by I2DS | Oct 4, 2022 | Blogs
Is Safety the first priority in your Organization? Is worker safety and a hazard free working environment really what you strive for? It is seen that many organizations have fancy policies and documents portraying the concern they have for the safety of their workforce, but the reality is very different. These protocols and procedures that organizations claim to have in place are generally to achieve documentary compliance for various certifications and audits, with the end-goal remaining a boost in profits. Safety, however remain neglected and procedures become a joke if they are not practiced as is, any leeway that occurs in safety procedures no matter how trivial, can prove to be very costly. If we look at tragedy’s that have previously occurred, such as the Oil spill in the Pacific, Gas Tragedy in India and nuclear blast in Russia, all of them could have been avoided if safety policies and procedures were robust and well adhered to.
Even in organizations which do not pose an overt threat to workers or the environment, safety is the most basic and primary need for any individual and the duty of the management of any organization to fulfill this need is implied. As per Abraham Maslow’s theory about ‘Hierarchy of needs’, Safety, at the workplace is then first and foremost need of any worker. So when we say Safety First, we should mean it and work towards achieving it, because no one would like to work in an unsafe working environment. The life of a person is of the highest value and to ensure the safety of workers the highest responsibility of any organization. Many management practices like Poka Yoke widely practiced in Japan aims to fool-proof a given process in terms of operations in lean manufacturing, but similar processes can be used in Safety from a Safety Management point of view. The trick is to make a safety procedure both effective and efficient at the same time and this can be done using IT.
Today there are various industrial safety standards around the world that are helping Organizations better understand and develop safety related policies and procedures, OSHA Act 1970 USA- Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act, is one such example, where a clearly defined set of rules have to be adhered to for Safety and Health. Almost every country has similar rules for the minimum safety requirements for industrial establishments. Companies around the world need to better monitor and achieve these safety standards, but the problem that they face is that the efforts made for safety management are not fully integrated, there is a need for a system that would provide a greater insight on what is happening and what needs to be done for safety across the entire Organization.
The need is to truly believe in the Mantra- ‘Safety First.’, and practice it through IT solutions. Today there are many products in the market which are helping organizations streamline their Safety efforts and thereby achieve a cost effective yet robust management, to ensure a safe working environment. Automated systems today are capable of providing features ranging from risk-assessment to providing safety training. With a right IT application the possibilities become limitless. But, it is very important to understand your own needs first before jumping for a solution. You need to first understand the industry practices for safety, then compare them with your current system and establish what needs to be automated and why. Then you need to work with a competent vendor, who understands your industry’s requirement and can achieve the safety level you desire, with minimum efforts and cost. So if you really want a Safe working environment, you need to think safety, plan for safety and act for safety, but with an IT perspective to make a fool-proof, robust and cost-effective safety solution.
by I2DS | Sep 30, 2022 | Blogs
Ever since the beginning of human civilization, what sets us apart from other animals in the world is our ability to communicate, express thoughts and process information. Human beings have come a long way from gathering food, scavenging and hunting to building super cities and living in well established industrial societies. Do you ever think how has that been possible, it cant be just intelligence right? When I think about the growth of human beings on the whole, it strikes me that the main reason for our amazing growth is our ability to innovate and the pursuit of being better. Yes, human beings are inherently dissatisfied with what they have; we aspire to be better, faster, stronger and safer than we were yesterday. This active discontentment has lead to the innovation of almost everything man has created.
Most evident example of the above statement is the growth and complete transformation of manufacturing as an industry. Ever since manufacturing became an industry, it has been transformed and evolved, to achieve more than it did yesterday. This is true for all industries irrespective of the end product or genre of manufacturing. Major leaps have been taken in how the work is performed; the level of automation has increased from 0 to a 100 percent in some industries. The credit for this massive change goes to the very discontentment I mentioned before and I am an ardent admirer of it. It is this discontentment that drives the development and implementation of technological innovations.
Besides the high level of automation in terms of machinery, what else has changed in manufacturing industry? It is the way industries process information that has completely changed. However the development of highly efficient manufacturing information systems can still be considered to be in their nascent stage. But information systems and applications are undoubtedly the future of manufacturing Organizations. It is the same need of being faster; better, more efficient and more profitable that is driving this change and the revolution called IT. Yes, IT applications are making manufacturing processes more efficient by providing better process control, higher throughput, lower costs, real-time decision making and thereby greater profitability. Even for industries at the pinnacle of technology in terms of equipment and process capability, IT applications can still lead to better process performance, faster cycle time and a boost in profitability.
