by I2DS | Dec 22, 2022 | Blogs
What is profitability? Is it just making more and more money? Is it the blind pursuit of profit where no attention should be paid to the means of achieving it? The views on profitability might differ drastically depending on many socio-economic factors, what is important is that we realize why profitability is perceived differently around the world and what should be the true meaning of profitability in today’s economic environment. Profitability is perceived and pursued differently in different regions of the world and this difference arises due to the country’s economic maturity and the society’s general beliefs and its perception business ethics. Ideally any organization in business wants to achieve profit maximization, which is a valid thought; increasing value for the stakeholders is the number 1 priority of all firms. But it is the means of achieving higher profitability that becomes important in present context.
Sustainable Profitability, Social Responsibility and Ethical Conduct are a few aspects of modern theory of profitability and profit maximization cannot occur at the expense of these aspects. To achieve such profitability the organization needs thorough understanding of its own capabilities and its external environment. Let’s concentrate on the term Sustainable Profitability, and how can it be achieved in manufacturing operations considering the drastic changes in customer preferences, high speed of technological development and growing global competition. Sustainable Profitability comprises the achievement of maximum possible profitability under the given set of conditions and the effort required to sustain it in the given market conditions. Yes, sustaining long term profits is much more important than earning massive profits in the short term. In Manufacturing Industry, achieving higher sustained profitability is a function of productivity, which is both optimized and flexible. When we say optimized productivity we mean that the process produces the best possible output with the given resources, technology and employee skills, at minimal cost. When we say flexible productivity we mean productivity that is capable of reacting and adjusting to environmental changes, which are mostly uncertain. For a process to achieve sustainable profits, it should be both optimal and flexible at the same time.
This desired productivity, is again a function of automation and technical competence of the process and how well it is managed and controlled. To achieve process automation and reach the desired level of efficiency and flexibility, it is extremely important that IT applications like MES are considered. Successful MES applications have the power to combine the two most important facets of better productivity which are Operations Management and Technology. These are the two factors that can make an ordinary operation a very efficient and successful one. An MES application combines both these facets of Operation; it is a combination of Information Technology and Operations Management. Manufacturing Organizations can benefit immensely by the application of MES application, as it provides both automation but also Integration of their entire production process under one comprehensive system. But choosing just any MES application can be very risky and lead to massive losses and develop a negative attitude in the workforce.
To be able to design the perfect MES application, expertise in both Technology and Ops Management are prerequisites. As I mentioned earlier, every manufacturing process has some unique attributes, an MES provider should be able to assess these unique feature and use them in the MES application so as to further benefit the customer’s Organization. I2DS is one such company that can boast of expertise in both Information Technology and Operations Management. The team of experts at I2DS has worked for few of the top organizations world wide and is renowned for its skills in Factory Automation, Information Technology, Data Management and Operation Management. This means that the team does not take any manufacturing process for granted, each process is carefully analyzed to determine the scope and functionality of an MES application.
I2DS brings more to the table than any other MES application provider in the industry. Every MES solution provided is tailor made to suit the present and future technology of the client, with the main aim of making Operation Management more efficient and decision making more concrete. If you also value Technology and Operations Management and believe that your MES application should facilitate these factors, I2DS is the best partner for you. To know more about our solution or to get your process analyzed by our panel of experts, e-mail us at info@i2ds.com or hit the Request Live Demo tab on this webpage and we will get back to you
by I2DS | Dec 21, 2022 | Blogs
Operational Excellence, a lot comes to mind when this term is mentioned, it is what all organizations wish to achieve, and they strive for and are in constant pursuit of. The ends of such a pursuit are pretty clear, which would be becoming the Best-In-Class operation, Profit Maximization, Elevated levels of throughput, Cost minimization and Quality excellence. However, the means of achieving the same are process specific and need to be handled with a great degree of individuality and extreme caution. Management practices like Benchmarking, TQM, Lean etc. will only lead to improved competence, but to achieve operational excellence, the approach cannot be generic, it has to be tailor made to suit your operational set-up and should be as per your internal capabilities and external environment.
