by I2DS | May 20, 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 | May 19, 2022 | Blogs
There are two universal variables each organization deals with and it is these variables that determine the shape, size and future of the operations in every Organization. These variables are Market Forces and Internal Capabilities. Both these factors are constantly changing and interdependent, this means that every organization in the world keeps changing as per changes in these factors. In present day and age most operations in the world have become customer centric and Quality of products has become the most important deliverable. The above statement implies that now the market forces are stronger than ever and most successful organizations have realized this and have been able to successfully alter their internal capabilities accordingly. It is the pursuit of this dynamic equilibrium between market forces and internal capabilities that has cause a sea change to cycle time and TTM.
Due to smarter consumers and their short attention span, the cycle time required for product development and marketing it has become shorter than ever. The total time taken from the conception of a product till it’s ready to sell is called Time-To-Market or simply TTM. The market leader has the luxury of a higher TTM; the followers unfortunately do not have this luxury. For industries in which the products are outmoded or need updating continuously the TTM is even smaller for example the Software industry, FMCG industry etc. Shorter TTM means higher pressure on the R&D and Marketing function, but even the other verticals are also under a constant and ever increasing pressure.
So how do you survive in such difficult times? How do you ensure you can sustain under the adverse market conditions and still improve your bottom line? To reduce the TTM, it is vital to have MES applications that allow quick decision making and reduce cycle time. MES applications that are dedicated to your process will help you achieve the TTM you are looking for. MES applications allow seamless integration of all verticals in your production process and can help reduce the cycle time drastically. This happens because such systems help process information in real-time at all levels of management, thereby achieving a better and more cohesive development of products and services. But any off the shelf solution will not be the correct choice if you have a complex process and need to improve your TTM in a large way. You need a process specific solution that can adapt to your unique needs.
An MES application needs careful design and consideration of your process in every aspect. This application can help you achieve a flexible and highly adaptive operation, but the choice of the MES provider is a vital constraint to your success. Such applications can not be purchased off the shelf as general applications will never provide you the desired functionality. MES application design needs a combination of Operational expertise and Software design proficiency, these skills allow for an MES application that is process specific and can lead to great reduction in cycle time. If you have any questions about the pressures your Organization is facing to reduce cycle time and how to cope and better manage your process, please write into us at info@i2ds.com.
by I2DS | May 17, 2022 | Blogs
Why do we need process control? To what extent should the data be analyzed? Will my operation really gain anything from an automated SPC application? These questions arise in an operations manager’s mind whenever the topic of an automated SPC system comes up for discussion. Let us try and answer these questions and help our operation manager in distress. The first question seems a little irrelevant to me, because I am ardent believer in the saying, ‘what can be measured can be Managed.’ Without an SPC system it would be very difficult to separate assignable causes and non assignable causes in quality and process related events that occur. This absence of process data can cripple the entire operation, so the need of an SPC system is not a question for me; I think an SPC application can find its way in any kind of operation.
The second question is a very good question, the extent of data analysis? Well, there is no point digging for more data if you have a process under control and your process metrics are clearly known, understood and monitored by your current SPC application, this means that your process knowledge is sufficient. But if the process metrics are not well known or it is a new process then an SPC application that can measure all relevant process metrics is a good way to start. Having an SPC application not only facilitates better process control but also adds to your process knowledge and helps you get a much better information pool about the process. This in turn facilitates process improvement and leads to operational excellence in due course of time. Thus the data that needs to be analyzed completely depends on the type of process and the present knowledge that you possess about the process.
The third question asks us about the relevance of an automated SPC application, I believe that an automated SPC system has benefits that are multi faceted. To begin with an automated SPC saves precious time that is spent on calculating relevant parameters manually, they are more accurate and human error is eliminated to a large extent and last but certainly not the least, an automated SPC solution allows you to take real-time decisions. This makes an automated SPC application a much more preferred option for your operation. However, when choosing a partner for such an important you need to tread very carefully. You need experts to apply an SPC application and the future performance of your process is dependent on it.
I2DS is the best technology partner for you, if you want the Best-In-Class SPC application at a reasonable price. At I2DS we realize the value a good SPC tool in your Organization’s system can add value to your entire operations and how it can improve your Quality control substantially. Our highly potent and capable SPC is capable of generating real time information like Cp & CpK Charts, Real-Time Process Data, Trends feedback, Tool Shutdown, Trend Charts, SMS Text Capabilities, E-mail alerts and other process specific charts and reports. Our SPC application is modeled as per your process and includes the metrics that you and your end customer consider vital. So if you have the desire to use Statistical tools to generate higher Quality, look no further, I2DS is right here to take care of Quality control endeavor. E-mail us at info@i2ds.com we welcome your comments and suggestions as well, please leave a comment if you find the content useful or just want to know more about our products.
by I2DS | May 16, 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 | May 12, 2022 | Blogs
Is your factory operation the best-in-class in your industry? Is it operating at optimum efficiency/effectiveness? Are the operational efforts well-coordinated, well communicated and well documented? Do you have the ability to monitor each and every activity in real-time and make profitable decisions? Today these are the questions that are critical for an Organization that believes in achieving the highest possible Quality at the lowest possible cost. Manufacturing organizations today are constantly under pressure to develop newer, better products much faster than ever before. This means that the factory operation needs to be achieving optimum efficiency just to be able to cater to the needs of the dynamic conditions and highly demanding markets.