The need of having better information processing and higher level of transparency coupled with the desire to achieve better quality and control are the key drivers of the proliferation of Information systems in manufacturing. The level of excellence that you desire and crave from your process is only possible through the application of IT solutions. You will be amazed to see how IT has influenced every aspect of production right from design to dispatch of the end products. Now that we have established the necessity of IT applications and justified that they are the future of manufacturing, let me introduce to you the premium provider of these innovative and efficient IT application, I2DS.
I2DS has realized the need of the futuristic organizations to manage and retain their knowledge and has developed Information solutions to meet these needs of future, today. We offer a seamless integration for the entire Organization, our services and solutions range from Database Management to Manufacturing Excellence. We can achieve the level of integration desired by the Organization as we have developed solutions that are aimed at automation of Information Processing and better Knowledge Management. Let’s have a brief glance at all our verticals; they are, Data Management, Factory Automation, Factory MES, Manufacturing Excellence and IT/Software services.
Our verticals have been designed specially to provide integrated platforms, which have the functionality of converting raw data to information and providing seamless information to achieve smooth learning resulting in an Organization wide Knowledge Base. We have experts in all verticals mentioned above, which gives us the ability to empathize with Organizations and realize their pain points better, our solutions are aimed at resolving present information problems and better dealing with the future ones. So if you are an Organization that aspires to be a market leader through effective and efficient Information Management, I2DS is the right partner for you. If you want to get a glimpse of our world class product line e-mail us at info@i2ds.com or hit the Request Live Demo button on this page.
by I2DS | Sep 27, 2022 | Blogs
Process control, is a derivative of the school of thought that believes that management should be treated as more of a Science and should be based on hardcore evidence and facts, rather than managerial whims. I am an ardent believer of the same truly believe that what can be measured can definitely be managed when it comes to a process that has certain parameters and metrics. However, I do believe that when is comes to leading a team or converting a sales call a certain degree of personal charisma is required and that is a bit of an art, but when we talk about managing a process it is a pure science and should be subjected to strict and clearly defined process control measures.
All modern theories of management such as TQM, Lean, Six Sigma and others state the importance of SPC or Statistical Process Control in process management. SPC enables accurate process control and ensures quality parameters are achieved. SPC can be applied universally to any process where the required output can be measured. Some key tools used in SPC include control charts; a focus on continuous improvement; and the design of experiments. In simpler words SPC is a tool for Quality control that aims to achieve following objectives 1) Objective analysis of any variation 2) Increasing Productivity 3) Early detection of quality and performance related issues. If applied properly SPC can provide your Organization the competitive edge it requires.
If your factory requires better process control you need to consider the possibility of applying an SPC application that has the capability to collect, measure and analyze all process metrics and provide the desired information to facilitate better decision making. The ideal scenario is when your MES application has an in-built feature that incorporates an SPC. However most MES systems lack the effective implementation of SPC and that’s where I2DS comes in the picture. We have been able to incorporate one of the most revered SPC modules in our MES application, thereby providing our clients a seamless integration of their process functioning and process control.
We as an Organization truly believe that to achieve six sigma levels of production an effective SPC is mandatory. We specialize in the design and application of industry and process specific SPC applications. You can choose to apply our SPC separately or along with our MES application, we always recommend that SPC be employed with an MES for better functionality. If you need an SPC application and would like to understand how employing it can aid better process control, faster decision making, better quality and higher profitability, then you need to see our SPC application in action. To know more about SPC applications for your industry, e-mail us right away at info@i2ds.com or just hit the Request Live Demo Tab on this webpage.
by I2DS | Sep 26, 2022 | Blogs
Mura, Muri and Muda are the three types of wastes we see in Japanese management theories. Mura corresponds to unevenness in production, Muri is overburdening the workers and production process and Muda is non value adding work which attributes to waste. We often forget the importance of detecting the defects that cause these wastes. Finding the root cause of a particular waste type may prove helpful in eliminating the waste from the process, or at least lead to a considerable reduction in the waste being produced. All three wastes mentioned above can be witnessed in any typical manufacturing operation; these wastes are the major cause of loss of productivity and process down time.
Even in preventive maintenance programs the stress is laid on trying to increase the machine uptime and the final product remains neglected to an extent. In order to reach the desired standard of compliance and reduce the waste being generated it is imperative to analyze the defects being encountered during the production and try and detect the root cause for them. Defect management practices not only ensure steady production but also boost quality and reduce down time.
To effectively manage and control defects a Defect Management System should be employed, either individually or as a part of a bigger integrated application such as an MES. The better way of implementing the defect management system is having it integrated in the MES itself to give a better result due to the integrated nature of the application. This way the entire production process remains transparent and it becomes easier to identify the defect and its root cause. MES applications today have become advanced and can accommodate such applications as defect management. But the question that remains important is, which MES product is suitable for your process?
