by I2DS | Jan 14, 2022 | Blogs
You might have a very profitable plant, with great cycle times, accelerated product development, higher throughput, but is it working at its true potential? Have you really reached the pinnacle of your industry, in terms of technology and process excellence? Even if you are on top right now, can you afford to be complacent? These are a few questions that compel you to think about your process capabilities in the present and for the future. Let me explain why these questions become so relevant, the reason these questions are so important is because even if you have the technology leadership in your industry today, it does not guarantee that you will continue to be the leader, this is because of the ever changing external factors that affect your process and which to the maximum extent are out of your control.
By making the above argument I do not intend to dishearten anyone, rather I want to re-emphasize the importance of continuous improvement and to remember the crux of Kaizen- ‘Good Enough Never Is’. When it comes to manufacturing and factory ops, top management views equipment automation as the best solution for optimizing production process. However, I beg to differ, in any business, better equipment can only boost future production capacity and it does not guarantee that this capacity will be achieved. To improve your present production capacity and achieve your true potential, you should understand the importance of information and knowledge, and the role they play in the success of your operations. To realize your true potential in manufacturing you need to take a holistic view about automation and knowledge management. Always remember information is the most valuable resource for any organization and any production unit, doesn’t matter whether you make tooth brush or missiles, information is what keeps the business running and improving.
Having established the importance of information in manufacturing , 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, MES, Manufacturing Excellence, 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 | Jan 13, 2022 | Blogs
Yes, why are LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) applications so popular? Is it just a new fad where everything is blatantly put on an information system irrespective of the organization’s needs? Is LIMS a necessity for every lab? Let’s try and reflect on each question one by one and try to come up with a logical view on LIMS, its effectiveness and the need to equip a lab with it. According to recent public data the annual spending on Research and Development crosses 1000 Billion US Dollars. This fact emphasizes the importance of R&D and the dependence of global economy on R&D efforts. LIMS like other information systems have gained in popularity due to several reasons; let us consider them briefly before going deeper in the topic.
First and foremost LIMS provides an end to end integration of the lab within and across the organizational functions. Second it helps increase efficiency and assigns ownership of activities. Third it helps improve the agility of the operation and helps disseminate information faster and gives correct info to the correct person. Last but certainly no the least, LIMS can be used to gain competitive advantage by modeling it to reflect and amplify the core competencies which are unique to a particular lab and its operating process. LIMS if applied only because it is popular and bought off the shelf, without even considering the process and needs of the R&D function of the organization, it becomes a fad. Although LIMS is a vital tool, buying it off the shelf and ignoring the actual process and needs can be a huge mistake.
LIMS is a necessity because of its ability to improve the internal capabilities of an Organization and can provide a sustainable competitive advantage if applied and managed effectively. There are certain aspects that organizations need to consider internally before selecting a LIMS vendor or a LIMS application. The organization needs to analyze what type of lab they have currently, what do they want from it in the future, how is the technology changing in their industry, what are the needs of process owners from a LIMS perspective and what are the competencies unique to their lab and how can it be preserved and amplified by the application of LIMS. So let’s say that you have a Global R&D lab, which works on developing new products for all your operations world-wide. You need to analyze what is it that makes your lab unique (not necessarily better) and how can you use LIMS to ensure your R&D efforts can improve through LIMS.
Once you have conducted a thorough internal review and established the key areas of the process that make your process unique, you will know to a certain extent how a LIMS application can be beneficial to your lab. The vendor selection and application design should be based of the requirements manifested after the internal review and the final application should be able to make your process more integrated, agile and visible. If you follow the above methodology, I believe your lab will be able to reap the maximum benefit from a LIMS application. So to sum up, LIMS is a necessity, buying LIMS off the shelf is more a waste of money, to realize true benefit of LIMS analyze your R&D process and select a vendor who can help you effectively meet/exceed your needs.
by I2DS | Jan 12, 2022 | Blogs
Most companies have either an ERP or SCM or some other enterprise solution installed, but these solutions inherently lack the capability of managing Safety and Quality. So let me ask you at the very beginning of this Blog, do Safety and Quality management feature into the top priority list of your strategic portfolio? If Yes, then this Blog is meant for you, as you go on reading you will realize how you can turn your Safety and Quality goals into palpable reality, that too with minimum hassles. I believe it is imperative for any Organization to be a corporate citizen and fulfill its obligation to provide product and process, quality and safety. It is important for organizations to view compliance and excellence in Safety and Quality as promoters of long term profitability. For an Organization to be successful in the long term, such issues cannot be neglected, in-fact the attention paid to these aspects reflect the true character of an Organization.
