The Client: CASA – A Growing Agricultural Equipment Manufacturer
Comptoir Agricole Sainte-Anne (CASA) is a mid-sized manufacturing company based in Repentigny, Quebec. Specializing in agricultural equipment like conveyors, grain elevators, and storage silos, CASA has served the market for nearly 50 years. With 120 full-time employees that grow to 200 seasonally, the company operates a single manufacturing facility with a focus on efficiency and quality. Despite steady demand, CASA faced operational challenges that limited its ability to scale and maximize capacity.
The Challenge: Maximizing Production Potential
Like many mid-sized manufacturers, CASA struggled with production inefficiency. Despite strong demand, the company consistently felt it had reached full capacity. While employees believed the production line was maxed out, operations director Félix Desrochers noticed idle machines and suspected otherwise.
“We thought we had reached our production limit, but I kept seeing idle machines on the floor. That told me there was untapped potential—we just didn’t have the real-time data to quantify it.”
Manual reporting further complicated the issue. Employees logged downtime and production data manually, leading to inconsistencies and delays in decision-making. The company needed a real-time, objective way to measure efficiency and identify bottlenecks without adding significant overhead or IT complexity.
Additionally, CASA aimed to expand into new markets, including Western Canada and, eventually, the U.S. Midwest. However, without improving efficiency, scaling production to meet demand would be difficult.
The Solution: Real-Time Production Tracking with Worximity
To address these challenges, CASA implemented Worximity’s real-time production tracking software. Initially installed on one machine, the system was gradually expanded to ten, with plans for further scaling. The software provided real-time insights into key performance indicators (KPIs), allowing CASA to track efficiency minute by minute.
“For us, the ease of use was a game changer. We looked at other software, but many were too complex or designed for much larger industries. With Worximity, we had real-time data from day one—it was an easy implementation. Other systems would have taken much longer to set up.”
A key focus was Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), a crucial metric for measuring efficiency, quality, and performance across different manufacturing processes. By standardizing KPIs across all equipment, CASA was able to compare production stages accurately.
Another standout feature was Worximity’s support.
“The support we get from Worximity is invaluable. Whenever we need assistance, they’re always available. It’s not just about having software—it’s about having a partner who helps us make the most of it.”
To ensure adoption, CASA displayed real-time production data on shop floor screens, allowing employees to see efficiency rates and identify areas for improvement. However, Desrochers recognized that simply providing data wasn’t enough—coaching and change management were essential to helping employees act on the insights.
“Displaying key performance indicators is one thing, but if employees don’t have the training or coaching to use the data to improve their processes, progress stalls. Active supervision and a structured continuous improvement program are essential to turning insights into real change.”
The Result: Data-Driven Decision-Making and Path to Increased Capacity
The shift from manual tracking to real-time data has already produced significant improvements. Employees are more aware of their productivity, leading to a cultural shift where teams question inefficiencies and seek solutions.
One major revelation was that CASA’s perceived production ceiling was actually a result of inefficiency, not true capacity limits. By analyzing data from Worximity, the company discovered it could potentially quadruple its capacity—not by adding shifts or increasing labor, but by improving machine utilization and addressing bottlenecks.
“With the data collected from Worximity, we quickly pinpointed a bottleneck in our production process. Without needing a deep analysis, it became evident that we could potentially quadruple our capacity—not by adding shifts or hiring more workers, but by improving efficiency. Instead of resorting to a costly night shift, optimizing our existing operations proved to be the smarter solution.”
Looking ahead, Desrochers sees even greater potential with Worximity as CASA continues to refine its processes.
“We’re still in the early stages of fully utilizing the software, but the future success of CASA with Worximity lies in using its data to drive continuous improvement through our Daily Management System (DMS).”
He believes that better integration of real-time data into daily production meetings will enhance decision-making and accountability.
“We have a DMS, but it’s not as effective as it could be. You can have all the data in the world, but if it’s not structured properly and used consistently, it doesn’t create real change.”
For Desrochers, continuous improvement needs a solid foundation.
“Once we establish a stronger link between Worximity’s real-time insights and our DMS, we’ll be able to identify inefficiencies faster and act on them immediately. This will help our teams take ownership of their processes and drive improvements daily. Ultimately, success comes from leveraging the data—not just collecting it.”
