ProVia‘s Smart Conveyor System is being used to manufacture all entry doors, which has doubled throughput of these products. The system represents the third and final phase of a facility expansion project that began in 2013. With ProVia’s door sales increasing, these enhancements allow for increased production while still maintaining excellent delivery times, even with each order being completely customized.
The system utilizes RFID (radio-frequency identification) chips placed on each door carrier which identifies that door and automatically shuttles it via an overhead track conveyor system to each assembly station the particular door requires, until all operations are complete. While this system is currently doubling manufacturing throughput, the system has capacity to go well beyond this as future sales increase.
Because every ProVia door is built to order, setting up an automation system was much more complex than it would be for a company that simply builds stock doors. However, ProVia made this investment so they could maintain their commitment to deliver nearly every door within two weeks.
The Smart Conveyor System also facilitates quality control by minimizing human handling of doors, which holds the potential for accidents like scratches and denting. The system also provides ergonomic advantages for ProVia employees who no longer have to lift and transport doors manually.
“Our goal with this project is to fulfill our commitment of fast delivery time to our customers,” says Keith Yutzy, ProVia’s vice president of operations. “With our Smart Conveyor System we can continue to deliver on this promise, while providing the high-quality custom doors ProVia is known for. We are poised to support ProVia’s ongoing sales growth, now and into the future.”