Advancement in Manufacturing Processes to Minimize the Risk of Pandemic

COVID-19 pandemic is still a problem, but with a little luck and a lot of hope, industries are close to reopening. While consumer see a break in the clouds, no one is quite sure what the road to recovery really means.

Manufacturing Processes amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Improvement in manufacturing is an ongoing strategy. Global market witnesses manufacturing implement quality strategies, inventory management systems, and information technology. Currently, in the midst of Industry 4.0, the consumer is witnessing a lot of companies modernizing with digital transformation by coupling traditional manufacturing processes with the latest technologies and innovation.

In manufacturing, there are always multiple projects to oversee and countless activities being processed simultaneously. There are factors involving inventory, shipping, and supply chain that need to be accounted for, but they can all be difficult to manage without a modern technology platform in place – and that’s before the pandemic. Moreover, the manufacturing industry has many facets that can greatly benefit from digital transformation.

Data flow and control processing of data

Manufacturing companies are inundated with data and can be overwhelmed by the amount they have today, and what will flow in tomorrow.  Data is a rich asset and should be looked upon accordingly. Manufacturing-driven businesses can start by unifying their data into a single platform to enrich the quality of reporting. Building systems to democratize access to real-time analytics for appropriate business users empowers them to make decisions “on the spot” based on a single version of the truth.

Improving Operational Efficiency

With this data management platform in place, manufacturing can better leverage dashboards, reports, and scorecards to strengthen decision making to improve efficiencies. Visualization tools can enable executives to gather insights and updates on key performance indicators in a simplified manner that are easy to interpret. These insights allow manufacturing to reduce waste, labor costs, material, and overhead while enhancing product quality. They can also lead to improved supplier negotiations, stronger customer relationships, and better predictions for the future.

Managing Supply Chains and Logistics

Supply chain management is always a chief concern. Going digital can lead to better analytics so that companies can transform the management of supply chain logistics. Ultimately, this will improve quality, ensure timely deliveries, enhance monitoring of freight costs, optimize the performance of suppliers, and enable quicker identification of fluctuations in supply and demand.

Automation and Productivity

By implementing collaboration software and integrated apps, on the web or via mobile, companies can achieve seamless communication, team-status updates, and automated workflows. Management and employees can easily share content in a central location so all have access to the same information. This strengthens project control while at work or remote and for dispersed teams — all accomplished without having to worry about infrastructure requirements. By empowering and enabling employees to share and synchronize progress and resource updates, companies can make more informed decisions and greatly increase productivity.

Cloud Adoption

The number of manufacturers taking advantage of the cloud continues to rise sharply each year. Companies have several options when choosing a vendor as the three main providers are Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. While each provider has its own unique strengths, the decision comes down to understand infrastructure needs, fit, and comfort. Generally, the benefits for cloud computing include paying for only the services; better scalability, 24/7 access from any location, and support for upgrades and new technology. Going to the cloud also frees up tech staff to focus on more strategic initiatives.

Conclusion

The proper application and fusion of technology and innovation across the manufacturing operations can substantially change the business. Allocation costs to new initiatives while coming out of COVID-19 is a consideration for sure, but companies don’t have to embark on a full-fledged digital transformation initiative from the outset. As the transformation progresses, companies should witness the meaningful impact of new operations and realize a solid return on investment.

In conclusion, companies can now integrate manufacturing with digitization. Companies can quickly become nimbler and more agile, improving workspaces, workflow, costs, and performance. It all starts with a vision and the desire to persevere, despite bumps in the road such as the one posed by the pandemic.