NOVO(TM) from Kennametal Expanding Capabilities, Efficiently Turning Digital Tool Knowledge Into Real-World Productivity Improvement


Seamlessly interfacing with tool management, e-commerce, and other programs, NOVO powers shop systems hungry for accurate, timely tool knowledge.



LATROBE, PA – Since its groundbreaking launch in 2013, Kennametal's NOVO digital tool and process planning application has continued growing by adding process capability constantly. Now, NOVO Version 1.3 is connecting via the cloud to tool management, e-commerce, and other shop systems, reducing data errors and making non-value-added data-transfer efforts things of the past



"Our vision for NOVO from the beginning is to provide an open-source system that interacts seamlessly with shop systems needing to leverage cutting tool data and machining knowledge for productivity improvement," says John Jacko, vice president and chief marketing officer at Kennametal. "This is only the beginning of delivering the promise of the digital factory. Connecting to Kennametal's ToolBOSS™ tool-management system via the cloud and streamlining input into Kennametal's e-commerce system, that vision is quickly becoming reality."



Seamless Connectivity Includes E-Commerce

Customers expect continuous fast development of technology platforms to deliver more value.  Since the 2013 launch of the NOVO's original Tool Selector, Tool Configurator, Tool Advisor, and Job functions, NOVO has added connectivity to E-commerce, easy ISO 13399 exports, and seamless integration to the ToolBOSS tool management system via the Machining Cloud.



Specifically, NOVO users can request a price quote from their local Kennametal Distribution Partners by transferring their shopping cart list to them via the "Request Quote" button. The distributor will receive a notification with complete detail of the items and requestor information to respond. A new pop-up also makes it easy to add spares and other individual items to existing shopping carts. Spare parts are clearly identified as "included" or "non-included" on bills of material.



ToolBOSS users on the cloud with the latest software version can now use NOVO to see if an item proposed for a process plan is already available in their ToolBOSS inventory, making both plans and budgets more efficient. Customer part numbers are automatically populated in NOVO Tool Advisor results and Tool Availability pop-ups via the ToolBOSS database. "By adding ToolBOSS credentials to their user profile, customers easily check the inventory in their local ToolBOSS units with their developing process plans," says Chris Merlin, Marketing Manager for the Virtual Machining initiative at Kennametal. "They're better able to visualize items already in their shop."



Mobility

Users can leverage NOVO via the tablet of their choice. "Mobility is no longer a luxury.  With Android and Windows Tablet versions of NOVO now available, it brings an element of added mobility and access to your tool list no matter which device you log onto," Merlin adds. "This also makes it easy for people working on the shop floor with tablets to collaborate with the process planners in other departments."



Being "device agnostic," NOVO avoids the "which app do I choose and use" or even the need to evaluate among multiple apps, he adds. "And once you log in, all your jobs data transfer is over, making organizations and teams much more powerful by extending process knowledge to those who need it."



For more information, visit www.kennametal.com.



Kennametal Inc.

Celebrating its 75th year as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers seeking peak performance in demanding environments. The company provides innovative wear-resistant products and application engineering backed by advanced material science, serving customers in 60 countries across diverse sectors of aerospace, earthworks, energy, industrial production, transportation and infrastructure. With approximately 14,000 employees and nearly $3 billion in sales, the company realizes half of its revenue from outside North America, and 40% globally from innovations introduced in the past five years. Recognized among the "World's Most Ethical Companies" (Ethisphere); "Outstanding Corporate Innovator" (Product Development Management Association); and "America's Safest Companies" (EHS Today) with a focus on 100% safety, Kennametal and its foundation invest in technical education, industrial technologies and material science to deliver the promise of progress and economic prosperity to people everywhere. For more information, visit the company's website at www.kennametal.com.

Kennametal Inc., Latrobe, PA; 800.446.7738



SIDEBAR 1 – How It Works

NOVO can be used in a number of intuitive ways, from "I need to make a ½" hole x 1 ½" deep in ANSI 4140" to "I need a ½" by 5xD solid-carbide drill in grade KC7315." In the first case, NOVO helps users define machining features, drilling a blind hole in this case, and then immediately reduces the product set to those that can do the job, taking into account constraint requirements such as material, tolerance, and machining sequence for both single tools and multi-tools. NOVO then ranks the results—based on knowledge-based rules—to best meet the challenges of the application as defined by the customer's operating environment and user preferences, providing far more useful process knowledge than any online catalog alone, all obtained in a fraction of the time.



In the second case, when a customer already has preferred tool and grade in mind,  NOVO smart-attribute filters not only quickly select the products available to do the job, NOVO also gives the options on what cutting item and adaptive item fits and also works with the selected solution. NOVO smart filters take the task of selecting ALL cutting tool components from hours to minutes, while users get the assurance that the list is both comprehensive and correct.



In both cases, NOVO's Tool Configurator then provides all CAD files and graphic support for all tool components and their assembly – a major time savings for customers.



"NOVO thinks like a process planner," explains Thomas Long, head of the newly formed Virtual Machining RDE department at Kennametal. "It works from the feature back to the tooling strategy. In addition, each order number is tied to application data gleaned from hundreds of subject matter experts and decades of Kennametal experience. Request a part number and you also get pictures, assemblies, spare parts lists, as well as inserts that fit. Not only does it accomplish in minutes what formerly took hours, it yields an optimized solution, backed by Kennametal expertise, every time"



Even further, NOVO's Job Functionality option is a cloud-based repository linked to a user by a unique ID where tool lists can be stored for future use, editing, copying, and sharing. These can be easily downloaded into standard report formats and include tooling commercial and dimensional data and weights, speeds and feeds, and photo or CAD model images.



SIDEBAR 2 -- Addressing the Skills Gap

Manufacturing is experiencing a global renaissance in developed and emerging economies around the world as major industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy and others consistently demand new and better products. Manufacturing technology providers have responded with computer-driven machine tools, digital-based computer-aided design and manufacturing software (CAD/CAM), and significant advances in tooling. Yet behind this positive outlook lies a major barrier threatening this scenario: a significantly widening skills gap as older workers retire and new workers fail to engage in manufacturing careers.



"To effectively meet the skills gap for our customers, we need a better way to distribute the collected knowledge of Kennametal," states Francois Gau, VP of Strategic Marketing and New Business Development.   "More than a catalog, NOVO brings users into a community -- all our ongoing expertise delivered in a digital means of accessing process knowledge quickly. The result empowers users by providing the right solutions specifically tailored to their operations. It solves problems instead of managing data."



NOVO is an advanced digital tool selector and process planner with real-world productivity results.



More than a catalog, NOVO brings users into a community, delivering all of Kennametal's ongoing expertise in a digital means, so process knowledge is quickly accessible. The results empower users by providing the right solutions specifically tailored to their operations.



CONTACT: Carsten Gromoll

EMAIL: carsten.gromoll@kennametal.com

PHONE: +49-911-9735-557


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