Software applications like the ERP and SCM are more concerned with the quality of finished product, customer service and financial aspects of the business, they genuinely lack the depth and functional coverage of a complete quality or safety management application. These applications can only cover the high level objectives associated with these vital issues, without providing the granular clarity required to improve, leave alone excel in them. However, there are application now which are capable of exploring every aspect od safety and quality, right from compliance requisites to continuous improvement objectives.
Safety of the working environment and Quality of the final product/service are the most important contributors to the overall performance and profitability of an Organization. Safe working conditions have been known to boost productivity of the work force; it is considered the most basic work need by Maslow. The importance of Quality can never be overemphasized it is the most important order winner/qualifier in almost every industry. For some industries maintaining high standards of quality conformance is mandatory just to be able to ship the products. Even if such strict compliance standards are not present the need to maintain a higher standard for Quality is implied in order to achieve competitive superiority.
Having established the need to have high standards of safety and quality, we have to decide on the ways to monitor them. I believe anything that can be measured can be managed; this axiom of management applies to safety and quality as well. We need to understand the objectives and metrics associated with safety and quality, this will enable us to employ the right system to measure and control these vital parameters. Today Organizations are using Information Technology to better understand the implications of such critical issues and also to take corrective actions and practice management by facts.
You can employ our Safety and Quality Management Solution individually or as a part of the Manufacturing Excellence Solution, which also incorporates Equipment Issues and Fabrication Pass down. You can also integrate these applications within your current enterprise set-up, i.e. these applications can run parallel to your ERP and SCM providing a more holistic solution to your safety and quality concerns.
by I2DS | Jan 11, 2022 | Blogs
Most management and quality theorists believe that Quality comprises of 9 dimensions, which are- Aesthetics, Conformity, Durability, Features, Reputation, Response, Reliability, Service and Performance. Now out of these nine dimensions, depending on the nature of service or type of product offered a dimension or a few dimensions become more relevant. So for an apparel manufacturer, aesthetics, reputation and durability may be of more importance, quality wise, in contrast for a pharmaceutical manufacturer, the importance of conformance, reliability and the performance of the drug are vital. So, although the dimensions of quality remain almost the same in every industry, their relative importance keeps changing. Understanding this phenomenon is crucial when you consider Quality management for your process as it is important to understand the real meaning of quality from a customer and market perspective. Once you have established, what really matters for you, in terms of quality, you can begin the process of achieving world class quality levels.
Let’s consider a typical modern manufacturing process to understand how and where quality excellence can be pursued and achieved. Generally, most modern manufacturing processes are automated to a large extent in terms of process equipment, with the role of workers, restricted to operating the equipment or monitoring their performance. In such automated production floors the role Quality Control and Quality Assurance has become very different from that in manual processes. In an automated environment quality is dependent on the performance of the machines and the ability of the productions staff to keep the machines working to the optimum level. Also the interface between subsequent processes is extremely important to ensure the product being manufactured conforms to standards at every stage of production. The best way to achieve this is through strict quality control and monitoring, which can be achieved in a faster and more productive way through Information Systems, such as the MES and SPC.
These systems provide a seamless integration of your process and provide end-to-end visibility, this allows for further automation of the process and ensures activities are performed to ensure effectiveness and elevate efficiency. SPC applications have become so evolved that they not only provide a visual representation of the product/process quality, but are also capable of providing various perspectives to look at the process, in terms of metrics and their combinations. This means a user can view charts, graphs and process performance data, from multiple viewpoints and perform a myriad of calculations, by just a click on the display. When IT applications give such visibility and coverage, it is nearly impossible not to notice a quality related issue, they also help determine assignable causes and help curtail or eliminate them entirely. Besides SPC, an MES also allows you to monitor the process in terms of the equipment, and their efficiency. It helps determine the overall process Quality and helps achieve the desired level of performance.
