ALGI Advisory e.U

Intelligent automation

Independent automation advisory for industrial companies

Which automation will improve your processes and make economic sense? ALGI Advisory e.U analyses the starting point, assesses technical options and develops a clear basis for decisions — before investment is committed.

Discuss your automation initiative View case studies

Vendor-independent, with experience in plant engineering, mechanical engineering, control engineering and industrial production processes.

Illustration of intelligent automation with themes of process analysis and optimisation

Ask the right questions before investing

Where will the greatest benefit arise?

Assess bottlenecks, manual effort and gaps in process visibility. The key question is which change can make a difference in actual operations.

Which solution fits technically?

Consider feasibility, existing equipment, control systems and interfaces together. Alternatives and integration effort also belong in the comparison.

Which steps make economic sense?

Compare benefits, effort and risks transparently. Use this to develop a realistic sequence of early improvements, pilot initiatives and further implementation. The assessment may also show that investment in automation is not justified at this stage.

From process analysis to a workable roadmap

Analyse processes and the starting point

Examine manufacturing, assembly and logistics processes alongside existing systems. Bottlenecks, manual tasks and underlying causes are considered in context.

Assess solution options independently

Evaluate automation opportunities in terms of feasibility, economic benefit, integration effort and risks. The comparison reflects the company's needs and existing constraints.

Develop the concept and sequence

Bring suitable approaches together in an overall concept and prioritised roadmap. Quick wins, pilot projects and scalable implementation steps are positioned to suit the starting point.

A decision basis with clear assumptions

You receive an assessment tailored to your processes and objectives. Economic conclusions are tied to the available information and the assumptions behind them.

  • A clear description of the starting point and key bottlenecks
  • Comparison of suitable technical solutions and alternatives
  • Assessment of feasibility, effort, benefits and integration risks
  • Visible assumptions and prerequisites still to be clarified
  • A prioritised roadmap from initial improvements to further implementation

The type and depth of assessment depend on the agreed assignment and the process and cost data available.

Two examples from automation practice

A vendor-neutral automation concept for a combined mill

Situation

Automation at a complex industrial combined mill needed further development. Technical feasibility, economics and possible alternatives had to be clarified before investment.

Our contribution

Analysis of existing processes, evaluation of suitable automation solutions and development of a comprehensive, vendor-neutral concept with priorities and a roadmap.

Results

  • A sound basis for decisions before investment
  • Clear assessment of feasibility, effort and benefits
  • A structured roadmap for phased implementation
  • Poor investment decisions avoided through independent analysis

RFID-based production tracking

Situation

An industrial company had limited visibility of material flows, lead times and processing status. This lack of transparency made production management difficult.

Our contribution

Process analysis and a concept for digitalising and automating production management. Evaluation and introduction of an RFID tracking system to follow components and process steps in real time, including integration with existing systems.

Results

  • Visibility of the production processes and material flows examined
  • Reduced lead times and manual effort
  • Improved production control and planning
  • Efficiency improvements through data-driven decisions

Clarify technical requirements before implementation

The article explores plant functions, operating modes and PLC/IT interfaces through an anonymised practical example.

Read the automation planning article

How a viable automation initiative takes shape

  1. Define the objective and process scope

    Clarify the desired improvement, affected workflows and operating constraints together. Review available data and open questions.

  2. Compare technical and economic options

    Examine suitable approaches and weigh their benefits against effort, interfaces and risks.

  3. Set priorities and the roadmap

    Sequence useful first steps and further implementation to reflect prerequisites, dependencies and available resources.

  4. Support implementation if required

    Further support can be agreed separately. Scope and responsibilities depend on the initiative and the contribution required.

Technical experience for integration

Automation has to work with existing equipment and processes. Our project experience includes:

  • Integration of PLC, visualisation and MES systems
  • Connecting IT, OT and machine controls
  • RFID tracking and real-time data acquisition
  • Sensor technology and process monitoring
  • Automated special-purpose machinery for infrastructure projects

Applications include mechanical engineering, industrial automation, production, manufacturing, infrastructure and special-purpose machinery.

Questions about automation advisory

Are you tied to particular manufacturers?

The advice is vendor-independent. We assess which solution fits the task, existing systems and economic conditions.

Does the objective have to be new equipment?

No. The starting point is the desired operational benefit. Improvements to existing workflows without additional automation are also assessed as an alternative. Increasing data visibility or introducing automation in stages may also be suitable approaches.

How is economic viability assessed?

We consider the expected benefits in relation to effort, integration and risks. The conclusions that can be drawn about economics or ROI depend on the available data and agreed assumptions.

Industrial experience and personal responsibility

Alexander Girkinger combines more than 35 years of industrial experience with expertise in plant engineering, mechanical engineering, automation, control engineering and technical project management.

More about Alexander Girkinger

Related services

Technical current-state assessment

For an overall assessment of technical capabilities, risks and action required.

Technical project support

For clarification and operational support in demanding projects.

Which processes would you like to improve?

Let's discuss your starting point, the intended effect and the technical constraints. This will help identify a useful next step.

Discuss your automation initiative Contact details