Challenge
- Decentralized project management tools, leading to poor collaboration and scattered data.
- Teams lacked visibility into project progress and resource allocation, using a paper-based checklist for validating vehicles for quality assurance.
- Existing systems couldn't handle the complexity of growing operations. ERP system wasn't set up to do time-tracking or efficiency reporting well.
Solution
- JBT implemented Quickbase to streamline project management processes.
- Customizable apps with a Kanban board tracks vehicle production, timing each step automatically.
- The platform automates manual tasks without requiring tech-savvy users.
Impact
- $143K saved in one year, building 286 vehicles while reducing project time by 5 hours per vehicle. (1,430 hours – almost 2 month’s time!)
- Quickbase provided a business impact of $19k in dev agility and overall agility (based on Quickbase findings).
- Improved visibility across projects, leading to smarter decision-making.
- Automation and standardization improve team collaboration.
JBT is a global powerhouse in technology solutions, specializing in food processing. They help businesses worldwide improve their efficiency with cutting-edge equipment and systems. JBT has a division that specializes in building automated guided vehicles (AGVs), specifically, self-driving forklifts. Continuous Improvement Manager Enrico Cascio manages a portion of that division, working to make vehicle production processes smoother and more efficient.
The Challenge
Enrico was struggling with major operational issues. Different business units were using different tools and processes, and none of them worked together. It was a mess. Collaboration was poor, data was scattered everywhere, and trying to get a clear overview of project progress was practically impossible. “We were using a paper-based checklist—a booklet—for validating the vehicles for quality assurance,” said Cascio.
Each team was doing its own thing, making it hard to see how resources were being used or where projects stood. Tracking milestones? Even harder.
On top of that, with teams spread across various locations, communication was tough. Projects were constantly delayed, and the goals weren’t always aligned. As JBT grew, the problem only got worse. Their existing systems couldn’t keep up with the increasing complexity of managing multiple projects.
The Solution
That’s when JBT decided to make a change. They brought in Quickbase, a low-code platform that centralized everything and made operations simpler and more efficient.
With Quickbase, JBT finally had all their projects in one place. Teams could see everything they needed to: timelines, resources, and progress updates, all at a glance. The platform also automated a lot of their manual work, making it easier to track milestones and hit deadlines. "We’ve saved 5 hours per vehicle we’ve built since August 2023," Cascio explained.
Not only that, but Quickbase made it easier for teams to collaborate. No matter where they were based, they could communicate and work together more effectively. Plus, as JBT continued to grow, Quickbase grew with them, giving the company the flexibility it needed to handle new challenges.
Cascio developed a vehicle production app in Quickbase that features a Kanban board. His custom Quickbase app allows Cascio to drag and drop cards that represent the various vehicles in production into different status columns. The app also allows him to time how long it takes for the next status change to happen.
“That’s really nice because I don’t have to have a computer-savvy person to log times. Quickbase does the time-logging for me,” he said.
The Impact
The switch to Quickbase has made a huge difference for Cascio’s team. He calculates they’ve saved $143K in the last year by streamlining their processes and reducing the amount of time spent on each project. In a single year, they built 286 vehicles, saving 5 hours’ time on every one by giving their team easier access to digital vehicle schematics. That’s more than 2 months’ of time saved on vehicle production in a year!
Quickbase also gave them better visibility into their projects. Now, they have a clear, organization-wide view, which has led to smarter decision-making and better resource management. “What a lot of other services have a problem with is being able to draw your window... that link between sales data and how fast I can build them… that’s a very customizable window with Quickbase,” Cascio noted.
Standardized processes and automation have cut down on project timelines and operational costs, making things run much more smoothly. Teams are now more in sync, communication is better, and projects are delivered with stronger outcomes. In fact, Quickbase research shows a business impact of $19k for JBT by improving their dev agility and overall agility.
“My goal is to provide value to the assemblers by giving them vital information,” said Cascio. “It’s great for them to have a one-stop-shop for them. They can click on Quickbase and it shows them the drawings they need so they can complete their work.”
