satisfaction, as users can visually identify parts and order replacements directly from the catalog.
- Data Compression and Accessibility: With the XVL technology integrated into PARTS-PUBLISHER, Hekuma achieves unparalleled data compression, reducing 3D model file sizes to less than 1% of their original size. This makes the 3D catalogs lightweight and easily accessible, enabling fast performance even on basic PCs without requiring specialized software. For instance, an 18 MB 3D model is compressed to just 317 KB without sacrificing data integrity, making it accessible to end users and internal stakeholders alike.
- Cross-Media Publishing: Hekuma can publish catalogs for multiple formats, including CD, web, and print, from a single source. This flexibility allows Hekuma to reach a broader audience and adapt to customer preferences. Moreover, interactive tools such as Lattice Technology’s XVL Player facilitate a highly engaging user experience with features like animation and detailed, adjustable views.
The Broader Impact: Why 3D Data Is Central to Digital Transformation
For companies involved in the design and manufacture of complex products, 3D product data is essential to digital transformation. It enables organizations to:
- Parallelize Workflows: Digital twins and interactive 3D data enable parallel workflows, meaning that different teams can work simultaneously on various aspects of the same product. For instance, engineers can make design adjustments while service teams plan maintenance procedures in real-time, reducing delays and shortening time-to-market.
- Optimize Resource Allocation: By providing a single, accurate source of truth, 3D models improve resource allocation and prevent costly errors. Design, engineering, and service teams can operate with confidence, knowing they are all referencing the same data set.
- Empower Service and Maintenance: Interactive 3D product information allows for proactive maintenance strategies, reducing downtime and service costs. Service technicians can visualize parts, procedures, and configurations more effectively, leading to better diagnostics and faster repairs.
Lattice Technology and the Path Forward for Digital Transformation
Lattice Technology’s XVL solutions, as used by Hekuma, provide a robust framework for digital transformation. With features like CAD-agnostic compatibility, extensive data storage, and easy-to-navigate 3D interfaces, XVL technology enables companies to:
- Build comprehensive digital twins that are easily shared and widely accessible.
- Centralize product data and ensure alignment across departments.
- Introduce innovative service models that enhance customer support and strengthen post-sale relationships.
Conclusion: Embracing Digital Transformation for a Competitive Edge
For decision-makers in manufacturing companies, digital transformation is no longer optional—it’s essential. As Hekuma’s experience illustrates, embracing 3D integration, automated catalog generation, and interactive product data can radically enhance efficiency, communication, and customer satisfaction. By investing in digital transformation, companies that design and manufacture complex products can stay ahead of market demands, optimize operations, and unlock new revenue streams in an increasingly digital world.