The Kyaia group, which yesterday presented its latest technological innovation, SmartSL 4.0 – Smart Stiching Logistics, is considering opening its second store in New York earlier this year. The uncertainty in the UK market, accounting for over 20% of sales of the largest Portuguese footwear company, requires a bet reinforced in the US.
Fortunato Frederico, president of the company, told Live Money to purpose of SmartSL 4.0 – Smart Stiching Logistics, a project that is a partnership with the Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC) Port and ensures “agile and flexible management” sewing thread for footwear production.
the solution incorporates “advanced algorithms balancing and sequencing of production” as well as an interface web to “efficient management” of sewing threads and pre-seam getting a “dynamic allocation” of the work stations. Example of effective implementation of the paradigm of Industry 4.0, the new solution was implemented and tested in the factory Kyaia in Paredes de Coura – last visited by Prime Minister António Costa. – And will soon be extended to the pole Guimarães
“it’s a system that was being developed in the last 14 months by INESC, at our request, and optimizes all sewing and preparation process, allowing to increase production capacity by 10% to 15% and reduce the number affections employees to each transaction by way of a higher level of automation, “said Fortunato Frederico, who desdramatiza from now, the effect on the level of workers:” All that is good for the competitiveness of enterprises is good for workers, we will not send anyone away, there is so much to do and so much difficulty in finding workers. “
SmartSL 4.0 was developed in partnership with the five engineers Kyaia iT Solutions and investment of the order of 60 000 euros, was fully supported by Kyaia who now want to put the software in the market. “Let’s put it at the disposal of the industry so that it can be bought by those who want to implement. And we will also try to sell it abroad, “said the businessman
With over 600 employees, of which 350 pertaining to the industrial area. – The group has a network of Fly London stores as well as the shoe chain Foreva in Portugal – Kyaia earned in 2015 approximately 64.2 million euros. Of these, 39 million are related to the production of footwear, primarily for its core brand, Fly London, but also for Softinos (comfort segment). The largest Portuguese group of footwear also produces the shoes of the Camel, the result of a long partnership with the international brand.
In 2014, to celebrate three decades of existence of Kyaia and two of Fly London, Fortunato Frederico announced a growth plan to ten years. The goal is to reach, in 2024, sales of 100 million euros. As? Through an investment of 10 million euros in the construction of four new pavilions in Guimarães – the group already has four factories operating in Paredes de Coura -., Which will create 300 new jobs
In the last two years, the company has been busy building new canteens in Guimarães and Paredes de Coura and especially the expansion of the units in this village, with the installation of a new line of footwear components and new equipment. “All we had planned to do in Paredes de Coura in ten years is now complete, we will now proceed with the expansion in Guimarães,” says the manager. The first pavilion to install another production line will start at the end of the year. It is recalled that recently Kyaia invested 300,000 euros in a solar park.
As for sales, Fortunato takes his “concern” about the situation in the UK, but because the “difficulties serve incentive “, the group will redirect their attention with greater intensity, to markets such as the US, Canada, New Zealand or Australia. “If you get in a space with reasonable and rational price, we will open a second store in New York this year,” he admits. The first, in Greenwich, was inaugurated in 2014.
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