Is the know-how of setup technicians lost during shift changes?
Onboarding & deputising
An experienced setup technician has manually adjusted a back-off on the milling machine that is not part of the standard programme. He briefly explains this to the team but leaves the site shortly afterwards. The following day, a new employee stands before the same machine and starts the standard programme. The component is immediately scrap because the special geometry was not taken into account.
When tacit knowledge regarding special parameters is captured, it remains within the business. The assistant links this information to the machines and provides the source reference when questions arise. This helps you avoid scrap and lengthy onboarding periods.
- SETUP TECHNICIANS
- SPECIAL PARAMETERS
- SCRAP
- ONBOARDING
WHAT THE LOSS COSTSThe loss of this single component incurs costs in materials and machine time. Additionally, there is the time the new employee needs to identify the error and enquire about the correct procedure. Production is halted while the knowledge is pieced back together.
Capture. Connect. Find.
- CAPTURE01PeopleThe setup technician can easily input the adjustment via a voice message or a photo of the display through the channel the team already uses. The assistant checks the input and asks for clarification if the context regarding the machine or workpiece is unclear. This creates comprehensive documentation without additional typing effort.
- CONNECT02Connectors & measurement dataExisting operating instructions and machine documentation are used as a basis. Emails containing supplier specifications or maintenance logs are integrated. The new knowledge is directly linked to these existing documents, meaning data does not need to be entered twice.
- GRAPH & OUTPUT03Colleagues & systemsWhen a colleague or relief operator runs the machine, they can ask about the specific setting in the chat. They receive an answer that clearly states where the information originated. The response is provided in the language of the question and cites the source, allowing the origin to be verified immediately.
What it sounds like day to day.
A typical question from this situation, the assistant's follow-up and the answer with its reference — an example, not a transcript.
How should I adjust the machining on the 5-axis milling machine for the titanium component?
Do you mean the manual back-off correction for the contour that Mr Müller set up last week?
Exactly, the contour.
For the contour of the titanium component, a manual back-off of 0.05 mm is required. This value has been documented as a special parameter because the standard programme allows for excessive tolerances. Please check the tool wear limit before starting.
Reference: Voice message, Role: Setup Technician, Timestamp: 14:32, 12.10.2023Self-check — loads when visible.
What businesses in this industry ask.
How can I accelerate the onboarding of new employees on complex machines?
By storing the tacit knowledge of experienced staff as linked information within the system. New employees receive the relevant parameters and their origins immediately upon asking questions, rather than having to search for them for long periods.
Which tools best support knowledge management in production?
A system that understands and links voice messages, photos, and existing documents is effective. The assistant asks for clarification when things are unclear and provides answers with source references, thereby increasing the reliability of the information.
Is there a template for an operating instruction combined with machine documentation?
Rather than rigid templates, existing instructions and machine data are dynamically linked. The assistant integrates new insights from daily operations directly into the documentation, ensuring the instructions are always up to date.
Limits that apply — even when nobody asks.
- Explicio does not grade learning progress or hand out marks.
- Explicio does not compare employees and shows no ranking.
- Explicio does not replace any safety briefing required by law.
The same question from two directions.
Does this exact knowledge island exist in your business too?
Test this scenario now for 30 days free of charge – one voice message is enough.
- Term
- 30 days from your first knowledge
- Cost
- 0 €
- Licence
- none — we bill the knowledge, not the seat