The objective was the modernization to the latest, future-proof technology, taking into account the customer-specific systems and interfaces of the existing workflow, as well as the migration of all existing test data and data structures of the past 15 years. The result is a powerful, user-friendly system with a state-of-the-art UX design. Due to flexible adaptation of licenses, configurations, and customer-specific add-ins, testXplorer is ideally suited for any company operating test benches.
Uwe Krummenoehler, COO at KRATZER AUTOMATION: "For 40 years, we have been a reliable partner for our customers worldwide with our integrated test bench solutions. Daimler Truck AG, as one of the pioneers, already recognized the opportunities of digitalization 15 years ago, long before the term “Industry 4.0” even came up. Even back then, the testXplorer was an innovative solution, and we are delighted that we are now - once again - taking the next step towards the future together with our long-term partner. The team did a great job!"
Holger Köninger, Head of Component Testing Powertrain at Daimler Truck AG: "In addition to the pure operation of the test benches, the sensitive handling of test data in regard to audit-proof reporting, measuring equipment management, documentation and storage requirements is particularly important to us. We also appreciate the possibility of configurable schemas for a real-time overview of the entire test field as well as interfaces to Daimler-internal evaluation tools."
Martin Schatz, Head of the Test Fields for Axles and Gearboxes, adds, "The goal was to include all departments along the development process chain, and this was achieved by integrating all system interfaces of the Daimler Truck organization, such as SAP and Finas. With the new testXplorer, we now have a modern order and management tool to master the challenges of electric drive technologies on our test benches.”
Managing a test field ties up resources and time and involves a large number of interfaces. testXplorer guarantees efficient test facility management by supporting the entire test workflow: from the request of the initial test idea to scheduling on the test stand, automated test data management, evaluation, and internal billing. The functions are fully integrated into the customer's specific IT infrastructure.
A highlight and an explicit request from Daimler was the acquisition of production data of the test bay. Consequently, the system now manages test data management, and logs run times and downtimes, and processes these based on the stored shift model. The obtained data is transferred to a downstream billing system for further processing.
July 1 was the starting signal for the rollout, and for a moment, the project team held its breath. Unscheduled downtimes of the test field are time consuming and costly and a modernization of this extent does not always run completely smoothly at the first go. However, the good preparation was rewarded and after only a few hours, the complete migration of the measurement data and data structures was fully completed.