by I2DS | May 9, 2022 | Blogs
Any process is as strong as its weakest operation. Bottlenecks are the reality of all production processes and all experienced managers understand that the bottlenecks keep changing over time. Bottlenecks can be dealt with more effectively if the management has the capability to track them and understand the reason for the said bottleneck. In today’s highly competitive environment achieving a high throughput is considered mandatory, while keeping the inventory and operational expenses low. This makes Asset Management extremely important, especially in a manufacturing environment where assets such as Machinery, Equipment, Tools and Resources are procured at a high capital cost.
Automation and Integration through sophisticated Information Systems have made asset management a lot more convenient, cost effective and fast. Information when used properly and obtained right from the source of the problem can prove to be extremely helpful in locating and improving the bottleneck capacity. It is only through information systems that even processes with high complexity can be managed in a better and more profitable manner. Organizations that are leading their industries today have been able to do so only through effective management of assets, by the application of IT solutions.
Due to the better functionality that IT solutions can provide in Asset Management, there are a myriad of standard of-the-shelf packages that are available in the market. However, purchasing a standard off-the-shelf package can be a lethal trap and expose the process to a greater degree of risk. Every production process is unique; this is because each process has a unique set of environmental conditions and process capabilities. Process specific systems that have been designed exclusively for your process are a better choice. This is because a process specific solution deals with your unique problems and needs.
I2DS is one name that has become synonymous with success in the field of manufacturing information solutions. Our systems have the capability of adapting to any process and provide the required level of transparency and throughput. With our solutions you can achieve Total Preventive Maintenance and insure that the process delivers the highest possible output. Equipment issues can be tracked in real time with their history, this helps in root cause analysis and helps remove bottlenecks. Our systems are designed for achieving Continuous improvement in engineering and allow you to effectively manage operations and achieve Six Sigma levels in production. Moreover you can also manage your material flow through the same system which provides you the above mentioned functionality. Our MES and Manufacturing solutions have been able to make a ‘0’ bottleneck environment possible for our customers, which has helped them achieve the throughput they have always desired. So if you need the best Asset Management solution for your process get in touch with us right away, e-mail us at info@i2ds.com.
by I2DS | May 4, 2022 | Blogs
No Organization can survive without information. Yes, information from within the Organization and information from the surrounding environment that consists of customers, competitors, suppliers and the government are vital for the very existence of an organization. Organizations lay a lot of emphasis on monitoring the information that lies outside their realm of control and often neglect the importance of internal process related information. Neglecting internal information can be a deadly mistake because without a proper understanding of its own process an Organization can never fully utilize the information obtained from the external environment. Process capability depends on the effective utilization of process information and the efficient application of the resultant learning.
Let us consider a brief analogy that will help us gauge the importance of information. Gurus of performance excellence have always said that any phenomenon that can be measured can be controlled; any measurement produces data, data when collected and processed becomes information, this information when analyzed becomes learning, learning over time leads to knowledge. This process knowledge is what makes an ordinary operation an excellent one. If you fail to collect and manipulate data, then according to the above analogy your process knowledge is incomplete, thus you can never attain your true potential.
Having established the importance of information, now let us consider the ways to harness it and consider how this harnessed information can lead to process knowledge and help achieve the hidden potential. First we need to establish the parameters that are vital to the performance of the Organization from a customer and market perspective. Then we need to collect this data and analyze it for better performance. But data collection and analysis can be cumbersome and time taking when performed manually. This accentuates the need for an automated and integrated system for data collection and analysis, that collects the process data in real time, analyzes it and presents it in the form of information that can aid decision making. The choice of the right technology partner is crucial if you are to achieve the true potential of your process operation.
I2DS can be the right partner for you, it is our mission to provide data in real time from all vital areas of the process, analyze this information and aid speedy decision making, leading to process excellence and better profitability. I2DS can provide you the data that otherwise would have remained hidden in your equipment or process and this helps you get a better more comprehensive view of your process. 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 if you think enhancing your process knowledge can lead to a more profitable operation, I2DS is the best choice. Get in touch with us right away and we will help you realize your true potential, e-mail us at info@i2ds.com or just hit the Request Live Demo tab on this page.
