Challenge

Schneider Electric’s warehouse in L'Isle-d'Espagnac grappled with an outdated and insecure key management system. The site, a hub for assembling a variety of electromechanical products, relied on manual lockboxes that offered minimal security and no traceability. This lack of oversight posed serious risks, as keys were essential for safe machine operation. The fragility of the lockboxes made them easy targets for unauthorized access, leading to potential safety hazards and operational inefficiencies.

The situation was untenable for a facility of Schneider Electric's size and importance, where precision and safety are paramount. The inability to track key usage or ensure their safekeeping hindered operational flow and posed risks to staff and equipment. It was clear that a more robust, technologically advanced solution was needed to meet the demands of a modern industrial environment, where safeguarding equipment and personnel is critical.

Pain Points

• Inefficient Legacy Key Management: Manual lockboxes with no traceability.
• No Access Permission Granularity: Lockboxes containing multiple keys made it impossible to differentiate access levels of different staff members.
• Lack of Monitoring: Inability to track and manage key usage effectively.

Solution

In their quest for a more effective system, Schneider Electric discovered Keycafe. The decision to adopt Keycafe's system over few other solutions was driven by its standout features: its compactness, modularity, and customizable configuration options. Keycafe SmartBoxes were installed in several locations across the site, strategically positioned to ensure easy and secure access to keys. Staff are provided with unique NFC stickers that are placed on badge cards, which are scanned at the SmartBox to access keys they have permission for. Each key's usage is monitored and recorded. This not only heightened traceability, but also brought a new level of convenience to the key access process.

The transition to Keycafe marked a significant shift in Schneider Electric's approach to key management. The implementation was smooth, and the system's adaptability meant it could be tailored to the specific needs of the Espagnac site. The intuitive design of the SmartBoxes and the user-friendly interface made the adoption process seamless for staff, who quickly adapted to the new system. The Keycafe solution demonstrated its superiority not just in its technology but also in its ability to mold itself to the unique operational framework of Schneider Electric.

Schneider Electric’s Implementation

• Keycafe vs The Competition: Compactness, modularity, and “à la carte” configuration made the difference.
• NFC Badges: Unique NFC badge access for each staff member ensures key use is convenient and tracked.
• Self-Managed System: Staff can pick up and drop off keys when needed, without additional oversight from management.

Result

The impact of Keycafe's implementation at Schneider Electric Espagnac was immediate and significant. The initial field tests revealed a marked improvement in key management efficiency. The ability to track and monitor key usage in real time led to a significant enhancement in safety standards, as staff could now be held accountable for their key usage. This improved oversight enabled the creation of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the company, which were instrumental in identifying and addressing unnecessary or risky key usage patterns.

Beyond the anticipated improvements in security and efficiency, Keycafe brought additional, unforeseen benefits to Schneider Electric. The ease of use and configuration of the system was a welcome surprise, simplifying administrative tasks and allowing for more focus on core operational activities. The effectiveness of Keycafe's solution in enhancing both operational efficiency and safety protocols at Schneider Electric Espagnac exemplifies the transformative power of smart technology in industrial settings.

The Outcome

• Immediate Positive Impact: Quick results seen during field testing.
• Enhanced Access Restriction: With individually stored keys, staff can only access keys they have explicit permission for.
• Useful Management Tool: Enabled creation of KPIs and better training opportunities.
• Unexpected Benefits: Improved accessibility for staff and ease of configuration for their particular workflow.