DEPRAG

Boris started his career at DEPRAG in 1986 and has held positions as Service Manager, Sr. Applications Engineer and is currently positioned as VP-Technology overseeing all North American technical operations.

Boris has been instrumental in the development and implementation of the ADAPTIVE DFS, and since its launch he has been DEPRAG’s North American specialist in Flow Fastening Technology. Boris has over 30-years of experience in the subjects of screw-joints, material behavior, and assembly solutions related to fastening technology. He has been a contributor to numerous white papers and technical articles, and is co-author of a research paper related to Flow Fastening Technology. 

Could you briefly talk about your current role and responsibility, and also give us an understanding of some of the challenges facing the current OEM landscape?

I have been working in DEPRAG for 35 years now. It constitutes my whole experience in the industry, along with serving in many other capacities. At DEPRAG, we primarily support automated screw-driving equipment and assembly solutions.

Based on this experience, I can say that the OEM industry, specifically the OEM automotive space, is drastically changing. Be it the way vehicles are made, or the materials used, the overall concept of the sector is transitioning.

The most concerning issues in this phase are supply chain hindrances and lack of qualified labor. Manufacturers are facing difficulty in getting materials and goods delivered backward and forward.

Along with these, manufacturers are also pacing up designing and production, prompting equipment suppliers to match with the speed. Shorter lead time and aggressive timelines leading to assembling early-stage, incomplete products are another prominent challenge.

What are some of the technology trends manufacturers should leverage to mitigate these challenges?

Like any other industry, automation is the solution for OEMs as well. More and more manufacturers are tackling the skilled-labor shortage by employing robotic solutions.

Another key trend manufacturers are banking on is considering suppliers at the early stages of product development. It helps suppliers to be involved in the designing process and influence the designs, making manufacturing more efficient and cost-effective.

How do you look at the convergence of automotive and tech evolving the OEM ecosystem?

More traditional manufacturers are driven toward technically advanced environments. For instance, many of them are shifting to California’s Silicon Valley, which serves as a global hub for high technology and innovation, providing the most technically advanced manpower. In addition to this, many manufacturers are choosing electric vehicles over internal combustion vehicles.

“The domain is continuously changing, so people need to be on the lookout for upcoming trends and be prepared to deal with them.”

Converging technology has also helped manufacturers transform their work environment. Most of them are adopting a more relaxed work culture, a free space where most people work from home.

What are some of the latest projects that you’re working on?

Our products are designed to match the customer’s needs, like supporting their work ecosystem or timelines. Our tools are designed to be more flexible, whether the latest screw-driving tools or our flexible robot end-of-arm tools. We also focus on equipment having the highest level of data collection and connectivity capabilities, sufficient for industry 4.0.

In terms of our project portfolio, we address a significant number of projects that are electric vehicle (EV) related. As many traditional tier-one and tier-two factories are retooling to deal with EVs rather than internal combustion vehicles, this service arena is of utmost popularity.

Manufacturers are using aluminum and steel rather than other metals, which requires a whole new assembling process. For instance, the process uses flow drill screw driving or more threaded fasteners and rivets. We are supporting these clients by working on those projects and expanding our product line. We are introducing innovative tools like our flow drill screwdriver, and end-of-arm tools, which are the Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) adapter fastening system.

How do you perceive the OEM space’s future in the next 12 to 18 months and what would be your piece of advice to the beginners in the field in this scenario?

Manufacturers are prioritizing flexible assembly lines, so they are more likely to shift into contract manufacturing. By establishing contracts with suppliers and customers, they can handle the creation of equipment by incorporating more changes and suggestions.

My advice to beginners in the industry is to be ready to adapt to rapid advancements. The domain is continuously changing, so people need to be on the lookout for upcoming trends and be prepared to deal with them.

Adapting to the changing work preferences of the new generation workforce, like the work-from-home culture, is equally important. Be prepared to embrace the young and emerging workforce.