by I2DS | May 3, 2022 | Blogs
Is there really a need to improve processes continuously or is continuous improvement overrated? This question has plagued the minds of many executives, specially the ones who have got extremely efficient and highly effective processes. So let me begin this blog by a statement that will accentuate the need for continuous improvement, “The only thing permanent in this world is- Change.” We live in a world that is dynamic and ever-changing; in industrial terms what used to be order winners yesterday have become mere order qualifiers today. There is an evident and ever-pressing need to improve and evolve, just to survive, this state has resulted from a number of changes like, Globalization, Technology Diffusion, Smarter Customers, Trade/ Tariff agreements and other such factors. Organizations have that have made efforts to improve their processes have achieved higher market share, lower operating costs and faster innovations. TQM theory strongly advocates a holistic and continuous improvement approach, to achieve superior Quality and Customer Satisfaction. This holistic view means that all functional areas of an organization need an integrated approach and need look at a bigger picture that is beyond their functional boundaries. This integration and synchronization is highly desirable for Manufacturing Organizations with complex and technologically complex operations. Information Solutions are helping Organizations improve their entire business process and achieve simultaneous development of all aspects that are vital for competitive superiority. To improve an overall and ongoing improvement a comprehensive solution is required that can provide seamless integration for every aspect of process performance. I2DS has developed such solutions that have the capability to integrate the entire process and allow real time process control and improvement. The solutions that I2DS provides are- Factory Automation, Data Management, Factory MES, Manufacturing Excellence and all other IT/Software applications. These solutions can be used individually to improve a specific aspect of your operations or can be used as a complete package for complete automation and simultaneous improvement of the entire business process. Our solutions will allow you to improve Safety, Quality, Operational Efficiency, Throughput and Overall Operational Costs. These solutions are aimed at achieving structured improvement through systematic planning and efficient process control. So if you realize the importance of Continuous Improvement and the significance of IT in achieving this improvement; don’t wait, get in touch with I2DS right away. Let us be your strategic partner and make your Business Process Improvement a continuous and successful endeavor, our e-mail id is info@i2ds.com. Always remember that change is inevitable, continuous improvement is mandatory for survival and the choice of the right partner for improvement can be the difference between success and failure
by I2DS | May 2, 2022 | Blogs
Traditional belief was that trying to improve Safety and Quality of any facility would lead to an increase in total costs and overheads. However many successful Organizations have proved that reality is contrary to the traditional belief. High standards for Quality and Safety when implemented properly with the aid of modern technology have been proven to reduce operational cost successfully there by increasing the profitability of the Organization. We can never over emphasize the importance of Safety and Quality, a safe working environment is the basic need of any worker and supreme quality is the endeavor of all organizations globally. Theories like Six-Sigma, TQM and Lean Management illustrate how an over all improvement in product and process Quality and better, safer and cleaner working environment can lead to major cost reductions. These theories also advocate the use of Information Technology for achieving this improvement, if IT is not your core competence you will need a capable partner to gain advantage from your Quality and Safety programs. I2DS is the right partner for you; we have been able to achieve high standards of Safety and Quality through our solutions and made a considerable contribution to the bottom line for our clients. So the 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 the cost effectiveness you have always desired.
by I2DS | Apr 27, 2022 | Blogs
Factories are places with a complex work structure, a myriad of operations take place simultaneously in such an environment. Due to the large number of simultaneous activities, there is a great opportunity for loss of information due to lack of proper communication, leading to mismanagement. As all operations professionals would agree communication on and off the production floor is vital, not just for optimum performance but also for accurate and timely decision making. Generally, the tools that are available in a typical production environment have limited functionality, this becomes a major pain point when the production process is complex and requires real time monitoring and control. At I2DS, we believe information is the biggest asset for an Organization if harnessed and processed properly. We have devised state-of-the-art communication management solutions that ensure no detail from the Factory is left out of the management’s sight. Our aim is to capture all the vital data from the production floor, irrespective of area or process and make it available to the right person in real time. We empathize with Factory Managers worldwide and our product has been structured for their information needs. Our Fab-Passdown solution allows the user to view every event that has happened or is scheduled to happen, on the floor, it covers all vital issues such as safety, quality etc. The beauty of our solution is, that as a manager you don’t need to go through tons of paperwork or lengthy reports to arrive at a decision, you can access our system from anywhere, in real time and reach a decision by performing the required analysis on the go. This tool is also a great way to conduct training, schedule events and assign tasks. We realize every operation is unique and our solution is equipped with the capability of providing you the information you specifically require, i.e. our solution can be configured exactly to your needs. The Fab-Passdown tool is a truly a strong weapon for right and timely decision making as it gives you the information that is your priority and helps you better manage and control your floor activities. So to get a better handle on your day-to-day operations and to exercise effective control over each problem area, choose I2DS as your partner and let us make communications in your organization, easier, faster and better. So if you are an Operations Manager and feel that your organization can benefit from our solutions get in touch with us now, our e-mail id is info@i2ds.com.
by I2DS | Apr 26, 2022 | Blogs
What are the major cost centers in a manufacturing environment? According to me the two main cost centers are Inventory and Operational Expenses. Inventory expenses can be minimized if managed effectively; it’s comparatively easier than cutting costs on Operational Expenses. Why so? Will be you next question, the answer is- Inventory is easier to track than many operational expenses specially the ones that are related to your equipments and occur in no particular sequence. Most factories today who follow a Preventive maintenance schedule would want to disagree with my statement above, their argument would be- Our maintenance is well scheduled and we are cutting operational expenses by adhering to it. My counter argument is- I agree PM does contribute to the cost bracket and is definitely better than trying to cure a problem after it occurs, but the most importantly- Is the PM you practice well documented? Yes, it is vital to know the transactional history when it comes to any issues related to equipments, especially the equipments used in modern factories, due to their high capital cost. The reason why transactional history is so important is because maintenance which is not sequential and well documented can lead to redundant efforts and rather than cutting costs, they can become a cost center. The trouble with conventional maintenance practices is that they aim to simply eliminate the problem at hand and due to lack of historical data the Root-Cause of the problem is never discovered. So if you are a Factory Manager or an Operations Head by now you would be worried about the above statements. But you don’t have to worry, we at I2DS have just the solution for you, it’s called ‘Equipment Tracker’. This amazing tool allows you to enter and view each issue related to all equipments, also it gives you the ability to view the transactional history of every equipment on your factory floor and discover the root cause of the problem. This solution if used effectively will be able to make a huge difference in your equipment related costs. To get hands on experience of this solution just hit the Request Live Demo button on our Web-Page or write to us at- info@i2ds.com.
