success stories
Case Study: Göpfert Maschinen's use of skemdit to digitize circuit diagrams
Sometimes, it’s the small, smart solutions that make the biggest difference. One such example is the PDF editor skemdit, which helps Göpfert Maschinen streamline its electrical engineering workflow and make processes more transparent and efficient.
Göpfert Maschinen GmbH is committed to digital manufacturing
Göpfert Maschinen GmbH is a global leader in the production of machinery for the corrugated board processing industry. Many of its innovations are considered industry milestones. Wilhelm Ott and Walter Pickel, the heads of electrical engineering at Göpfert, had been searching for a robust PDF viewer to digitize the editing of circuit diagrams for some time. None of the tools they tested met their requirements. Consequently, the electrical engineering department persisted in utilizing paper—generating frequently more than 2,000 printed pages per system, filling up to four binders. When b_digital introduced its software skemdit in the summer of 2020, Ott and Pickel were initially skeptical. Could such a compact tool truly deliver on its promises?
The Challenge: Ensuring visibility of redline changes for all team members
Up to 20 electricians and teams from design, quality control, commissioning, and customer service simultaneously work on a system at Göpfert's plant in Wiesentheid, Bavaria. The circuit diagram is central to their work. It's the place where all changes and checks are recorded by hand. "As more copies of a circuit diagram circulate, it becomes more difficult to keep all the diagrams up to date," explains Ott. It should be noted that not all changes are documented in legible handwriting, and not all signatures are accompanied by initials. “ To correctly record all redline changes, to assign them correctly and to hand over a complete system documentation in CAE format to the customer is always a real challenge.”
» One notices that skemdit was developed by a practitioner! «
Wilhelm Ott, Head of Electrical Engineering, Göpfert Maschinen GmbH
The Solution: Real-Time Collaboration
In this regard, skemdit is a valuable solution. The b_digital-developed tool facilitates collaboration among all stakeholders across the value chain on a unified digital document. Redline changes and notes are entered via tablet or screen, installed cables are digitally checked off, and quality stamps are applied. All inputs are consolidated in a central cloud document, accessible to all teams in real time. “This guarantees transparency and makes collaboration efficient,” says Thomas Hagemann from Blumenbecker, who developed the software with his digitalization team—initially for internal use. “Then we realized how valuable this tool could be for machine and plant manufacturers,” adds project manager Florian Sontowski.
Reliable and prompt customer service with PLC interface
Since April 2021, Göpfert started to utilize the PLC Add-on for their service teams. When an issue occurs at a customer site, a single click opens the circuit diagram - right at the point of error. No longer is it necessary to search through thousands of printed pages. Skemdit's PLC functionality enables Göpfert's service team to establish a direct connection to the customer's machine control systems, enhancing operational efficiency and reliability. “This allows us to solve problems much faster than before. And ideally, the customer won’t even need our service anymore,” Ott looks to the future.
Custom adaptations streamline operations
Ott recognizes that skemdit is not a rigid, one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, it offers flexibility through features like personalized user management. “The introduction of skemdit is an important step for us toward paperless production,” he notes. Looking ahead, once all production employees are equipped with industrial-grade tablets, Göpfert plans to digitize additional processes such as managing vacation requests and tracking attendance directly from the workbench.