The manufacturing industry is in dire need to optimize manufacturing processes to meet growing demands. Businesses are searching for greater flexibility to meet increasing requirements for smart, individualized products. Likewise, shop floors are asking for digitization.

Digitization is turning out to be a necessity in the manufacturing industry. The pace of transformation in manufacturing has never been so high. Industry 4.0 is disrupting the sector by bringing cyber-physical systems on shopfloors along with the Internet of Things (IoT) networking.

With digital transformation in manufacturing, organizations are adopting these modern technologies to meet new demands and remain competitive. Embracing digitization is helping them to deliver faster responses, effective production planning, controlling material requirements planning (MRP) and logistics, etc. Also, it’s assisting them in ensuring full traceability and documentation to comply with strict regulations.

Advantages of Incorporating Shopfloor Management in your production planning:

Streamline Processes with Automation

Discrete industries are gaining a decisive competitive edge by implementing manufacturing automation software. Using IoT based software and connecting your machines to ERP and manufacturing execution systems (MES) allows you to build a smart factory. You can easily monitor all the data from your devices and production line in real-time and immediately respond to any issues such as bottlenecks.

Implement Machine to Machine (M2M) Communication

M2M communication is revolutionizing the conventional way of business models by connecting all the physical assets and devices with digital systems in extensive business networks. It expedites the exchange of data, allows connected manufacturing processes, and also extends new possibilities for manufacturers and suppliers to offer value-added services.

Improve Visibility and Control with Analytics

At production plants, vast volumes of data are generated. To manage and unlock the potential of big data, manufacturers require advanced analytics. With right digitized solutions, businesses can gain new insights about their manufacturing processes/operations. Proper analyzing can help them enhance their processes from planning to after sales services. And by accurately forecasting demand, you can also optimize inventory levels.

Connect MES and Business Systems

Manufacturing execution systems (MES) are considered the backbone of production facilities; as it helps in letting you track, monitor, and control your manufacturing operations. Following this will give you greater visibility into processes, assistance in improving the quality of the product, and provide greater traceability. By integrating your MES with other significant business systems, such as ERP, you can expand the above-listed benefits and also optimize manufacturing processes throughout the shop floor and, eventually, your enterprise.

Closing Thoughts

Successful shop floor management is a fundamental condition to implement advanced management strategies. Consequently, an effective shop floor management demands the zeal of the employees and management to engage in the process. Thus, shop floor management should not serve as an administration tool for the organization, but principally to improve communication.

However, vital data and helpful communication exchange can be utilized as a crucial management tool. Shop floor management along with industrial IoT applications can improve the productivity level in your company (with little time investment). This way, there is an efficient data-based communication of improvement in daily activities.