Digitizing the Shopfloor for Connected Manufacturing
Discover how Voortman digitized its shopfloor with 24Flow, eliminating paper and uniting all production data in one platform.
Voortman, a global leader in steel production machinery, partnered with 24Flow to digitize its shopfloor across parts and assembly operations.
The goal: eliminate paper, centralize information for operators, and capture consistent, real-time production data to build a truly connected production environment.
The result: faster onboarding, higher efficiency, and full traceability from parts to assembly.
About Voortman
Voortman Steel Machinery, founded in 1968, specializes in high-end CNC machines and software for steel processing industries like fabrication, plate processing, and offshore energy. Voortman solutions include beam, plate, and pipe processing machines, as well as automated welding systems. Voortman’s proprietary VACAM software ensures seamless, efficient machine operation. Known for innovation and customer service, Voortman is a global leader in optimizing steel production processes.
CHALLENGES
Before adopting 24Flow, Voortman faced several operational challenges:
Fragmented tools
A mix of paper-based workflows and scattered digital tools caused long onboarding.
IT overhead
Each separate app came with its own maintenance and infrastructure cost.
Complex info search
Configurable products with complex BOMs and subassemblies required deep drill-down capabilities.
Inconsistent quality
Best practices were not embedded, making quality dependent on individual operators.
Communication gaps
Parallel work, specification changes, and communication gaps sometimes led to rework or misaligned priorities.
Solutions
To address these challenges, Voortman implemented 24Flow’s Shopfloor Management Solution, purpose-built for complex high-mix, low-volume environments:
- Unified platform – Built on Salesforce, 24Flow connects seamlessly with sales, service, and support, ensuring full organizational alignment.
- End-to-end traceability – Rolled out across parts production, module assembly, and final assembly for centralized data and full visibility.
- ERP sync – Tight SAP integration keeps cost and order data synchronized automatically.
- Fast deployment – Plants went live sequentially, with the first going operational within just three months—ensuring quick time-to-value.
TEAM COCKPIT:
Operators gained a clear, contextual workspace.
Overview
See all tasks, due dates, and priorities per workstation.
Flow
Track WIP and component locations downstream.
Information
Drill down into specific product or component details instantly.
Tracking
Record time and quantities accurately.
Drawings
Zoom in and out on technical documents easily.
IMPACT
The roll-out of 24Flow transformed Voortman’s production operations:
- 20%Savings in Work Preparation – Achieved by eliminating manual printing and paper sorting, transitioning to a 100% paperless shopfloor that allows coordinators to focus on high-value tasks.
- 20% Faster Operator Onboarding – Significantly decreased the learning curve by replacing multiple legacy systems with a single intuitive interface, enabling new hires to be self-sufficient within their first day.
- Full Traceability – Achieved a complete digital audit trail from individual part fabrication to complex final assembly.
- Lower IT Costs – Reduced maintenance overhead by consolidating multiple standalone tools into one scalable platform.
- Continuous Improvement – Captured touch and wait times provided the accurate data needed to identify and solve bottlenecks in real time.
Let’s build your connected manufacturing story together.
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ABOUT US
24Flow is a modular manufacturing platform that empowers make-to-order manufacturers to reduce lead times and increase visibility & traceability. Inspired by lean and QRM, 24Flow controls the flow of production orders which increases visibility and results in shorter lead times, improved delivery reliability and a reduction of work-in-progress and inventory.
INFO
HEAD OFFICE
Dublinstraat 31/010
9000 Ghent, Belgium