How to achieve operational excellence, product innovation, and customer satisfaction with the help of technology.
What is digital transformation and why does it matter for manufacturers?
Digital transformation is the process of using technology to create new or modify existing business processes, products, and customer experiences. It is not just about adopting new tools, but about changing the way you work, think, and deliver value.
For the manufacturing sector, digital transformation is essential to stay competitive, agile, and responsive in a rapidly changing market. According to a report by IDC, manufacturers that invest in digital transformation can expect to see a 15% increase in revenue, a 17% reduction in costs, and a 26% improvement in customer satisfaction.
Some of the benefits of digital transformation for manufacturers include:
Improving operational efficiency and quality by automating and optimising processes, reducing waste and errors, and increasing visibility and control.
Enhancing product innovation and differentiation by enabling faster design, prototyping, testing, and customisation, and integrating customer feedback and data.
Increasing customer engagement and loyalty by delivering personalised and seamless experiences, improving service and support, and creating new value propositions and business models.
Improving workforce safety and well-being by monitoring and preventing hazards, accidents, and injuries, and providing training and guidance.
Improving environmental monitoring and compliance by measuring and reducing emissions, waste, and energy consumption, and adhering to regulations and standards.
What are some of the real-world applications and solutions that digital transformation has delivered for manufacturers?
Here are just a few examples of how manufacturers have used technology to transform their operations, products, and customer experiences:
Predictive maintenance
Predictive maintenance is the practice of using data and analytics to predict when a machine or equipment needs maintenance before it breaks down or causes problems. Predictive maintenance can help manufacturers reduce downtime, save costs, and improve quality. For example, a global industrial equipment manufacturer used IoT sensors and AI algorithms to monitor the performance and condition of its machines and provide alerts and recommendations for maintenance. As a result, the manufacturer reduced its maintenance costs by 40%, increased its uptime by 25%, and improved customer satisfaction by 35%.
How IoT and AI enable predictive maintenance
Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the network of connected devices, sensors, and machines that can collect, communicate, and analyse data in real-time. IoT can help manufacturers monitor and optimise their assets, processes, and products, and provide them with real-time data and insights.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the ability of machines to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, and decision-making. AI can help manufacturers improve their productivity, quality, and innovation by automating and augmenting human tasks, generating insights and recommendations, and enabling new capabilities.
Machine productivity
Machine productivity is the measure of how efficiently and effectively a machine performs its tasks and produces its outputs. Machine productivity can help manufacturers increase their output, reduce their costs, and improve their quality. For example, a leading manufacturer of automotive parts used IoT sensors and AI algorithms to monitor and optimise the performance and utilisation of its machines and provide feedback and guidance to its operators. As a result, the manufacturer increased its machine productivity by 30%, reduced its energy consumption by 20%, and improved its defect rate by 15%.
How IoT and AI enable machine productivity
Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are the same technologies that enable predictive maintenance, as explained above. By using IoT sensors and AI algorithms, manufacturers can collect, communicate, and analyse data in real-time, and optimise their machine performance and utilisation.
Warehouse management
Warehouse management is the process of managing the storage, movement, and distribution of goods and materials in a warehouse. Warehouse management can help manufacturers improve their inventory accuracy, order fulfilment, and customer satisfaction. For example, a leading manufacturer of consumer goods used IoT sensors and Microsoft Power Platform to create a low-code application that tracks and manages the location and status of its goods and materials in its warehouse and provides alerts and notifications to its staff and customers. As a result, the manufacturer improved its inventory accuracy by 40%, reduced its order fulfilment time by 35%, and improved customer satisfaction by 25%.
How IoT and Microsoft Power Platform enable warehouse management
Internet of Things (IoT) and Microsoft Power Platform are the same technologies that enable product design and customisation, as explained above. By using IoT sensors and Microsoft Power Platform, manufacturers can collect, communicate, and visualise data in real-time, and manage their warehouse operations and activities.
Business intelligence
Business intelligence is the process of collecting, analysing, and presenting data and information to support decision-making and strategic planning. Business intelligence can help manufacturers gain insights, identify trends, and discover opportunities. Using IT Managed Services and Microsoft Power Platform to create a low-code dashboard connecting numerous separate systems and data sources that provide interactive and actionable insights to its managers and executives.
Collaboration and communication
Collaboration and communication are the processes of working and interacting with others to achieve a common goal or outcome. Collaboration and communication can help manufacturers improve their teamwork, knowledge sharing, and innovation. For example, a leading manufacturer of food and beverages used SharePoint to create a cloud-based platform that enables its employees, suppliers, and customers to collaborate and communicate on various projects and tasks, and access and share documents and information. As a result, the manufacturer improved its collaboration and communication by 50%, reduced its project completion time by 40%, and improved its innovation and customer satisfaction by 30%.
