US tariffs and their impact on exports have been the subject of several recent interviews with Gianfranco Sala, Sole Director of SALA, focusing on the strategies adopted by businesses in the Brescia area to deal with market uncertainty.
His comments have been featured by several publications, including Brescia Oggi, Il Giornale di Brescia, Corriere della Sera - Brescia and BFocus the magazine published by Confindustria Brescia. In the latter, Sala was interviewed alongside Mario Bonomi, General Manager of Bonomi Group, and Mario Gnutti, Vice President of Gnutti Carlo Group.
For SALA, il mercato statunitense rappresenta uno sbocco importantethe US market is an important area of business, accounting for almost 50% of the company's turnover. In such an uncertain situation, the company has also worked on managing its supplies, identifying ways to reduce the impact of tariffs in compliance with current regulations.
Alongside these strategies, there is another issue that is particularly relevant to our work: developing increasingly intelligent machines that can collect useful data and help companies manage their production processes.
US tariffs and skills shortages: why smarter machines are needed
In the interviews, Gianfranco Sala highlighted a significant issue in the US market: the difficulty of finding personnel with the technical skills required in manufacturing. This makes machines that can provide clear information about their own operation particularly valuable.
Monitoring performance, analysing cycle times and identifying potential anomalies helps companies gain a better understanding of what happens during production and make more informed decisions.
This is the direction SALA is taking in the development of its solutions: integrating technology into machines and production processes, providing useful tools even when technical skills are in short supply.
BE4: data and predictive maintenance for production
For SALA, one of the tools designed to meet these needs is BE4, a software system that combines predictive maintenance, cost analysis, Lean Analytics and Machine Learning.
The system monitors various aspects of production, including machine performance, OEE and the causes of downtime. It also allows users to analyse machining cycles, compare collected data and identify variations that may affect production results.
Using Machine Learning, BE4 assesses machine condition and automatically detects potential anomalies. This information helps identify situations that could develop into critical issues and plan maintenance activities in advance, reducing the risk of unexpected downtime.
Technology and technical support: a complete service for customers
Digital technologies are one part of the picture. For SALA, providing customers with reliable technical support is just as important, particularly when they operate in markets far from the company's headquarters.
In the United States, support is provided both remotely from Italy and by local technicians who receive training and regular updates at SALA's headquarters.
In this way, the information collected by the machines can support the work of technicians, helping them identify problems and manage service interventions. It is an approach that brings together expertise, digital tools and technical support, helping customers maintain production efficiency over time.