Glico’s Smart Manufacturing and Digital Transformation Journey with Mendix
Manufacturers are increasingly adopting smart digital solutions to optimize processes on the factory floor and throughout their supply chains.
Ezaki Glico Co., Ltd. (Glico) is a leading Japanese confectionery manufacturer that operates 13 domestic and 3 overseas factories, and employs over 5,000 people. As the company expands its global operations, it is focused on improving production efficiency by building smart manufacturing factories.
To support continuous innovation and agility, Glico adopted the Mendix development platform in 2022. Since then, their flagship low-code application has significantly improved business efficiency and facility maintenance.
Bridging the Software Delivery Gap
Glico production factories traditionally took a “build rather than buy” approach, primarily purchasing commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions to address its business processes or outsourcing custom Java development.
This lack of IT standardization and data flexibility resulted in data silos:
- Maintenance records, contact information, and schedules were recorded on whiteboards, paper, Excel, Microsoft Teams, and other platforms, which led to variability between factories and even within the same production line.
- Equipment data stored separately, limiting visibility and connectivity between systems.
However, these packaged systems introduced rigidity and Glico faced high migration costs and a lack of agility. Glico needed software that was more flexible, efficient, and sustainable, given the nature of its business and the impact of changing regulations and requirements.
“Due to the complexity of on-site work processes and the knowledge that has been accumulated over many years, it was virtually impossible to achieve standardization without compromising the strengths of existing operations,” explains Hajime Suzuki, research and development group leader at Glico.
In its search for a more adaptable solution, Glico found Mendix, which met several key criteria:
- Compatibility with other technologies such as AWS, IoT, and generative AI
- User-friendly development features
- Prototyping capabilities for testing and planning
- Flexibility to meet diverse business needs
- Industry reputation as a Siemens organization
Mendix offered Glico the opportunity to connect its factory data seamlessly and securely.
At the same time, Glico adopted agile development to foster better and more frequent collaboration between teams. Business users became more involved in the software development lifecycle, from discovery to task setting, resulting in faster outcomes and more customized solutions.
With a new software platform and agile strategy in place, Glico began tackling long-standing challenges and driving improvements with low-code.
Transforming Facility Maintenance
For many years, the high cost and inflexibility of packaged software had prevented Glico from building an effective equipment maintenance management tool. Mendix has enabled them to address long-standing challenges, including labor shortages, reliance on specialized staff, and managing equipment throughout its lifecycle.
Development of the Equipment Maintenance Management System began in June 2022, with the first version released just seven months later.
The application comes along with several important features:
- A comprehensive asset register that tracks maintenance, work, breakdowns and part replacement history.
- Planned maintenance from schedules to workflow management.
- Inventory management of spare parts in production
- Detailed analysis and KPI management of indicators such as time between failures, inventory turns, and work progress rates.
Suzuki stressed that the goal is not just efficiency, but also to optimize business processes with better data management. This includes reducing waste through smarter inventory management, lowering costs through better maintenance methods, and minimizing unplanned downtime with preventive measures.
The Equipment Maintenance Management System application has been well received by users, and Glico plans to roll it out to all of its factories in Japan and overseas. Building on the success of this first application, Glico will now move into predictive maintenance and leverage AI to push the boundaries of production possibilities.
Powering Smart Manufacturing with AI
In the world of smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence is ubiquitous and offers endless possibilities. Glico made the strategic choice to adopt Mendix because it allows them to seamlessly integrate with emerging technologies to maintain a competitive edge.
Looking to the future, Glico plans to deepen the integration of AI into its production processes through initiatives such as AI-powered predictive maintenance and optimized automated inventory management.
From Production Line to Enterprise-wide Innovation
Glico is setting the standard for how low-code can transform the manufacturing workplace, rapidly driving both digital transformation and process automation. Today, they can rapidly create powerful applications without disrupting current systems.
When evaluating suitable projects for future development, Glico plans to use:
- Mendix for medium to large complex software projects, especially those that require IoT, AI, and integration with AWS.
- PowerApps for small, single-function solutions that integrate with Microsoft 365.
To further improve employee experience through smarter operations, Suzuki sees Mendix as the key to unlocking even more potential.
“Factories often have processes and systems that are individually optimized, and while ideally they would want to align to a standard, it’s difficult. We believe Mendix can act as a bridge to make this happen,” he explained.
Mendix will operate as the glue to integrate MES, ERP, logistics, and other business critical systems while strengthening collaboration within their teams. The platform’s addition to their technology stack will ensure factory workers have a fully connected digital experience that further increases their productivity.