Technological innovation at the service of the industry: GKN Automotive's experience with DORLET
Located in Zumaia, GKN Automotive is one of the leading global suppliers of driveline technologies for the automotive industry. With more than 260 years of history and a strong international presence, the company continues to focus on innovation, also in its internal processes. To improve safety and optimise people management, the Zumaia plant has relied on DORLET solutions.
We spoke to Ianire Flores Alonso, Head of Human Resources, about the experience of this collaboration.
1.- What was the initial need that led GKN to contact DORLET?
The collaboration with DORLET began some 30 years ago, practically from the very beginning. I was not yet in the company, but I know that GKN's initial need was to have a time recording system. At that time there wasn't as much talk about access control as there is now; the priority was to manage the timetables and the plant's shifts properly.
It all started with a colleague, Jose Mari, who was very involved in that first development. Since then, DORLET has been developing a customised solution for GKN, adapting to our specific needs: shifts, relays... They have always adapted to what we have needed, from day one.
2.- What solutions did you finally implement and what benefits have you observed since their implementation?
We implemented the solutions DASStime for time and attendance and DASSnet for access management. Both have led to a significant improvement in efficiency and usability. According to Ianire, the access control system allows new people to be registered in just two minutes, and is also used as support in emergency situations, such as the preparation of lists of those present in the event of fire.
3.- In your case, you have also implemented the DASStime time and attendance control system. What added value has this solution for people management brought you?
The changeover to DASStime was much easier than we thought. We did the whole changeover with Sergio and he was available at all times. We had a lot of hours of training and they dumped as much data as possible via export and import, so the process was a lot less manual and laborious than we imagined.
As is often the case, we had some reservations at first, because everything new is hard... but I soon had to admit that yes, it was an improvement.
One of the things I appreciate the most is that now it's all online. Before, I had to have the programme installed on a specific computer, and if I wanted to access it from home I had to connect to that computer first. Now I can even do the time management from a tablet, and that makes my work much easier.
And it doesn't just help me: it's also improved for the employees. They can check their hours, request leave, access reports... It's honestly much better than before.
4.- How has the implementation process been? What would you highlight about the collaboration with DORLET?
The process has been very agile. Although at the beginning ‘patches’ were made on specific needs, now all the functionalities have been mastered. ‘What is important is to carry out a prior analysis to define what you want before starting. Otherwise, it makes the technicians' work more difficult. But once it's clear, they take care of everything,’ she says. She also highlights the training received by DORLET for the plant coordinators.
5.- What level of attention or technical support have you needed since the start-up? How do you rate DORLET's after-sales service?
‘A 9’, Ianire answers without hesitation, pointing out that the only issue that prevents it from being a 10 is public holidays. The GKN team usually initiates contacts via WhatsApp or direct messages, but ends up managing everything through the ticket system on the DORLET website. ‘They are very quick to respond. And although at first it seemed to us that talking to someone would be more efficient, in the end we see that it also works perfectly by ticket’.
6.- What advice would you give to other companies in the industrial sector that are considering implementing a system like yours?
‘The main piece of advice: encourage them. And that they are very clear about what they want before they start, to avoid redoing work’, recommends Ianire. She also stresses the trust in the DORLET team: ‘You just have to explain what you want. They take care of everything else’.
GKN Automotive is a clear example of how digitalisation and technology applied to people and safety management processes can simplify tasks, improve operational efficiency and adapt to the needs of the industrial environment.
