In this time of Covid-19, the world’s largest exhibition of new technologies, the Consumer Eletronic Show (CES) took place online through live videos. From TV, smartphones to vehicles, autonomous cars, great projects were presented to show the future of technology. It is the place of demonstrations where all professional or private people get inspiration and a desire to contribute to the realization of innovative projects.

Indeed, the fact that we are in a time of pandemic has changed the way the show is presented, but that’s not all, this crisis pushes many researchers to find solutions for all. We must remember that these solutions are being developed.

Have you heard about the new typology of masks, disinfectants and air purifiers to combat Covid-19 ? Indeed, Alarm.com has created a contactless video bell to reduce the transmission of bacteria, it is a project that can be very useful for everyone and to adapt in homes. Also, more and more robots are created to project ultraviolet light in order to disinfect places likely to have people, such as shops, restaurants, etc. But at this show what was most highlighted was the AirPop Active +, it would be a smart mask with an integrated sensor that tracks our breathing and evaluates air quality to replace the filter of our mask if it is deemed replaceable. These masks will be on the market this month. This solution is one of many, because engineers also contribute to the fight through air filtration. The impression that this period will never stop, gives a lot of ideas to the engineers. For example, integrating an anti-covid system into our bathrooms as shown by Kohler who has built toilets that can be activated by simple movement of the hand is a project that also prevents the transmission of bacteria.

Euroelec-Smart Energy to fight against this virus, has promoted teleworking for all employees by being present H24 in videoconference to keep the contact between us, present also on social networks to talk about our news and online with our professional contacts. We are also interested in the innovative solutions that we will put into our construction projects.

We are obliged to tell you about the solar remote control created by Samsung. This is the remote control of the Samsung Neo QLED TV, which integrates a photovoltaic cell and thus allows it to recharge to the interior and exterior light. Of course, this solution is of particular interest to Euroelec-Smart Energy because photovoltaics is one of our biggest specialties.

Photovoltaics is the process that directly transforms the energy of the sun into electricity. This is a good investment in the long term and avoids the waste of AAA batteries. Solar is also an advantage, it contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions, the reduction of polluting releases and the preservation of natural resources, then, photovoltaic energy is scalable and allows to meet all the needs.

Light is at the centre of innovations. Also, Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors at CES 2021 announced two new concepts : the autonomous electric car Cadillac Halo and a flying taxi. It is true that this project gives the impression that it comes straight out of a film by Luc Besson but that is what makes it the importance of this innovation.

This car is called autonomous by the artificial intelligence directly integrated. Everything is controlled by voice and gestures, no physical button appears. This concept is a springboard to technological progress.

As for the flying taxi, it might be hard to believe but it is an adav, a vertical take-off and landing aircraft powered by four electric rotors totaling 90 kWh for a maximum speed of 90 km/h. It is a concept mentioned but not yet developed despite a large number of people ready to invest in it.

In conclusion, the Best Innovation 2021 award went to the great Sony for its « Spatial Reality Display » project. This 15.6-inch display contains a 360° speaker and an Airpeak drone. It is a product that makes lovers of visual and digital creations dream because the goal is to project us through this screen in a real world.

The screen returns a 3D spatial reality display without glasses that is already popular with large groups such as Volkswagen.

Indeed, Euroelec-Smart Energy has looked at this project, as it can be useful as a design tool. The BIM or REVIT software, allow us to optimize the design, the construction. But with the « Spatial Reality Display », this would allow us to get even more visibility and visualize our designs in augmented reality.

Sources : CES : tout savoir sur le CES 2021 (cnetfrance.fr)

Sony Spatial Reality Display | Sony US

BIM
BIM changes the way contractors, architects, engineers and contractors work. With this model, they can add more information at the beginning of the project and before the changes are made.

Real estate construction does not escape the major innovations generated by design software. The Building Information Modeling BIM is a means of developing, implementing and monitoring construction projects.

This practice is done in five levels of detail starting with the sketch at the building. Because to arrive at a perfectly finished model, it will take a lot of time to model it and count long hours of design. It should be noted that the BIM model is built according to the contribution of the different stakeholders on the work, from the design to the construction. This will allow the different employees to anticipate, optimize and better represent their choices during this time.

Euroelec-Smart Energy through the BIM digital model will reduce the risk of errors that can be committed on a construction site, obtain better collaboration with stakeholders and have a better quality of projects.

The BIM is in fact a database management system, since it makes it possible to inform the project managers on the situation of buildings, premises, offices, shops, to locate the equipment and construction products with their data. Also, to identify the surfaces, to facilitate the supply of the forecast management and to know the frequency of the activities of maintenance of the assets and many other functions.

For Euroelec-Smart Energy, it is an inevitable practice to design, maintain and renovate buildings.

Our objective is to:

The LOD style

Le style LOD définit par The American Institute of Architects dans le « Building Information Modeling Protocol Form » permet de qualifier le niveau de précision d’une maquette.

Illustration of the development levels defined by The American Institute of Architects:

For example, for our villas renovation project in Ibiza, Spain, we were in phase 300. (Phase explained below).

