Today we are happy to introduce you our next digital twin champion – Focchi Spa from the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy. Their digital twin project is called IRIS and its goal has been to design, develop, and test a digital twin for the warehouse of Focchi Headquarters in Rimini. Focchi is specialist in architectural building envelopes. We have asked Alessandro Pracucci, the Head of Innovation in Focchi, about the progress of their digital twin and about its broader context within the company.
Alessandro, first of all, please introduce your company.
Alessandro Pracucci: Focchi Spa is an Italian family-owned company established in 1914. We are a global leader in high-tech architectural building envelopes. With branches in Italy, the UK, and the USA, and a workforce of over 350, we specialize in bespoke façade solutions that combine cutting-edge technology with timeless craftsmanship.
What is the purpose of the digital twin that you have created?
Alessandro Pracucci: We named our digital twin project IRIS. It is a virtual replica of our warehouse, designed to address inefficiencies and safety concerns in the complex manufacturing process based on design-to-engineer process. By integrating IoT and AI with existing ERP data, the digital twin empowers data-driven decision-making, optimizes warehouse management, and enhances worker safety though digitalization of means of transportation such as forklifts and bikes.
Has the digital twin fulfilled your expectations? Which improvements did it bring for your company?
Alessandro Pracucci: The digital twin is matching Focchi’s initial expectations, delivering an improvements in warehouse data-driven process support for efficiency and confirming relevant opportunities for safety. By digitalizing the operators activities and conventional equipment, the digital twin is streamlining operations, reducing communication errors, and improving resource allocation. Moreover, the digital twin’s ability to monitor and analyze worker movement patterns is targeting significantly safety, minimizing the risk of accidents and ensuring to work in line with with ISO 45001 standards.
What are Focchi’s plans for the near future with the digital twin?
Alessandro Pracucci: Once the results are validated, an analysis of scaleup solution will be conducted to extend the digital twin’s application to other warehouses across the company, maximizing its impact on overall operational efficiency and safety. Additionally, we are exploring the potential of replicating this successful solution in other companies’ warehouses, fostering industry-wide digital transformation and innovation.
What are the main takeaways from the project implementation for you?
Alessandro Pracucci: The digital twin is engaging Focchi personnel in different warehouses operations, showing them the opportunities of digitization and data potential for their daily activities. If among Focchi’s employees someone had some doubts, the easy to use solutions implemented withing IRIS and the promising initial interaction among the different users has not only streamlined our processes and improved safety, but it will also empower Focchi to make informed decisions based on real-time data. IRIS promises to be a game-changer for Focchi, and I am excited about its potential to transform the wider industry in the prefabrication building component in construction sector.
Thank you very much for the interview and good luck with your digital twin!
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