Achieving process excellence needs an Organization wide commitment, starting from the very top. When the pursuit of excellence becomes a main focus area of the top management, achieving excellence will become a lot easier. The top management should understand the reasons for having an excellent operation and truly believe that through sustained and coordinated efforts achieving operational excellence is well within reach. Top management should remain pro-technology and understand that one of the key contributors to achieve increasingly better performance is through the application of end-to-end information systems, which have the capability of monitoring, controlling and executing the entire process on a single platform. Information solutions help operations gain clarity and makes coordinated efforts possible. Achieving operational excellence becomes less challenging when the process functions as a single entity, this integration is possible only through information solutions that have the capability of integrating the process right from, receipt of raw materials to dispatch of ready to ship products.
Besides management commitment and technology, there are other key contributors to the pursuit of excellence; they are- employee training/participation, Quality means 0 defects philosophy and management by common sense. These factors are equally important and can mean the difference between success and failure of the entire endeavor. However, for this article my major area of concern remains the importance of technology and even more so the role of IT in the pursuit of Operational Excellence. So coming back to the area of focus, I believe information solutions can help reduce cycle time, operational expense, inventory and operational errors greatly. IT should be considered the foundation for building a strong and profitable process. Top management should consider developing either in-house IT capabilities or if they want to concentrate on core competencies they should consider outsourcing IT, but only to a capable and well equipped partner, with relevant industrial experience and expertise. The major benefit of employing an IT expert is that the resources of the organization could be used to improve issues related to the core competency and an expert can design a process specific solution and provide change management and employee training as well.
Your pursuit for operational excellence can benefit from just one word, which is MES. Yes, MES applications are those information technology applications that provide an integrated platform, which allows the execution of the entire production and QC process on a single system. The MES automates the entire facility and prevents the formation of bottlenecks. An MES application allows for real-time decision making and allows the operations manager to stay ahead of bottlenecks.MES applications are being employed by the best-in-class organizations to increase their throughput and ultimately their profitability. However the level of throughput you are able to attain for your plant depends on the partner you choose for the design and application of MES at your facility. At this point I would recommend that you consider I2DS as your MES design and application partner continue reading and you will know why.
I2DS has the most respected, Factory automation and MES implementation team in the industry. Our experts specialize in MES, Factory Automation, PLC, APC, SPC, Data Tapping, Database Management and RFID Implementation. Our approach to automation is highly professional and customer centric. We believe that every process is unique and the level of automation required varies for each organization. Our experts provide automation solution that is not only leading edge but also highly efficient, there by assisting your team to make your process the Best-In-Class process in your industry. I2DS’ customers have experienced a higher throughput, better flexibility and greater profitability ever since they chose I2DS as their automation partner. Our goal is to provide process specific automation and manage the resultant change; this makes us a preferred partner in the industry today. So if you are in need of Leading Edge automation for your production plant, look no further, I2DS is here to assist you in this endeavor. For getting a better idea of how automation can improve your process and achieve a greater profitability, e-mail us right away at info@i2ds.com or just drop your inquiry in the comment box and we will get back to you.
by I2DS | Dec 20, 2022 | Blogs
Data is the life blood of any manufacturing operation; it is required at every stage and across all stages of the process. Data Management is the heart of any professional operation. Data collection and analysis have come a long way since the first CNC machine ever came into existence. The need for equipment and tool data has been increasing due to the emphasis on SPC and automation place by much modern management and manufacturing theories. TQM and Lean Gurus such as Deming, Taguchi, Juran and Shingo have placed great emphasis on management by facts and prevention by better process control. This emphasis on management by facts has further intensified the need to pull real time data from the process and use it for better control and improvement.
But pulling data from equipment is easier said than done, there are many complexities involved in pulling process data from tools and equipment which arise due to their make, data systems, compatibility, user interface and programming language used. To complicate matters further Legacy systems being used in most factories are incapable of adapting to new process and data requirements. But equipment and tool data remains the most desired and sought after data for better process control and subsequent improvement. So what can be done to free this trapped data and present it to the right person? To be able to access the tool data you need a partner that understands your data requirements and is capable of providing this elusive data in the right format at the right time to the right person.
