Last Updated on March 21, 2024 by Saira Farman
The rise of the direct-to-consumer trend pressures manufacturers to create more sales channels. Using retailers and brick-and-mortar stores falls on a secondary plan, while e-commerce and online marketplaces emerge as favorites because they enable manufacturers to reach the end consumer, bypassing the middleman. Although appealing, this model doesn’t come without challenges. It means that manufacturers need to aggregate all the information, keep track of inventory in real time, and manage production efficiently.
Adopting digital technology remains a proven way to gain a competitive edge across a range of industries, and manufacturing is no exception. Modern technology enables manufacturers to become more efficient, reduce waste, and make data-driven decisions.
In this article we discuss the three main reasons why manufacturers need to adopt technology to stay ahead of competition and satisfy consumers’ expectations
Table of Contents
Improved inventory management
Production planning and inventory management are two areas where many manufacturers spend a significant amount of time and resources. Handling inventory and production by hand or with Excel spreadsheets is a tedious job. While this approach might be reasonable for a craft workshop, once a business starts scaling it is crucial to use manufacturing software for improved accuracy, live data, and greater efficiency. The more efficient a manufacturer’s operations are, the more competitive they become.
Identifying bottlenecks
Bottlenecks are described as operation stages that receive more requests than they can process, causing delays and inefficient capacity planning. Identifying and removing bottlenecks are priorities for manufacturing businesses aiming to run operations smoothly.
Using an ERP system helps to resolve manufacturing bottlenecks in various ways. For example, such software can help to schedule machine maintenance to take place at the least disruptive times; it helps to manage inventory from raw materials to finished goods to avoid overstocking or stockouts; it can also provide live updates as issues arise, collect, and analyze data to measure and report on performance.
Better resource management
Raw materials are the core of any manufacturing business. Being able to control and access information about the raw materials’ availability and expected delivery times is crucial for manufacturers looking to understand the resources engaged in the production process. MRP software helps ensure that the right inventory is available for the manufacturing operations at the right time and at the lowest possible cost. It also tells manufacturers what machine is needed at what time and when additional labor is needed. This in turn improves the efficiency, flexibility, and profitability of the production processes.
Moreover, ERP systems can identify productivity and quality fluctuations and ensure accurate inter- and intra-departmental communication. By offering data analytics in real-time, manufacturing software helps to run lean operations, mitigate waste, and ensure maximum efficiency levels.
Conclusion
Using the right software empowers manufacturers to do more with less. Manufacturers can take advantage of smart technology to move toward lean practices, bring all aspects of the business together, improve efficiency, and stay competitive. From data management and documentation, to saving time, money and optimizing resources, smart manufacturing software is key to any modern product-making business in 2022.
