Have you implemented a strategy to utilize advanced data analytics and AI for your business? If the answer to that question is “no”, find out how this new software is saving time, money and human capital.
As innovative technology hits the market, new resources and subsequent opportunities arise. A recent article in Industry Today, highlighted the Six Ways To Streamline Your Manufacturing Operations. The six areas to focus on are:
Supply Chain Optimization- Automation and Robotics
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Lean Manufacturing Principles
- Just in Time (JIT) Manufacturing
- Employee Training and Accountability
Another article Manufacturing Companies Are Not Investing Enough In AI highlights three key areas that progress is needed to make AI profitable. These three areas are:
- Making Data Available and Usable
- Overcoming Fear of AI
- Embracing Organizational Change
With these two articles in mind, we’d like to discuss data as it relates to your entire business and introduce you to a software platform that can assist you.
Is your company currently using data for decision making?
Data driven decisions use facts and metrics to guide strategic business decisions that align with a company’s initiatives and goals. Using data to drive decision making is essential in a production process.
For example: if someone puts in for vacation time with HR, is the production planner also privy to that information in real time? Data that is shared with the correct departments in a timely manner allows data driven decisions to take place. Using real-time data improves efficiency and communication between departments.
How much time do you and your team spend collecting data?
When tallied up, is the amount of time manually collecting data worth the investment? If the data is being used effectively then the answer for some companies is “yes,” while other companies have room to explore an alternative method.
For example: A production manager spends valuable time creating a schedule that could be obsolete two hours later because a piece of valuable information (from HR or Receiving for example) was not automatically updated. Now, instead of utilizing real time data, the production manager must start again from scratch.
How well do you understand the efficiency of your production process?
When a company thoroughly understands the efficiency of their manufacturing and production processes, it can look at the maximum output they can achieve using the assets it already has. Production efficiency usually happens when a system has reached capacity, meaning it cannot produce more goods without sacrificing the production of another related product. Without timely data, a production process will struggle to succeed.
Do you have Data Silos?
A data silo is a collection of data held by one group that cannot be easily or fully accessed by other groups all within the same organization. This causes problems for all departments within a company because it erects walls between clear and effective communication. Examples of affected departments are:
- Operations
- Inspection
- Production
- Research and Development
- Planning
- Design
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Warehouse Handling
- Human Resources
- Finance
- Sales
- Marketing
- Customer Service
- IT
Those are just the affected internal departments. Don’t forget the external sources such as FedEx and any equipment using API.
What is a viable solution?
We recently met with a local company that has developed a software program that solves the Data Driven Decision Making challenge. It can be used in conjunction with an ERP program., as prelude to an ERP program or, for small manufacturers, in lieu of an ERP program. Moreover, it can cost up to 50% less than an ERP program.
This software uses advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence to assemble real-time data to help save you time, money and human resources. It may sound complex, but it’s designed to be easy to use and is tailored to individual job functions; and it can even be customized by the end-users themselves.
It starts with understanding your needs and processes, and with that, providing a solution that automates the collection, integration, analysis, and visualization of your data to give you the information you need – in real time – to make data-driven decisions. This can be done without AI.
But the solution goes beyond standard data analytics to offer the benefits of AI. These include things like the ability to ask plain language questions to find otherwise hidden insights in your data, request reports, or conduct searches. This takes data-driven decision making to an even higher level.
The Connecticut Manufacturers Resource Group (CTmrg) is dedicated to finding and combining all available resources to help build the strongest possible manufacturing environment for their its clients. As part of this commitment, we’re always looking for solutions to challenges that manufacturers are currently facing.
As an organization created solely for the benefit of CT Manufacturers, CTmrg only recommends products and services that it truly believes can help manufacturers. We’re excited to share that this software program has space for three more pilot sites.
This would provide a three-month free trial. If your company believes that the implementation of advanced data analytics and AI is an investment in the future of manufacturing and looks forward to an easier tomorrow, please Contact Us for a no obligation review of this software platform.