KFactory is a Romanian startup dedicated to optimising operational processes in factories using technology. The KFactory platform comprises a range of software services that production companies can use across multiple functional areas. The company is the first Industry 4.0 startup funded in Romania - and the only one already funded with a second round, as confirmation of the results obtained along the way.
Person interviewed: Adrian Dima, co-founder, KFactory.
The interview
What are the main areas of activity for the company?
100% of our clients are production companies. We aim to increase the efficiency of production, maintenance, quality, logistics and sustainability processes, along with reducing material consumption and carbon emissions.
What is new regarding products?
All products developed by us are innovative. We use new technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT (internet of things), RPA, and augmented analytics to help our clients become more efficient and competitive on the market.
What product ranges does KFactory commercialise?
The products that make up the KFactory platform are: KFactory Core, dedicated to real-time understanding of the production process directly from the source - people and industrial equipment; KFactory Analytics - an efficient tool for analysing data across multiple dimensions, from multiple sources; KFactory Knowledge - a machine-learning engine that can make predictions and detect trends and behaviours in production; and our flagship product, the Virtual Engineers team - virtual assistants that understand factory processes and increase the productivity of operational teams.
What stage is the market you operate in at the present moment?
The manufacturing sector is considered worldwide as the largest still-undigitalised sector. There are several reasons for this. One is the people in factories, who are generally conservative but also cautious due to past bad experiences with various IT suppliers. Another is IT suppliers themselves, who avoid the production sector because they don't understand the business.
What can you tell us about market trends?
Things are changing. We estimate that, at least in Romania, more than 30% of companies have digitalisation initiatives - and the percentage is increasing. KFactory has an office in Germany as well, and although each country has its own local specifics, Germany is also prepared for the digital transformation of factories - a process that runs somewhat in parallel to the one in Romania and other countries.
What are the most innovative products commercialised?
All our products are innovative. They were created in the last 5 years using the latest technologies, and our clients confirm this to us.
What estimates do you have for the rest of 2022?
We are pursuing both sales growth at the local level and in Germany, as well as customer interest in focusing on the digital transformation of production companies.
Manufacturers exploring how this same set of capabilities applies to their own plant can take the free Industry 4.0 readiness assessment as a first step, or read about how KFactory Operate deploys on the line.
Read the full interview: "Interviu KFactory" on Easy Engineering Magazine →
Original interview was published in Romanian. The text above is an English translation of the source.