In this episode of the Smart Metals podcast, we (Denis Gontcharov and Luke Van Enkhuizen) had the pleasure of hosting Wim Dijkgraaf, founder and CEO of Quotation Factory. We discussed the challenges and solutions in high mix, low volume manufacturing, focusing on the impact of Event-Driven Architectures (EDA) and Unified Namespace (UNS) in transforming the metalworking industry.

Wim shared how Quotation Factory leverages advanced systems to estimate production times, streamline operations, and enhance responsiveness.

We also dove into the concept of semantic hierarchy and explored the potential for AI in building autonomous, smart factories. The episode wraps up with insights on how these architectures can make manufacturers more agile, reliable, and ready for digital transformation.

Timestamps:
- 00:13 Introduction and Guest Welcome
- 00:32 Wim Dijkgraaf's Background and Quotation Factory Overview
- 02:07 Challenges in High Mix, Low Volume Manufacturing
- 03:31 Manual Processes and Data Integration Issues
- 10:42 Event-Driven Architecture and Its Benefits
- 18:19 Unified Namespace and Semantic Hierarchy
- 35:31 Conclusion and Future Prospects

Notable Quotes:
1. "If you create point-to-point connections, both parties should understand the world on the other side. This creates complexity and increases the time and cost of integrations. That's why event-driven architecture adds value." – Wim Dijkgraaf
2. "Many metalworking companies believe they have a lot of data because it’s in their ERP. But to become a smart factory, the critical information is actually the events happening in real time." – Wim Dijkgraaf
3. "You want to observe and store events as they happen, with all the necessary data tied to that moment. That's what a good data strategy is about—capturing events." – Wim Dijkgraaf
4. "When there’s a manufacturing issue, like a standstill or quality concern, you need data from several systems to identify the root cause. If you rely only on the ERP, you lose real-time insight." – Luke Van Enkhuizen
5. "The Unified Namespace allows all your data—whether from sensors or MES systems—to be unified in one place. This semantic hierarchy makes it easy for both humans and machines to navigate and understand the data." – Denis Gontcharov

Relevant Links:
- 🔗 Follow the show: [https://smartmetals.transistor.fm/](https://smartmetals.transistor.fm/)
- 🔗 About Denis Gontcharov: [https://gontcharov.eu/](https://gontcharov.eu/)
- 🔗 About Luke Van Enkhuizen: [https://sheetmetalconnect.com/](https://sheetmetalconnect.com/)
- 🔗 About Wim Dijkgraaf and Quotation Factory: [https://www.quotationfactory.com/en/](https://www.quotationfactory.com/en/)

This week at the Smart Metals Podcast, we had a conversation about the state of Unified Namespace (UNS) adoption in the European metals industry. We were joined by Angelo Hulshout, a seasoned software architect, to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities that UNS presents for metals manufacturers in Europe.

We delved deeper into the cultural differences between Europe and the U.S. in adopting innovative technologies like UNS and the practical steps manufacturers can take to start their digital transformation.

If your current challenge is navigating the complexities of UNS implementation in the metals industry, then listen to this episode when you have a moment.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
• 01:24 Understanding Unified Namespace Adoption in Europe
• 04:35 Challenges and Real-World Examples
• 08:58 Comparing European and US Approaches
• 23:53 Challenges in Time Tracking for Metals Industry
• 27:02 Unified Namespace Solutions for Metals Industry
• 30:17 Real-World Examples and Scalability
• 33:14 Getting Started with Unified Namespace

Notable Quotes:

1. "The biggest challenge with Unified Namespace adoption in Europe is not the technology itself, but the cultural approach to innovation." – Denis Gontcharov
2. "MQTT is becoming a game changer in real-time data exchange, especially when compared to traditional systems in manufacturing." – Angelo Hulshout
3. "It's not completely tailored to you and then you can get it almost for free in software terms, but you just have to put more effort into it, defining how you want it." – Luke van Enkhuizen
4. "Manufacturers need to start small with UNS adoption, focusing on low-risk areas like time tracking and inventory traceability to demonstrate value." – Angelo Hulshout
5. "In the metals industry, especially, Unified Namespace can dramatically improve operational efficiency by providing real-time insights into production processes, reducing waste, and enhancing traceability." – Denis Gontcharov
6. "I think the key takeaway is finding out where you can make the biggest bang for your buck, where these things would be able to launch quickly next to the business or building on top of the business without having to exchange systems." – Luke van Enkhuizen

Relevant Links:

• 🔗 Follow the show: https://smartmetals.transistor.fm/
• 🔗 About Angelo Hulshout: https://www.shinchoku.eu/ | LinkedIn
• 🔗 About Denis Gontcharov: https://gontcharov.eu
• 🔗 About Luke van Enkhuizen: https://vanenkhuizen.com/

Sharing is caring!
If you liked this episode, please consider sharing it with some friends or colleagues who might find it useful. Thank you! 😊

Would you like to help?
Did this show help you with new ideas for your business? Then rate the show on iTunes or Spotify. This helps people like you find the show and us to be able to book more guests with industry specialists and top solution providers. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This week at Smart Metals Podcast, we, the hosts Luke van Enkhuizen and Denis Gontcharov, had a conversation about the critical role of domain knowledge in the metals industry, particularly in the context of increasing automation and AI.

We delved deeper into the challenges of preserving expertise in a digital age and the potential future of factories. If your current challenge is balancing domain knowledge with technological advancements, then listen to this episode when you have a moment.

Topics

• [00:00] Introduction to the Smart Metals Podcast
• [00:26] The Future of Factories and AI: How domain knowledge remains crucial
• [03:57] The Role of Domain Knowledge: Preserving expertise in a digital age
• [06:17] Challenges in Data Collection and AI Implementation
• [19:33] Case Study: Aluminum Smelting Process
• [29:42] AI in Manufacturing: Potential and Limitations
• [34:22] Conclusion and Future Topics

Interesting Quotes

• "Domain knowledge is what makes your company what it is today. It's the secret sauce that's hard to replace." – Luke van Enkhuizen
• "Even with the best AI, the most complex and ambiguous decisions will always need a human touch." – Denis Gontcharov
• "Without clean data and solid digital infrastructure, even the deepest domain knowledge can't be effectively leveraged." – Luke van Enkhuizen
• "The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment." – Warren G. Bennis
• "We still don't really know what happens chemically inside the [aluminum electrolysis] cell. It's essentially still a very big black box." – Denis Gontcharov

Resources:

• 🔗 Follow the show: https://smartmetals.transistor.fm/
• 🔗 About Luke van Enkhuizen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukevanenkhuizen
• 🔗 About Denis Gontcharov: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisgontcharov

Sharing is caring!
If you liked this episode, please consider sharing it with some friends or colleagues who might find it useful. Thank you! 😊

Would you like to help?
Did this show help you with new ideas for your business? Then rate the show on iTunes or Spotify. This helps people like you find the show and us to be able to book more guests with industry specialists and top solution providers. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