I2DS is the right partner for all your data tapping needs, let me elaborate why as we go ahead. I2DS has the capability to automate your entire operation irrespective of the genetics of your tools and equipment. Our automation team specializes in factory automation, data tapping, EDC and SPC. An automated factory has a comprehensive SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) application that enables effective HMI or Human Machine Interface. Our wide range of amazingly flexible products is what you require for applications like Tool Integration, Data Tap, SCADA, RFID implementation, SPC and EDC applications. So don’t waste your precious time, get in touch with us now and let us make your data available to you, from wherever it is trapped. E-mail us at info@i2ds.com and we will transform your factory and give you the edge that you deserve
by I2DS | Dec 19, 2022 | Blogs
For Organizations that manufacture any kind of product, the Factory is the heart of that Organization. Factories are places where a product or a product sub-assembly is manufactured or assembled. It is in these factories that raw materials become value added products that provide the desired utility to the end user. Information that flows to and from the factories is crucial and plays a massive role in the operational efficiency and effectiveness. Traditionally solutions have been developed to help functions like Finance, Purchase, HR and Marketing. Factories and Operations, have had limited solutions aimed specifically to improve the information processing and information flow, for them.
The information that is generated from a factory is extremely crucial and determines the actual efficiency of the production. To neglect the vital info generated by the production process is no less than a crime. The factory and communication to and from it should be carefully monitored, analyzed and understood. If you are in the business of making toys, let’s say and your factory is failing to meet customer expectations or is unable to ship goods on time, you are going to end up suffering both tangible and intangible losses. Some losses like the loss of respect from customers and suppliers can have permanent effect. What I am trying to say here is very simple, if you are a manufacturing company you need comprehensive information solutions for your factory, because no matter how good your other functions perform, your profitability is determined by your factories performance.
For all manufacturing firms it is vital to understand the role of their factories and realize that operations and operations management are directly related to their profitability. Today there are information solutions that can integrate the factory and provide real-time access to the top management to help assess every important event in the factory. Such solutions aid better management and help implement best management practices. FIS or Factory Information System is a boon for organizations that have manufacturing organizations that have production facilities at separate geographic locations or have multiple production lines at the same location. With an FIS they can monitor and analyze all the important happenings in the factory and take decisions before the seriousness of an issue escalates and it becomes a serious problem. What is important however is to understand the need for an FIS and the importance of managing Factory operations!
I2DS has realized this evident need and has developed a unique solution called FIS or Factory Information System. Our FIS system is truly at the forefront of technological advancements in the manufacturing space. It enables rapid data communication from the production floor and provides the organization with a real-time status on equipment status, WIP profile, and other factory metrics. We at I2DS realize the importance of process related information and how the flow of this information can affect the bottom line of your organization. Our FIS gives management a complete picture of what is happening on their Factory Floor, this helps better and faster decision making, that in turn increases organizational flexibility and aids continuous improvement.
Factory Information Systems help you better utilize your equipment, make better tactical plans, improve cycle time, locate and relieve bottlenecks and achieve your true capacity. FIS system can provide above mentioned functionalities because it makes all the important metrics available for analysis and subsequent decision making in real-time. FIS Technology if used effectively can change the way your factory operates, let I2DS be your automation partner and reach the pinnacle of efficiency and profit optimization. To get an experience of our amazing FIS solution and other Factory Automation Solutions e-mail us right away at info@i2ds.com
by I2DS | Dec 14, 2022 | Blogs
All modern management theories and systems such as TQM, Six Sigma, Lean and JIT, lay a lot of stress on management by facts. Many management theorists have stated and concurred the belief that what can be measured can be managed. The school of thought that advocates the use of facts and figures in management makes a very strong case, this is because it gives a factual and analysis based perspective to management and does away with managerial whims and fancies. But to be able to manage any process by facts and figures, it is imperative to have these facts and figures. Any process irrespective of its type, functionality or end product always has parameters that define it; every process generates data that can be measured to ascertain its performance. The use of standards, metrics and process generated data, for improving the process and better controlling it is what SPC or Statistical Process Control is all about.
