by I2DS | Mar 23, 2021 | 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.
by I2DS | Mar 22, 2021 | 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 | Mar 18, 2021 | Blogs
By Vivek Bhachawat
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 | Mar 16, 2021 | Blogs
By Sanjeev Gupta
Thirty years back, if someone was to walk up to my dad, and say “You know what, computers can make your factory a safer place”, my father would have probably laughed and gave him this anecdote- that safety is not achieved through some computer thing, its achieved through careful assessment of risks, constant monitoring of the workplace, training of workers and using proper PPE and guards. I guess, he would have been right to say it then, but, times change and old ways surely become obsolete. Today, IT systems can not only make factories much safer, it is these IT applications that actually control and improve the safety conditions at a work place.
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 Maslow’s theory about ‘Hierarchy of needs’, Safety, at the workplace is the most 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.
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.
At I2DS we truly believe in the Mantra- ‘Safety First.’, we have developed the most comprehensive Safety Management Solution for Organizations like yours. Our system has the ability to integrate the safety efforts of your entire organization on a single platform; it will ensure that safety is not just a priority on paper, but in practice. Our system gives you amazing functionalities such as, the ability to plan and organize safety events, provide trainings, assign owners to safety tasks, view safety events such as Audits as they happen, prioritize safety issues and so much more. If you really believe Safety is your prime concern, then don’t wait, get in touch with us right now and help us make your working environment safer than ever before. Our e-mail id is- info@i2ds.com, or you can also hit the Request Live Demo link and we will get back to you.
by I2DS | Mar 15, 2021 | 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 | Mar 9, 2021 | Blogs
IT has become the biggest concern for Organizations today due to the volatile nature of markets and need to know tomorrow’s events, today and in some cases yesterday. Better communication and higher operational flexibility have become extremely desirable factors. The global IT revolution has made the life of managers simpler by providing real time data management and aiding real time decision making. Companies that specialize in providing IT solutions and services are proliferating at a very high pace. IT has become one of the fastest growing industries and is attracting highly skilled talent from around the globe. All successful organizations have realized the necessity of implementing IT solutions for their process and have been ahead of their competitors majorly because of their decision to embrace IT.
The biggest dilemma every company faces today is whether to outsource IT or to keep it in-house? This a major question and should be considered from a strategic view-point as the answer to this question can lead to competitive supremacy or total failure. Information is considered the most important resource for decision making in any Organization. To be able to achieve an efficient and effective Operation the right information needs to be available at the right time for the right person. Every Organization in the world, irrespective of industry has a ‘Core Competency’, for example Ford manufactures Cars, and Boeing manufactures Aircrafts, the key to success for such organizations has been the ability to concentrate on their core competency i.e. making cars and aircrafts. In the modern market companies that specialize in a particular product have a general trend of trying to achieve excellence in their core competency and outsourcing the functions that are not directly related to the same.
Information however is the most important resource of any organization and outsourcing your IT is a major decision, as every strategy made, every tactical plan conceived and every operational plan executed depends on accurate information available exactly when required. So, if your decision is to outsource the IT function, which is highly recommended if you are to concentrate on your core competency, the only real question is- Who is the right IT partner for you? The answer to this straight forward question is not so straight forward, as, when you look at the market it is filled with companies that claim to be a complete IT solution provider, but the actual picture may be a little different.
At I2DS we believe that actions speak louder than words and we have a long list of satisfied clients who have achieved the results they were looking for after incorporating our solutions. We have a wide range of products to cater any IT need you might have and we believe in careful analysis of our client’s needs and then devising the perfect solution for them. We have a myriad of successful products such as Factory MES, Communication Management, Manufacturing Excellence, Inventory Management, Safety Management, Quality Management, Equipment Management etc. The above mentioned solutions are tailor-made to our client’s needs and can be applied individually or as a complete package. The idea here is not to promote our solutions but to educate our readers that there is much beyond standard IT packages available in the market, all you have to do is ask us to come visit you and we will make a worthy partner for your every IT need. We can provide you with the most modern, state-of-the-art IT solutions that will help you concentrate on your core competencies and yet be in total control of your operations. I2DS is the IT partner you have always been waiting for, so get in touch with us through e-mail at info@i2ds.com or simply click the Request Live Demo button and forget about your IT worries forever.
