Starting with the assembly, sheltered workshop Lidwina now also carries out maintenance and repairs on the smart rat trap
The Flemish company Strygoo developed the SmarTrap, a high-tech rat trap. For three years now, they have been calling on Lidwina, a sheltered workshop, to assemble it. The expertise they built up has recently proved its use. Lidwina now also provides maintenance and repair services to the SmarTrap.
A poison-free smart rat trap
The SmarTrap is a poison-free, smart rat trap equipped with sensors. These monitor the catch remotely and indicate when rats visit the trap or when it has caught one. This avoids unnecessary movements to traps that eventually are still empty. The data from all traps is accurately recorded and used to obtain better catch results and to improve the system.
The SmarTrap is often concealed in a housing that protects the trap from other animals, vandalism or bad weather conditions. The housing was initially dome-shaped. In the meantime, they have also been integrated into benches (made of recycled plastic) that serve as street furniture.
For three years now, Lidwina's employees have been assembling the SmarTrap for Strygoo with great precision. Lidwina also makes the custom housings and benches. In the meantime, more than 2000 traps have been finished and deplaoyed, in Flanders and beyond.
Slow growth and efficient tools make for a succesful collaboration
The collaboration between Strygoo and Lidwina came about through a number of meetings in the local Kempen business network. Even before there was a concrete case, both partners already knew each other. So, they quickly found each other when Strygoo came up with the idea for the smart traps.
To familiarise Lidwina's employees with the assembly, Strygoo made videos that show the assembly of the trap step by step. When the Covid pandemic threw a spanner in the works for the supply chain of materials and raw materials, the design of the SmarTrap was adjusted several times. The assembly videos were also updated each time in function of these changes.
Strygoo also supplies the right specific work tools, so that the assembly meets the highest quality requirements.
Due to the labor-intensive concept, Strygoo only works for B2B customers. However, after a while, demand arose from local and private circles. Lidwina therefore bought 15 rat traps for local use (in the Kempen region). These are aimed at customers who are not served by local governments or pest control companies. Lidwina organises the rental and follow-up herself.
A simple solution for complex maintenance and repair
Over time, the first generation of rat traps began to show signs of wear. Due to the existing collaboration, it was logical for Strygoo to also contact Lidwina for maintenance and repairs.
Checking the traps or housings that make their way back, makes this a more complex task. That is why a work supervisor always evaluates which parts need to be repaired or replaced. Depending on this, they bring the “old” traps to the right place in the process. There, the employees reassemble these old traps, together with the new ones. Because the same employees take care of assembly and maintenance, there is little disruption to the work planning. Any variations in the inflow of products for maintenance and repairs are efficiently handled.
During regular consultations, Strygoo decides on what to do with traps where the damage is too severe, or the repair is too complicated. The work supervisor is available one day a week to answer any questions from the client. Strygoo also provides suitable tools and products for maintenance.
Leverage for other projects
In the meantime, Lidwina has a similar collaboration with a company that trades in ventilation units. At the moment, this only involves assembly. Here too, success is a result of good collaboration. Lidwina also receives the necessary supporting tools and components, with clear and concise instructions. Regular consultation ensures usable tools and working methods.
Keys to success
When reading this story, you might notice that there are a few elements that make this case a success:
- Personal contact as a starting point: The collaboration arose from personal network contacts. Getting to know each other and exchanging ideas pays off, even if there is no concrete case yet. Go outside and learn from each other.
- Gradually increasing complexity: this collaboration was expanded in small steps. This allows more advanced tasks to be added, without impacting the execution of the work.
- Regular consultation: accessibility, feedback and co-creation ensure usable tools and working methods.
- Close collaboration: the work supervisor, the workshop employees and their clients together ensure a well-oiled work organisation.
- Small series of products and varying quantities of products are feasible by cleverly combining assembly and repair and expanding the own activities linked to this product.
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