The construction sector is under pressure. We need to build faster, more sustainably, and with fewer people. At the same time, stakeholders across the chain often use different standards, tools and levels of digital maturity. This makes it difficult to align and exchange data effectively across the value chain.

Unlike industries such as automotive, where a clear OEM often defines standards and ways of working, the construction sector typically misses a single owner in the chain. This makes standardisation more challenging and leads to greater variation between projects and stakeholders. High-tech faces similar challenges, although standards are more often defined by leading OEMs.

It is precisely this complexity that creates opportunities for digitalisation in construction.

Digitalisation in construction goes beyond tools or systems. It is about connecting the entire supply chain. This includes everything from technical design and BIM models to procurement, assembly, and production.

During the Nobleo theme evening, we illustrated this with two examples:

• From BIM to system set-up, such as ERP:

How to incorporate the required information to steer (and automate) the supply chain workflows.

• From project planning to production sequence:

How do you ensure that your factory runs efficiently in terms of flow and productivity?

We have found that automation without a solid digital foundation remains vulnerable. Real control only emerges when data is used intelligently for planning, production and control.

At the same time, this requires a different way of working with data. Where some frontrunners are already moving towards fully integrated, data-driven approaches that directly connect design to production and supply chain, this is still a significant step for most organizations.

The challenge, therefore, is not only in technology, but in making better use of existing models and data, while gradually moving towards a more integrated and scalable approach across the entire chain.

Digitalisation in construction is not just about adopting new tools. It is about creating a connected, data-driven foundation that enables better decision-making, improved productivity and scalable processes

Would you like to know more about our approach, or explore how this applies to your organisation? Feel free to contact us, or take a look at our construction page.

Achieving New Level Manufacturing Together

Peter Thissen was Nobleo Manufacturing’s Technical Director for more than ten years. During that time, he played a significant role in shaping the company’s growth and evolution. His background in the automotive industry and in-depth knowledge of production and logistics processes formed the basis for the company’s focus on flow, productivity and targeted improvement.

Under his guidance, Nobleo Manufacturing evolved into a well-defined organisation with a distinctive approach. KATA and scientific thinking were firmly embedded in projects and employee development. This has not only led to demonstrable results for customers, but also to a company culture in which knowledge sharing and development play a central role.

According to Stijn, Peter has left a lasting mark on Nobleo Manufacturing:

“Peter has shaped the direction of Nobleo Manufacturing. His unique automotive expertise, with focus on goal-oriented improvement, has played a key role in the competence development within our organisation.”

Stijn Totté – Stijn Totté

When he looks back, Peter is mainly proud of the development of people. In recent years, Nobleo has grown in size and organisational strength, becoming more cohesive.

“I am most proud when I see how our employees have developed so much in just a few years, and how confidently and enjoyably they achieve success for our clients,”

Peter Thissen – Peter Thissen

This focus on people, combined with a strong substantive foundation, has enabled Nobleo to support customers in a variety of sectors, including high-tech and automotive, to achieve higher levels of productivity.

As the new technical director, Stijn’s focus over the next few years will be on further developing the technical roadmap. The key pillars of this development will be digitalisation, industrialisation and international cooperation.

At the same time, the emphasis will be on strengthening the internal foundation by developing a consistent way of working and ensuring a balanced mix of competencies within the organisation. Stijn explains:

“My goal is to establish a strong foundation that enables every Nobleo colleague to swiftly grasp the customer needs and translate them to the next level of manufacturing.”

Stijn Totté – Stijn Totté

Collaborating with knowledge institutions is an important part of this process. By actively collaborating with universities, Nobleo stays on top of new research developments in our field.

Peter is transitioning his ownership- and technical director responsibility into a business-management, and  principal consultancy role, where he will continue to work with customers and contribute to the organisation’s ongoing development. He will shift his focus from administrative responsibility to sharing his experience, guiding new customer projects, and inspiring colleagues.

“I look forward to continuing to share my experience, challenging our younger colleagues and working with clients to reach the next level,”

Peter Thissen – Peter Thissen

With Stijn Totté as the new Technical Director and Peter Thissen as an experienced advisor, Nobleo Manufacturing is continuing to build its future. By sticking to its core values of substantive expertise, targeted improvement and collaboration, Nobleo continues to support its customers in ‘Achieving New Level Manufacturing Together‘.

At Nobleo Manufacturing, we recognize strong parallels with developments in the automotive and high-tech industries. In these sectors, industrialisation has not been an ambition but a reality for a long time. We believe that our expertise in digitalisation, process optimisation and smart manufacturing can help precast manufacturers to produce faster, more efficiently and in a scalable way. We are bringing exactly that experience to the construction industry.

That is why, alongside several of our customers, we have joined the Conceptual Construction Network (NCB): a network of leaders in the conceptual construction chain, from developer to manufacturer.

The Conceptual Building Network is commited to make sustainable and affordable housing feasible again. By encouraging cooperation between clients and suppliers, the network aims to contribute to faster and better building, accessible for everyone.

Nobleo Manufacturing brings years of experience in manufacturing excellence from the high-tech and automotive industries to the construction industry. We support construction companies in standardising processes, optimising production flows and smart application of digitalisation.

Our aim: to make conceptual construction scalable, repeatable and flexible.

With our approach, companies can reduce failure costs, shorten lead times and increase production capacity, without compromising on quality. Together, we make the step from traditional construction to industrial efficiency.

We are excited to collaborate with fellow member of the NCB to develop solutions that make a difference. Curious how your organisation can transition to industrial housing production? Feel free to contact us!

The event was led by Patrick Lennertz, Technical Director at Mondi Group, who facilitated discussions on the latest innovations in manufacturing. Frank Sperling, Technical Director at Nobleo Technology, guided the attendees with a tour of advanced test setups and an impression of our technical expertise.

A key highlight of the evening was an introduction to the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) by Berend Steenhuisen, Program Lead Manufacturing Intelligence at Nobleo Manufacturing. SIRI provides a structured approach for organizations to assess and enhance their digital transformation, a crucial step in creating the factories of the future.

The discussions became even more tangible with a deep dive into the Van Wijnen housing factory in Heerenveen, Europe’s largest industrial construction initiative. Hilbrand Katsma, CEO at Van Wijnen Components, was featured on video sharing his experiences building a state-of-the-art, future-proof production facility.

The evening concluded with interactive intervision assignments, where attendees collaborated on real-world industry challenges. The discussions carried on well into the informal networking session, reflecting the strong engagement and enthusiasm for the future of manufacturing.

At Nobleo Manufacturing, we focus on practical innovation and sharing knowledge to drive real impact in the industry. These events highlight the value of collaboration in advancing smart manufacturing. A special thank you to all speakers, and participants for making this an inspiring and insightful evening. We look forward to continuing these valuable exchanges in the future!

Want to learn more about our insights on Smart Industry? Read the full article about SIRI here.