GC Rieber VivoMega is a leading global supplier of sustainable Omega-3 concentrates derived from fish oil, with headquarters in Kristiansund. Committed to producing high-quality Omega-3 concentrates in an environmentally responsible manner, the company mainly imports fish oil from South America and Africa, distributing its products across the world. To improve their data handling and analysis capabilities, GC Rieber VivoMega sought a solution that would provide comprehensive data visualization and centralization in their factories.
The journey begins
In 2019, Factory Manager Frode Jenssen attended a user forum at Oslo Science Park, where he met Bertil Helseth, the founder and CEO of Intelecy. This encounter sparked discussions about the significance of data and the potential of data analysis tools, leading to the initiation of a R&D project. The project group has been successful in implementing the Intelecy no-code industrial AI platform and optimizing operations. Torbjørn Saltkjelvik, who joined GC Rieber VivoMega as an intern in 2015 and now serves as a shift manager at their concentration factory, has been the production representative of the group.
The challenge
GC Rieber VivoMega faced challenges in visualizing and analyzing data from their factory. Their previous management system stored data for only a couple of months and had limited capabilities for visualization and manipulation. This made it difficult to address deviations or problems in production promptly. Torbjørn Saltkjelvik explains, "We often lost valuable data before being able to address deviations, which made it challenging to understand what happened, how they developed, and what caused them."
From corrective to predictive mainenance
To overcome these challenges, GC Rieber VivoMega has integrated the Intelecy platform into their operations. By leveraging Intelecy's intuitive dashboard and real-time data analysis capabilities, users of the platform can easily identify deviations or anomalies. The transition from corrective maintenance to preventive maintenance to predictive maintenance contributes towards their operations and shows promising potential for further use. Torbjørn Saltkjelvik highlights the significance of this shift, stating;
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The power of data
GC Rieber VivoMega leverages the Intelecy no-code AI tools to create anomaly detection Machine Learning models, without the need for manual coding. Historical data from successful production runs is fed into the Intelecy platform, enabling the models to learn and understand the patterns of a well-functioning production process. When a deviation is detected in the real-time production data, an anomaly is generated in the Intelecy platform. By evaluating the anomalies reported they are able to plan maintenance and reduce unexpected down-time. This proactive approach enables strategic planning and scheduling of the plant's downtime, avoiding unexpected shutdowns triggered by high pressure or excessive heat. By minimizing unscheduled stops, GC Rieber VivoMega reduces downtime, mitigates the risk of contamination, and helps ensure the highest product quality. Torbjørn Saltkjelvik affirms, "We have experienced less unplanned downtime since implementing the Intelecy platform."
Balancing experience and data for informed decision-making
GC Rieber VivoMega empowers themselves to make well-informed decisions by striking the right balance between experience and data. Experience provides valuable context and intuition, while data brings objective analysis and predictive capabilities. According to Torbjørn, the optimal approach lies in combining experience and data: "The best approach is to capture the knowledge held by experienced individuals before it is lost."
A strong partnership
Collaboration and the exchange of information have been key factors in the successful partnership between the two companies. GC Rieber VivoMega appreciates the comprehensive documentation in the portal, which streamlines information retrieval and enhances their collaborative efforts, leading to efficient decision-making processes. Torbjørn Saltkjelvik emphasizes the value of Intelecy's documentation, stating, "The portal enables us to quickly find the necessary information.”
Sustainability in focus
GC Rieber VivoMega places significant emphasis on sustainability and responsible practices within the fish oil industry. The company holds certifications from leading organizations such as Friend of the Sea and MarinTrust, which focus on sustainable and responsible fishery management. By integrating the Intelecy platform, they further strengthen their commitment to sustainability. They are now exploring ways to optimize energy consumption and reduce their environmental footprint using the Intelecy platform.
If you want to learn more about how the Intelecy no-code industrial AI platform can help your plant improve efficiency and become more environmentally friendly, don't hesitate to reach out.