Well, the answer is quite simple; the best partner for your MES implementation and defect management is I2DS. Let me explain why, I2DS is one of the few companies in the industry that has a team of experts in Operations Management, it has developed the most sought MES application and they are the leaders in design and implementation of Defect Management Systems. These inherent qualities of I2DS make it one of the most sought after solution provider in the Manufacturing Automation industry. However actions speak louder than words and we would want you to see how effective our systems are and then make your choice. So if you are struggling with defect management and want a company that can understand your process, get in touch right away and make your production more productive. Our e-mail is info@i2ds.com, you can also leave your query in the comment box and we will get back to you.
by I2DS | Sep 23, 2022 | Blogs
Is Safety the first priority in your Organization? Is worker safety and a hazard free working environment really what you strive for? It is seen that many organizations have fancy policies and documents portraying the concern they have for the safety of their workforce, but the reality is very different. These protocols and procedures that organizations claim to have in place are generally to achieve documentary compliance for various certifications and audits, with the end-goal remaining a boost in profits. Safety, however remain neglected and procedures become a joke if they are not practiced as is, any leeway that occurs in safety procedures no matter how trivial, can prove to be very costly. If we look at tragedy’s that have previously occurred, such as the Oil spill in the Pacific, Gas Tragedy in India and nuclear blast in Russia, all of them could have been avoided if safety policies and procedures were robust and well adhered to.
Even in organizations which do not pose an overt threat to workers or the environment, safety is the most basic and primary need for any individual and the duty of the management of any organization to fulfill this need is implied. As per Abraham Maslow’s theory about ‘Hierarchy of needs’, Safety, at the workplace is then first and foremost need of any worker. So when we say Safety First, we should mean it and work towards achieving it, because no one would like to work in an unsafe working environment. The life of a person is of the highest value and to ensure the safety of workers the highest responsibility of any organization. Many management practices like Poka Yoke widely practiced in Japan aims to fool-proof a given process in terms of operations in lean manufacturing, but similar processes can be used in Safety from a Safety Management point of view. The trick is to make a safety procedure both effective and efficient at the same time and this can be done using IT.
Today there are various industrial safety standards around the world that are helping Organizations better understand and develop safety related policies and procedures, OSHA Act 1970 USA- Occupational Safety and Health Administration Act, is one such example, where a clearly defined set of rules have to be adhered to for Safety and Health. Almost every country has similar rules for the minimum safety requirements for industrial establishments. Companies around the world need to better monitor and achieve these safety standards, but the problem that they face is that the efforts made for safety management are not fully integrated, there is a need for a system that would provide a greater insight on what is happening and what needs to be done for safety across the entire Organization.
The need is to truly believe in the Mantra- ‘Safety First.’, and practice it through IT solutions. Today there are many products in the market which are helping organizations streamline their Safety efforts and thereby achieve a cost effective yet robust management, to ensure a safe working environment. Automated systems today are capable of providing features ranging from risk-assessment to providing safety training. With a right IT application the possibilities become limitless. But, it is very important to understand your own needs first before jumping for a solution. You need to first understand the industry practices for safety, then compare them with your current system and establish what needs to be automated and why. Then you need to work with a competent vendor, who understands your industry’s requirement and can achieve the safety level you desire, with minimum efforts and cost. So if you really want a Safe working environment, you need to think safety, plan for safety and act for safety, but with an IT perspective to make a fool-proof, robust and cost-effective safety solution.
by I2DS | Sep 21, 2022 | Blogs
Today Organizations worldwide are struggling to achieve sky high quality standards and a safe working environment for their work force. The aim is to achieve the requisite quality at minimal operational cost. So you would agree with me when I say that, Quality and Safety are the major concern for all Organizations. Now the question is are we tracking issues related to safety and quality effectively and taking care to prevent issues before they become a major problem? Conventional packages for manufacturing organizations lack the ability to track issues related to safety and quality, also they lack the capability of preventing major incidents. At I2DS we are determined to provide solutions to the above mentioned problems for our customers globally. So now the obvious question is, how can I2DS help you achieve High Quality and Safety for your Organization? Well the answer is really simple; we have designed a state of the art Safety and Quality Management Solution that will allow you to, 1) Track each issue related to safety and quality, chronologically. 2) Provide a priority for each event. 3) Assign owner to each task and event. 4) Report issues in real time. 5) Report the status of the issue. But that’s not all, at I2DS our endeavor is to adapt our system to the customer’s operations and we can provide you the above mentioned functionalities and much more. But for that you need to get in touch with us by writing into us info@i2ds.com or Request Live Demo. Let I2DS take care of your Safety & Quality Management and give you Clarity you have always desired.
