Delfoi Planner takes Meconet’s production planning to the next level
Meconet Oy is a Finnish family-owned company that provides high-quality metal components and demanding assemblies to meet customer needs. Its product range covers a wide variety of metal products such as springs, deep-drawn parts, pressed components, and assembly products, manufactured at four production sites. The diverse subcontracted products require exceptional flexibility and precision in both production planning and manufacturing. When Meconet decided to improve the efficiency of its production, it chose Delfoi Planner as its production planning solution. Delfoi Planner has since been gradually implemented across all of Meconet’s factories.
Targets: improved productivity and delivery reliability
In 2021, Meconet had a clear need to modernize its production planning and deploy an advanced planning solution in all its factories. The goal was to shorten production lead times while improving productivity and delivery reliability. The diversity of production and the different requirements of each factory required a flexible planning tool that would integrate seamlessly with the company’s Visma L7 ERP system. Delfoi Planner emerged as the strongest option in the selection process, particularly thanks to its visual user interface.
“Delfoi Planner convinced us with its ease of use and visual design. Its Gantt chart provides a clear view of both long-term plans and the workload of individual operations, which supports daily planning as well as long-term strategic decision-making. Compared to competitors, Delfoi Planner offered by far the best tools for managing production”, says Sami Voutilainen, Delfoi Planner’s key user at Meconet.
A modern production planning system with multiple benefits
From the perspective of Meconet’s production planners, the greatest strengths of Delfoi Planner are its intuitive interface and visual features. The system’s ability to highlight bottlenecks and utilization rates helps Meconet optimize its processes and improve efficiency. The implementation of Delfoi Planner has brought significant tangible benefits across all of the company’s production units.
“In Pihtipudas, where Delfoi Planner was first implemented, delivery reliability has further improved thanks to more realistic plans and clear visibility into actual resource loads. In Vantaa, Delfoi Planner has enabled scheduling of orders up to five months in advance. In Tallinn, the accuracy of real-time planning for machine operators has improved considerably. And in Äänekoski, where our production processes are particularly complex, Delfoi Planner has helped us identify bottlenecks, which has enabled more efficient resource use and smoother production. In addition, we have been able to optimize the production of stock items and avoid unnecessary delays, improving the efficiency of the entire production chain”, explains Sami Voutilainen.
Customer service as a cornerstone of successful collaboration
Customer service and support play a crucial role in building a successful partnership between two companies. Customer-oriented service and the necessary technical support form the foundation of trust and smooth cooperation. Flexibility and readiness to adapt to customer needs at different project phases are key, enabling quick responses to changing situations and ensuring the project stays on track.
”“Delfoi’s customer service has always been very immediate, and I can’t think of how it could be done any better. We have always been able to reach our project manager quickly, and all questions and requests have been addressed. We can rely on receiving help whenever needed. All our development requests are considered, and if something is not feasible, it is explained clearly”, says Voutilainen.
Continuous development ensures long-term success
A modern production planning system comprehensively strengthens a company’s competitiveness. Improved delivery reliability, more efficient resource management, and shorter lead times mean that Meconet can provide better service to its customers and respond more quickly to market changes. Together, these factors support long-term success and growth.
“We are on our way towards digital production, and Delfoi Planner has been a strong start on this journey. The ease of planning and the benefits of visualization have met our expectations. We have also seen improvement in delivery reliability. However, I believe the greatest benefits are yet to come. We intend to continue developing and utilizing Delfoi Planner in all our factories, with the goal of achieving even more efficient and predictable production” , concludes Sami Voutilainen, Delfoi Planner’s key user at Meconet.
“Delfoi Planner convinced us with its ease of use and visual design."
– key user Sami Voutilainen, Meconet