Success in manufacturing requires precision, specificity, and consistency. That is possible to achieve, but only when enterprises are able to avoid accidents and incidents of all types as much as possible.
Manufacturing analytics is at the forefront of the fourth industrial revolution now transforming how goods are produced and distributed. The applications of manufacturing analytics are extensive, but they are particularly valuable for helping producers avoid, prevent, and minimize hiccups. Consider some common and consequential examples of setbacks manufacturers face, and learn how data-driven technologies provide a singular solution:
Cybersecurity Issues Including Ransomware
Cybersecurity is not something manufacturers have traditionally had to worry about, owing largely to the fact that they don’t deal with much sensitive information. But with the rise of ransomware attacks designed to disable systems and extort funds in order to fix the problem, manufacturers must worry about cyberattacks causing assembly lines to stop, supply chains to fall into chaos, and the bottom line to plummet. Manufacturers who store and track data related to cybersecurity are better able to spot patterns of attacks and resolve common sources of vulnerability. Ever more sophisticated attacks require ever more sophisticated solutions, even for manufacturers.
Supply Chain Mismanagement
When manufacturers are held to tight deadlines and expected to produce massive quotas there is no room for inefficiency or waste in the supply chain. Unfortunately, global supply chains are so complex and interconnected that it’s very hard to prevent issues or even resolve them if and when they appear. Manufacturing analytics is a way to gain a top-down perspective on a supply chain and identify the kinds of persistent issues that plague manufacturing operations. The data alone would not tell manufacturers what they need to know. They must also have a tool that is able to integrate data from multiple data sources and extract insights with speed and certainty from these huge data volumes.
Maintenance Issues with Equipment and Facilities
Manufacturers know that a single broken machine or one instance of inefficiency within a facility can throw operations into turmoil and bleed a lot of funds in the process. Practicing preventative maintenance is the key to avoiding these issues, but it’s notoriously difficult to identify exactly when something needs service. Analytics reveals when equipment performance starts to decline, when similar machines have experienced issues, and when facilities issues are holding back targets and quotas. Manufacturing facilities are massive collections of moving parts, and analytics makes them easier to manage and monitor.
Lack of Communication Internally and Externally
Small misunderstandings can lead to huge mistakes in manufacturing. But for the same reasons that managing a supply chain is difficult, keeping everyone on the same page with the same accurate and up-to-date data is challenging. Embedded analytics is an easy solution because it allows everyone to be on the same page, so to speak. For instance, one team can share embedded insights directly into the workflow of another team. This method encourages communication and expands the benefit of data analytics.
Issues with Quality Control
A single quality control issue can ruin a production run, and persistent quality control issues can sink a manufacturing enterprise. No manufacturer is immune to these issues, and every manufacture is interested in building better products more quickly and easily. Manufacturing analytics makes it possible to eliminate more quality controls issues and improve quality and consistency overall by tracking the details broadly and deeply. Manufacturers are able to spot quality issues sooner, identify the source more reliably, and devise a solution that is more effective.
Manufacturing analytics is not a panacea. Manufacturing is still a huge challenge even when data is driving the process. But analytics makes it less of a challenge while also opening up new opportunities for the present and the future. It’s understandable why this technology is quickly being considered essential for manufacturers large and small.