How SharePoint enables collaboration and communication
SharePoint is a cloud-based platform that allows users to create, store, and manage documents and information, and collaborate and communicate with others. SharePoint can help manufacturers create intranets, extranets, and websites that facilitate collaboration and communication among their employees, suppliers, and customers.
Workforce safety and well-being
Workforce safety and well-being are measures of how safe and healthy the workers are in their work environment. Workforce safety and well-being can help manufacturers reduce risks, costs, and liabilities, and improve morale, retention, and productivity. For example, a leading manufacturer of chemicals used IoT sensors and AI algorithms to monitor and prevent hazards, accidents, and injuries in its plants, and provide training and guidance to its workers. As a result, the manufacturer improved its workforce safety and well-being by 60%, reduced its insurance claims by 50%, and improved its employee satisfaction by 40%.
How IoT and AI enable workforce safety and well-being
Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are the same technologies that enable predictive maintenance and machine productivity, as explained above. By using IoT sensors and AI algorithms, manufacturers can monitor and prevent hazards, accidents, and injuries in their work environment, and provide training and guidance to their workers. For example - smart cameras using computer vision could alert for unsafe conditions (such as no safety helmet, an obstruction to a forklift, only one person working on a machine when multiple are required, and so on).
Environmental monitoring and compliance
Environmental monitoring and compliance are the processes of measuring and reducing the environmental impact of manufacturing activities and adhering to the relevant regulations and standards. Environmental monitoring and compliance can help manufacturers improve their reputation, sustainability, and profitability, and avoid fines, penalties, and lawsuits. For example, a leading manufacturer of textiles used IoT sensors and Microsoft Power Platform to measure and reduce its emissions, waste, and energy consumption in its factories, and comply with the environmental regulations and standards. As a result, the manufacturer improved its environmental monitoring and compliance by 70%, reduced its carbon footprint by 30%, and improved its profitability by 20%.
How IoT and Microsoft Power Platform enable environmental monitoring and compliance
Internet of Things (IoT) and Microsoft Power Platform are the same technologies that enable product design and customisation and warehouse management, as explained above. By using IoT sensors and Microsoft Power Platform, manufacturers can measure and reduce their environmental impact, and comply with the relevant regulations and standards.
How can you get started with digital transformation in manufacturing?
Digital transformation in manufacturing is not a one-time project, but an interactive journey that requires vision, strategy, and execution. Here are some steps that can help you get started:
Assess your current state and identify your goals and challenges. What are your pain points, opportunities, and priorities? What are your customers' needs and expectations? What are your competitors doing and how can you differentiate yourself?
Define your digital transformation roadmap and align it with your business objectives. What are the key initiatives and technologies that can help you achieve your goals and overcome your challenges? How will you measure and track your progress and outcomes?
Partner with an expert IT Managed Service Provider who can guide you through the process and provide you with the best solutions and support. How can you leverage their expertise, experience, and resources to accelerate your digital transformation and maximise your return on investment?
Many of these initiatives are more achievable than you think, and the technology components can be quite inexpensive. You might already have many of the parts, such as Microsoft technologies and data siloes, within your organisation. You just need to connect them and leverage them to create value. We can help you do that, and more.
Why choose CMS Group as your IT partner for digital transformation in manufacturing?
CMS Group is a leading IT Managed Service Provider that specialises in helping manufacturers with all their IT needs (from 24/7 IT Support, to Security, Digital Transformation, and so on), with 35 years of experience. We have a team of certified and qualified professionals who can provide you with end-to-end support, from strategy and design to implementation and management.
We offer a range of IT solutions and services that can help you leverage IoT, AI, Microsoft Power Platform, SharePoint, and IT Managed Services to transform your manufacturing operations, products, and customer experiences. We can help you:
Implement IoT solutions that can monitor and optimise your assets, processes, and products, and provide you with real-time data and insights.
Use AI solutions that can automate and augment your human tasks, and enable new capabilities and features.
Create low-code or no-code applications, workflows, and dashboards, using Microsoft Power Platform, that can deliver personalised and seamless experiences, and improve your service and support.
Create cloud-based platforms, using SharePoint, that can facilitate collaboration and communication among your employees, suppliers, and customers.
Provide 24/7/365 IT support wholly, or alongside your internal IT Team, and benefit from our cloud computing, cybersecurity, data backup, and IT consulting services.
Improve your workforce safety and well-being, by using IoT and AI to monitor and prevent hazards, accidents, and injuries, and provide training and guidance to your workers.
Improve your environmental monitoring and compliance, by using IoT and Microsoft Power Platform to measure and reduce your environmental impact, and comply with the relevant regulations and standards.
If you are interested in learning more about how we can help you achieve digital transformation in manufacturing, please contact us today. We would love to hear from you and discuss your needs and goals. We can also provide you with real-world examples and success stories of how we have helped other manufacturers like you.
Get in touch today:
020 3404 4700