To reach high levels of Quality, it is important to analyze the process from both an Internal and an External perspective. IT applications help you do exactly that, they help you achieve improvement which is both continuous and sustainable. If you know what the customer’s perception of Quality is, these IT applications are capable of helping you incorporate these parameters in your Quality Management process. Reaching world class quality levels is more about understanding the definition of quality that exists in your environment and then successfully translating it into your process and its performance, through the IT applications discussed above. So then don’t wait around for a miracle, start analyzing what does, World-Class Quality really mean in your industry segment and go on and achieve it through the miracle called IT.
by I2DS | Jan 10, 2022 | Blogs
TQM, Lean, Lean-Six-Sigma and Six Sigma are various theories of Operations Management or management on the whole that are helping organizations become more efficient and profitable around the world. I believe that these theories or management philosophies have a lot in common and should be pursued in spirit. We should try and understand the end goal of these theories rather than trying to implement them blindly without proper consideration. These theories should be treated more like guidelines rather than a set of rules or do’s and don’ts. What all these theories tend to stress on is the reduction of operational costs, increase of throughput, attention to Quality, better relationships and involvement of customers, employees and suppliers and above all the pursuit of sustainable profitability.
These theories lay emphasis on understanding the external environment and internal capabilities and achieving a dynamic equilibrium between the two. The approach to achieving this end goal is different in different theories, but the goal is the same. One major pointer that is emphasized in all modern management theories is that management should be fact based, that management decisions must be based on hard evidence and not managerial whims and fancies. The fact based approach brings me to the topic of my blog, which is implementation of management practices through IT applications.
IT applications can prove to be an effective way to apply and practice management theories. The beauty of such IT applications is that they can be tailor made for your process, which makes it easier for the staff to implement and can help improve the operations in the future. Depending upon the industry, IT applications can be programmed to monitor all vital process metrics, analyze the process performance, impart training, aid communication, facilitate supply chain integration, control production, improve safety, achieve quality excellence and the list can practically go on for ever. We need to understand that IT applications are not and elixir to our problems but are tools that can help us better resolve existing problems that we face on a day-to-day basis.
The idea is to implement IT applications in such a way that they facilitate real-time, fact based and potent decision making at all three levels of decision making i.e. at the Strategic level, Tactical level and at the Operational level. The design of the IT application should be such that it can suffice the decision making needs at all three levels and yet be comprehensive in its reach throughout the Organization. IT can help any organization and at any desired level of management, the need and scope of IT applications remain debatable and are best analyzed when considered for a particular process. My agenda here is to highlight that IT is a great tool because of its speed, agility and accuracy and should be given a consideration by all Organizations who are in pursuit of Operational Excellence and Profitability. I do not believe in following any management theory blindly without understanding its possible outcomes and neither do I promote blind faith in IT as an ultimate cure for all management problems.
I believe it is important to understand what your business needs to achieve the goal it has set for itself, besides the obvious goal of profit maximization. I strongly advocate fact based management and believe the IT applications can help achieve better results in a faster more organized manner. However, it is very important that before jumping to a so called IT solution we analyze our needs both external and internal, we understand the problem areas or pain points and then decide how and to what extent an IT platform can help appease our needs. I would like to conclude by reemphasizing a few pointers that I believe should be a part of any endeavor made towards improving management and improving profitability, they are, never choose a management practice blindly, use management practices as guidelines, try and improve profitability and quality and above all consider IT as a vital tool available to achieve your goals. If you have any questions or comments about this blog feel free to write to us at info@i2ds.com or just leave a comment in the comment box and I will get back to you.
by I2DS | Jan 6, 2022 | Blogs
Safety of the working environment and Quality of the final product/service are the most important contributors to the overall performance and profitability of an Organization. Safe working conditions have been known to boost productivity of the work force; it is considered the most basic work need by Maslow. The importance of Quality can never be overemphasized it is the most important order winner/qualifier in almost every industry. For some industries maintaining high standards of quality conformance is mandatory just to be able to ship the products. Even if such strict compliance standards are not present the need to maintain a higher standard for Quality is implied in order to achieve competitive superiority.
Having established the need to have high standards of safety and quality, we have to decide on the ways to monitor them. I believe anything that can be measured can be managed; this axiom of management applies to safety and quality as well. We need to understand the objectives and metrics associated with safety and quality, this will enable us to employ the right system to measure and control these vital parameters. Today Organizations are using Information Technology to better understand the implications of such critical issues and also to take corrective actions and practice management by facts.
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. You can employ our Safety and Quality Management Solution individually or as a part of the Manufacturing Excellence Solution, which also incorporates Equipment Issues and Fabrication Pass down. For achieving the appropriate level of Safety for your industry and flawless 6 Sigma level Quality, 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 functionality you have always desired.
