How Venti Oelde Digitalizes the Shop Floor Itself
Software projects such as introducing an ERP system tie up many resources. Fan manufacturer Venti Oelde turns to generative AI from Arctory and builds its own digital shop-floor apps in natural language. Published in IT&Production 5/2026.
By Johannes Mohren ·
Programming with natural language
Software projects such as introducing an ERP system tie up many resources. As a result, other pressing digital projects are often neglected and remain unsolved. To remedy this, the fan manufacturer Venti Oelde is turning to generative AI. With the software of the AI startup Arctory, digital applications can be created using natural language.
Digital shop floor management at Venti Oelde · Image: Arctory GmbH
Mid-sized machine and plant builders in Germany often face similar challenges when digitalizing their shop floor. Until a few months ago, this was also true for the fan factory in Oelde (Ventilatorenfabrik Oelde). Its internal IT was heavily loaded and focused on strategic large-scale projects such as the introduction of a new ERP system. As a result, requests from the shop floor frequently went unaddressed. External developers caused high costs, and every adjustment led to additional effort. At the same time, standard solutions usually covered operational processes only partially, which lowered acceptance among employees. In parallel, demand kept growing.
Over time, a backlog of more than ten planned digital applications built up. With Arctory, an AI startup from Munich, the company chose a new approach. With the company's software, applications are not programmed in the classical way but described in natural language. The AI converts these process descriptions directly into functioning software. Within three months, the fan factory thus implemented two applications for the shop floor on its own.
The Shop Floor Board Goes Digital
The shop floor board was originally paper-based, inflexible, and not connected. Adjustments were laborious, information remained isolated, and responsibilities were often unclear. The consequence: low transparency and limited communication between departments.
Today the boards are digital and connected, flexibly adaptable, and centrally available. Venti can trace responsibilities, information is transparently available, and changes are possible at any time. This supports communication, gives a better overview, and enables faster reaction times in day-to-day operations.
The shift at a glance
Before
Paper-based
Information isolated
Responsibilities unclear
Today
Digital & connected
Transparently available
Central & traceable
Digital Maintenance Management
Before the Arctory software was introduced, machine failures were usually reported verbally or by email. Information was lost in the process or reached the responsible people late. Maintenance was organized in a confusing way, documentation was stored in a decentralized manner, and could only be found with effort.
Today, faults are reported in real time and forwarded directly to the right contacts. Maintenance and measures are recorded centrally and documented completely. This reduces downtimes, improves transparency, and at the same time lowers the effort involved in audits.
The shift at a glance
Before
Verbal & by email
Information gets lost
Decentralized docs
Today
Reported in real time
Straight to the right people
Central & complete
Vision of the Digital Factory
At Venti, more than ten connected digital apps are to be implemented on the shop floor with Arctory in the future. While the ERP system maps the standard processes and master data, the Arctory applications are intended to provide support where they create added value on the shop floor. "The future of digitalization in production is the ERP system together with Arctory," summarizes Lukas Stoppa, Technical Director of the Ventilatorenfabrik Oelde.
The future of digitalization in production is the ERP system together with Arctory.
Lukas Stoppa
Technical Director · Ventilatorenfabrik Oelde
Low-Code, No-Code, and AI
Digital applications in production are traditionally either individually programmed or created using no-code and low-code modular systems. Both approaches quickly reach their limits on the shop floor. Individual development ties up time, budget, and IT resources, while modular kit systems follow fixed structures and can only be adapted to a limited extent to real, dynamic production conditions.
Generative artificial intelligence can help here, in that applications are no longer programmed in the classical way or assembled from modules, but described in natural language. The AI translates process requirements directly into functioning software. With Arctory, employees thus create digital tools independently and without a technical background, for example, for PDCA measures (Plan, Do, Check, Act), maintenance tickets, or the display of production orders. The AI generates data models, views, and logic automatically, asks follow-up questions when needed, and shows changes in a live preview.
AI Enables Better Integration with Existing Systems
Digital applications in production rarely stand on their own. They have to integrate into existing systems such as ERP, machine connections, or other data sources. Here too, the AI provides support: it generates the underlying business logic as well as suitable database structures. Interfaces such as HTTP connections, CSV imports, or MQTT connections are created by the AI. The user merely adds the necessary authentication information.
All applications run within a shared architecture with central user management and role-based access control (RBAC). Permissions, visibilities, and approvals are clearly defined. Sensitive production data remains protected, and data security meets industrial requirements. This creates an end-to-end platform for the digitalization of production. The AI handles the technical implementation, while employees test the application, describe adjustments in natural language, and iterate further step by step.
Interfaces
HTTP, CSV and MQTT — created by the AI.
Shared architecture
Central user management for every app.
RBAC
Permissions and approvals clearly defined.
Data security
Protected data to industrial standards.
Benefits for Production
By using generative AI, companies can realize improvements directly in the operational environment. Ideas from the shop floor are no longer collected and postponed, but immediately mapped digitally, tested, and developed further. This shortens the distance between problem and solution. Departments gain room to maneuver, while IT governance, security, and integration capability are maintained.
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