LOD 300 – Precise geometry The model element is graphically represented in the model as a specific system, object or assembly in terms of quantity, size, shape, location and orientation. Non-graphical information can also be attached to the template element. The origin of the project is defined and the element is precisely located with respect to the origin of the project.” UNITED-BIM INC.

CONSTITUTION OF THE DIGITAL DOE

The implementation of works is done by the DOE, (Dossier d’Ouvrages Exécutés Numérique) which is the compilation of all technical, written and graphic documentation. This is what will be handed over by the supervisor to the owner. A verification and VISA procedure is mandatory for each DOE to ensure that everything is in order. It includes the drawings conforming to the execution, the calculation notes, the technical checks, the operating instructions and the quality of the materials used.

BIM: INTERNATIONAL COMPARISON

Internationally, and more specifically in the United States, the improvement of constructions is essential for the efficient research of economic performance of construction sites. As for France, this improvement appears during the internal management of stocks in companies by finding solutions for a possible change in materials prices. It is here that the BIM intervenes, because it is the latter that will allow this realization through computer software to find precisely the implementation of the various components.

The applications of Lean are diverse and varied, and that’s what we implement at Euroelec-Smart Energy by training our team on this process. It allows us to minimize waste by not overloading our project stakeholders.

It was in 1910-1938 that Henri Ford and William Edward Deming set out 7 principles of LEAN with the aim of applying them in several sectors, such as the automotive industry, aeronautics and other engineering.

For greater precision, these are the elimination of waste, flawless production, the « Just in time », the reduction of fluctuations, the continuous improvement, the standardization of work and the involvement of operators. All this to save considerable time to the good production of the tasks to be performed.

At Euroelec-Smart Energy, five members of our team have been unanimously designated as the pillars of five LEAN principles.

–The human system, the one that will maintain “order” in the team, and manage relationships.

–Standardization for the organisation and internal management of company files.

–The quality of the documents in appearance.

-The “Just in time” to manage schedules and deadlines.

–Continuous improvement to go further and evolve.

I- Qality control

A) Tools

First, different visions of a society may appear. An external vision by the customers by not noticing any defect of the latter, and an internal vision of the employees not perceiving zero touch-up. And this is to be modified by different tools because do not notice that the good will not advance a company in the right way.

The most widely used method of quality control is the “Poka Yoke“, which prevents errors in the results of the project. But control does not do everything, while DOING quality is doing a good deed the first time.

B) At Euroelec-Smart Energy

At Euroelec-Smart Energy we practice JIDOKA, it is a technique that detects defects as soon as possible so as not to lose productivity. For example, if we find a problem on a project, we will investigate the problem as soon as it occurs, which will allow us to find an immediate solution or alarm the collaborators about the malfunction.

C) Visual Management

Presentation of two publications from our Instagram @euroelecsmartenergy where we apply LEAN for the reorganization of our Parisian premises. This is an example to show that this process allows to visualize the changes in one before/after and to realize that a simple change can make a business more efficient.

Euroelec-Smart Energy is one of the first energy design offices in Paris to implement LEAN.

II- Eliminating waste

A) Muri, Mura, Muda

The 3M technique is a Japanese method that increases productivity by eliminating waste in a concrete way. These are three forms of waste that are present not negatively but positively in a company because they are the triggers for the acquisition of profits.

These terms come from the Toyota Production System Transcript, created in 1988.

Muri,it is an overload on the human level, this can be due to an intense workload that causes stress on employees.

Mura is managing the fluidity of production if it becomes too powerful.

Muda is reducing “unnecessary” things to save time.

B) “Just in Time”

Waste is a cost to the company, for example, if we have a good organization, the time we waste searching for documents would have been kept to continue carrying out projects.

The goal is to produce what the customer needs when they need it.

C) Our challenges at Euroelec-Smart Energy

We are putting in place challenges to evolve our design office. Our objective is to identify for 15 days problems that affect the overall quality of our work and the company. Identify the 7 waste and find somes solutions.

III- Continuous improvement

A) 5S

This method is fundamental to the application of LEAN Management within a company. Its role is to improve the internal and external working environment to avoid inefficiencies.

By being precise, unnecessary objects must be removed either by storing them or by throwing them away. For example, sheets placed on a table that are of no use take up space on a work desk and can become awkward, which is similar to the second “Locate/Store” S.

Cleaning tools and ensuring their proper functioning, is the best way to avoid a defect and therefore a waste of time for their use.

At Euroelec-Smart Energy, standardization has been assigned to an employee to make the place of each object obvious and easier to locate in our research. We created color codes to differentiate each project, and a better organization of our files by specific locations.

And then, the last S is to follow the previous S to ensure a better application of our work.

B) Kaizen

It is essential to implement this philosophy of “small steps” because if there is a rush in our tasks, there is a risk brought about in terms of quality control.

It is better to start with the creation of precise and simple innovations than to think too large from the beginning.

UNDERSTANDING this LEAN approach is the key to differentiating from other companies, and maximizing its output.

Image sources : Unsplash