Increasing productivity in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Biobío region and, consequently, boosting the competitiveness of the industrial ecosystem, has been the driving force behind the “Advanced Manufacturing: Increased Productivity in SMEs” project. This initiative is implemented by the Center for Industry 4.0 and funded by the Biobío Regional Government through the Regional Competitiveness Innovation Fund (FIC-R).

In this context, the Advanced Manufacturing technical team has been dedicated to developing three technological packages aimed at improving the productivity of companies by obtaining real-time data to facilitate informed decision-making:

• IoT-based monitoring platform for asset management and administration.
• Work order system for asset management.
• Specialized ERP system for the forestry and timber industry.

These technological solutions have been implemented free of charge in various companies across the three provinces of the region. All of this, with the technical support of the project team, which, through field visits and remote monitoring, has resolved queries and guided the technological adoption process for the beneficiary companies.

Furthermore, one of the key features of this project is that it has been developed directly from the Center for Industry 4.0 at the Universidad de Concepción, which possesses both the technologies and the professional team needed for development, enabling iterations to be carried out until a validated product for industrial environments is achieved.

In the Words of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises:

Felipe Ramírez, Manager of MR Muebles (Electrical Variables Measurement System):

“We are very grateful that both the Regional Government and the Universidad de Concepción have considered us as an SME. This indicator, based on the meetings we’ve had with the team, will be of great help in our production process, as we will be able to improve all processes and the production line in general. The idea is to be able to monitor and incorporate this type of tool to detect failures in our production equipment. This indicator will help us continue producing more efficiently. As explained yesterday, we will be able to see the uptime of the machines and extract indicators on downtime, which will also allow us to optimize the use of personnel. This will lead us to produce more with fewer resources.”

Luis Muñoz, Supply and Traceability Manager at Sociedad Roca (Forestry ERP System):

“When my boss told me about the possible implementation of this system, I was one of the happiest, as I came from an environment where control was key. Coming to a company that, while not disorganized, lacked a control system, we had to create something quickly with Excel, which is not the most efficient approach. Implementing this control system is fantastic because it allows us to have more control, and as you know, what you don’t control, you can’t improve. Having good control will also help us empower the company and help it grow. This will prevent us from running out of raw material or the sawmill from stopping due to lack of supply. This system will allow us to know what we have, how much we have, and when we will need it, optimizing our processes.

Additionally, any improvement brought to companies, especially small ones in the timber sector, is greatly appreciated. It allows them to catch up with larger companies, which makes it easier to interact with them. Without good control, you can’t demonstrate what you have, and without it, big companies won’t trust you. That’s why regional government grants are highly valued. Today, the only way companies can stay in business long-term is by staying on the cutting edge of technology and control.”

Mauricio Peña, General Manager of ModulPlac (Electrical Variables Measurement System):

“We are grateful that this system has been implemented in a local company. I believe it will benefit us a lot due to the information it will provide, especially in terms of costs. As a businessman, we always need to know all our costs. The energy cost issue is very relevant, especially knowing how much we spend at each stage of the process. From that perspective, I find it a very attractive project, and if we can extract other useful variables, even better. But from my business perspective, the most important thing is the economic aspect, and I think this system can be very beneficial in that regard. Moving forward, we plan to continue implementing technologies if this system works well.”

Carolina Ortiz, Partner and Commercial Manager at Tecnograbados (Electrical Variables Measurement System with Purchase Orders):

“We started using an ERP system two years ago and have been working with several systems, including a CRM focused on customer management. However, we faced the challenge of implementing a system that would allow us to manage work orders and track costs associated with each product we develop.

The truth is, it has been very positive that this system arrived at the right time, when we are developing a new product. We thank the Regional Government, especially the team, and the Universidad de Concepción, who have been very attentive to us, explaining everything and taking the necessary time. We are very grateful and hope to continue participating in all projects related to SMEs and the region, as it is tremendous support that will help us continue scaling the company.”

These testimonies reflect the direct experience of the beneficiary companies of this initiative, who have been a fundamental part of the development of these technological packages. They also highlight the value of collaboration between academic, public, and private stakeholders in enhancing the capabilities of the Biobío region’s industrial ecosystem.

It should be noted that all implementations carried out by the FIC-R Advanced Manufacturing project are free of charge. Those interested can contact c4i@udec.cl or visit c4i-udec.cl (https://c4i-udec.cl/postulaciones-abiertas-para-implementaciones-gratuitas-de-proyecto-fic-manufactura-avanzada/).