Axtron: From Manual Component Management to Complete Control with ESSEGI
No Control Over Your Components? You’re Losing Time, Money, and Productivity.
For many EMS companies and OEMs, component management is still a necessary evil. Reels are scattered across storage locations, operators spend valuable time searching for components, and inventory accuracy often depends on time consuming stock counts. Meanwhile, the pressure to increase production speed, ensure full traceability, and efficiently handle smaller batch sizes continues to grow.
Axtron, a specialist in electronics assembly for industries including medical devices, traffic technology, and the semiconductor sector, faced these exact challenges. By implementing an automated ESSEGI component storage and inventory management system, the company transformed its manual inventory process into a fully digital and integrated material flow.
Managing Dozens of Production Changeovers Every Day
Axtron manufactures electronic assemblies for a wide range of industries. That requires maximum flexibility.
Every day, the company processes four to five new production projects, representing approximately 175 different component line items. In such an environment, reliable inventory management is not a luxury but a prerequisite for efficient production.
Rather than relying on manual records or Excel spreadsheets, Axtron wanted greater inventory visibility while reducing dependence on manual processes.
From Manual Records to Real Time Inventory Management
For years, inventory was managed using a simple manual system. Components were written off by hand, a process that was not only time consuming but also prone to errors.
Interestingly, the initial request for a more professional inventory management solution came from the finance department.
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- ESSEGI stores components in an organized manner in special carriers. This ensures high storage density, fast retrieval, and a controlled flow of materials to the production line
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- An SMT component reel is stored in an ESSEGI carrier. Thanks to automatic identification and controlled storage, every component remains immediately available and fully traceable.
Full Traceability from the Very First Scan
In addition to the automated storage system, Axtron uses an ESSEGI Incoming Station to register new components quickly and accurately.
Each new component reel follows a simple automated process:
- The reel is placed on the Incoming Station.
- Existing supplier labels are automatically recognized.
- A unique ESSEGI label is generated.
- The component is immediately registered in the inventory management system.
From that moment on, every reel is fully traceable throughout the production process.
Any employee can instantly see:
- the exact storage location of the reel
- whether it is stored in the automated warehouse
- whether it has been assigned to an SMT production line
- whether it is temporarily being used elsewhere in production
This eliminates unnecessary searching, improves inventory visibility, and increases the reliability of the entire manufacturing process.
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- ESSEGI automatically recognizes component information and links it to the inventory management system. This eliminates the need for manual data entry and reduces the risk of errors.
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- Every new component is scanned, automatically labeled, and immediately entered into the ESSEGI inventory management system. This ensures that every reel is fully traceable from the very first scan.
Integration Makes the Difference
The real value of ESSEGI goes beyond the hardware itself.
Axtron also invested in integrating the ESSEGI system with the rest of its production environment, creating a connected and automated material management process.
The software communicates with, among others:
- the ERP system
- SMT placement machines
- manufacturing execution and production support systems
- systems used to manage manual logistics activities
As components are consumed on the SMT line, the placement machines automatically report this information back to ESSEGI. Based on the original reel quantity, the system continuously calculates the remaining inventory without requiring manual intervention.
The result is:
- no duplicate data entry
- reduced administrative workload
- fewer human errors
- real time inventory visibility
As Axtron points out, system integration is an ongoing process. New machines and evolving production workflows require continuous optimization. That is why a supplier who actively supports integration is just as important as the technology itself.
Inventory Counts Reduced from Hours to Minutes
Perhaps the most tangible benefit is seen during annual inventory counts.
What once required more than an hour of manually counting and verifying components can now be completed in just a few minutes.
The inventory is already known.
This not only saves valuable time but also allows skilled employees to focus on productive work instead of time consuming administrative tasks.
See How Axtron Automated Its Component Management
Curious to hear the story firsthand? In the video below, Axtron’s owners explain how ESSEGI transformed their component management by improving inventory control, traceability, and production efficiency.