TQM theorists and practitioners believe that SPC is the best way to manage and improve a process and that without SPC; a TQM effort can never be fully achieved. In the early 1980’s managers found the use of SPC very difficult as it required them to possess a very good command on statistical tools. This scenario has changed for good in the present SPC modules available for managerial decision making. Today there are SPC applications that can perform all the required calculations and provide the required information, this means that it’s the application that processes the raw data and the manager is saved from performing lengthy and time consuming calculations.
Most futuristic organizations of the world are moving towards the use of SPC applications for improving the over all process efficiency of their production units. Similarly to perform the production process they are using MES applications. MES applications are being used to automate and integrate the entire manufacturing operation, thereby providing a much better picture of the entire production process and facilitating better management. Ideally an MES application should have an SPC module in the core application, this further improves the functionality of the entire operation and facilitates faster and better decision making. But most companies that are in the MES space lack the ability to design and integrate an SPC module that would provide their customer the desired functionality. In such a scenario should an SPC application should be used separately from an MES or are there any other options available?
Well, there is always I2DS, Yes; we have been able to design various process specific MES applications for different industries, which have an in-built SPC module. We believe that an MES application should be a comprehensive management system that allows you to operate, manage and control your entire facility using just the one system and SPC is an integral part of it. We have a team of renowned experts in the field of SPC, Automation and MES applications and this makes our solutions the most advanced and user friendly applications in the industry today. So if you are Operations Manager or a COO reading this blog and you think that SPC is important for your Organization, don’t wait, get in touch with us right away and experience our superior applications. E-mail us at info@i2ds.com or just hit the Request Live Demo, Tab and prepare to be amazed.
by I2DS | Dec 13, 2022 | Blogs
What makes an Operation Excellent? What are the means to achieve excellence, why is it so important? Is an excellent process highly profitable as well? These questions are relevant to all manufacturers irrespective of industry, type of production and the resultant end product. Taking it from the top, any operation that is excellent will have certain attributes that set it apart from the rest. An operation can become excellent only when it has a dedicated team of workers and has a process that is under control. What sets certain operations apart is the way in which they deal with issues, the foresight that they possess and the way they recover from issues that effect their operation. Excellent operations become excellent because they achieve a dynamic equilibrium with external environment factors by changing and controlling the internal capabilities accordingly. Technology has a major role to play in the pursuit of manufacturing excellence, because a gifted and well trained workforce can only do so much without technological aid. Technology is the vehicle that drives the operational excellence endeavor, workforce is the fuel and management is the driver. Without technology the process will be walking and not motoring towards excellence. This answers the second question; the third however needs thought and analysis from a couple of perspectives. I believe that in business the profitability and ethics should go hand in hand. So when we talk about making more money, it should not mean a blatant disregard for society, environment and workforce. An excellent operation is the one that is excellent in process efficiency, which achieves higher throughput as well as is fully compliant with social, ethical and quality standards. Sometimes the management feels that the cost of being compliant is just a waste of money and cuts profitability, but an operation cannot be excellent if it is not safe and does not put quality before cost. So, how do you achieve an operation that is excellent, an operation that saves money, generates higher throughput and still remains compliant with required standards? Well, you do what mankind has been doing since centuries, i.e. you employ better technology. Yes, if you are to achieve all the features that constitute an excellent process, you have to employ technology, that can integrate your process and help you remain compliant at a lower cost and achieve higher profitability. Manufacturing excellence solutions are helping Organizations reach the pinnacle of manufacturing in their industry. These solutions are integrated IT applications that allow you to monitor all parameters that are of providence in achieving excellence. Let’s say that the top parameters that you might consider as pivotal for achieving manufacturing excellence are Safety, Quality, Personnel Performance and Preventive Maintenance. A manufacturing excellence solution will help you monitor, control and improve on these parameters in real-time. This means that the chances of you missing an event leading to a non-conformance, or a small issue becoming a major cost center are almost completely eliminated. However, it is important that you choose the partner for such applications with great care and analysis. You should know what parameters you consider vital for attaining and maintaining excellence. Once you know you can employ an IT expert organization to design and implement the application for your manufacturing operation. If you would like to know more about Manufacturing Excellence Solutions and how they can help your operation become the Best in your industry, feel free to get in touch with me at sumeet@i2ds.com, or info@i2ds.com , I am waiting to hear from you.