Organizations that can boast of having the best-in-class operations in the industry have been able to do so by strategic planning and employing/developing path breaking technologies. For manufacturing Organizations, it is extremely vital to have a synchronized and integrated operation, which works together as a single unit. Understanding the importance of Technology and the role it plays in the success of the best organizations can help us understand how technology can contribute towards making our operation the best-in-class operation. One of the most important facets of technology is IT or Information Technology. IT is being used to integrate operations, provide better customer service, facilitate decision making and increase throughput of the entire Organization.
The need of the hour is to have information solutions that enable you to better adjust with the market forces and still be able to achieve optimum efficiency, so that profits of the firm are not affected. I2DS has been able to provide powerful Information solutions to its customers and helped them achieve the efficiency that they desire. We believe that only on integrating the Factory Operations can an organization get a handle on what’s going on in their factory and how to better control and synchronize the efforts. Our solutions give you a better picture of every activity that happens on the floor and generate real-time reports that enable effective decision making.
Our path breaking MES product gives you a common platform for all your operations, this enables integration and real time decision making. Every lot that is run can be configured from the beginning to EOL; right from selecting lot-path to lot-recipe, each lot can be tracked irrespective of current location. EDC and SPC features allow better control and quality; they also enable real-time analysis and help better and faster implementation of corrective action plans. It helps generate reports that are available for analysis as and when required. All in all our MES solution gives you the functionality of optimizing and integrating your operations right from planning to execution, in real-time.
But the benefits that I2DS can provide to your factory ops don’t stop here, we have made it our mission to go beyond the realm of basic MES and our Manufacturing Excellence Solution does exactly that. I2DS’ Manufacturing Excellence allows you to monitor all the major issues on your factory floor which include, Quality, Safety, Equipment Issues & Communication Management. This solution helps you gauge issues besides regular factory operations which are just as critical as the operations itself. Each and every issue that is related to Quality, Safety & Equipment becomes very important as neglecting them can lead to high and unwanted cost implications. Our Manufacturing Excellence solution allows you to report, track and analyze all these vital issues and make real-time decisions.
Equipped with these powerful tools you can achieve a highly robust, integrated and optimally efficient operation. I2DS’ endeavor is to help customers achieve operational excellence has lead us to develop even more amazing solutions right from Database Management to a complete IT outsourcing partner. So if you want to feel the happiness that results from a factory that is working at its true potential write into us at info@i2ds.com.
by I2DS | May 10, 2022 | Blogs
Optimizing your factory performance, is it needed? If yes, how can this level of performance be achieved? Let us ponder on the first question, the Goal of every organization is to achieve profit maximization and accomplish its fiduciary responsibilities towards its stakeholders. Optimizing performance no longer means achieving highest possible level of production, rather it means reaching highest possible profitability. If your factory is able to achieve highest possible profitability, it is implied that your operations are functioning optimally. Factory Operations today need to be able to achieve high quality production faster than ever before. So an operation that is flexible and can react quickly and effectively to the market forces is an operation that is performing optimally.
Now how do you achieve this optimal performance in your factory? The best companies in the world have been able to optimize their performance through factory automation and process integration, both from equipment and information systems point of view. However it’s easier said than done, to be able to completely optimize your operations you need a strategic partner, who will analyze your operation and then provide you the ideal solution you have been looking for.
I2DS has been able to optimize the performance of its customers’ factories worldwide and also managed the inertia towards the resultant change, that might come from the workforce. At I2DS we provide a myriad of solutions which can be broadly classified as- Data Management, Factory Operation, Factory MES, Manufacturing Excellence and IT/Software Services. Our mantra is to be a one stop shop for all your Information related requirements and we value our customers more than anything. We have been able to provide our solutions to many Organizations and helped them achieve the flexibility they require to excel in their industry.
We have a pool of experts who have not only worked with global giants but have also been able to achieve high levels of Quality and Customer Satisfaction. So if you are looking to optimize your performance, come look into our treasure chest of unique solutions and you are guaranteed to be satisfied. To get in touch with us send an e-mail at info@i2ds.com or hit the Request Live Demo tab on this page and we will get back to you.
