by I2DS | Jul 27, 2023 | 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 | Jul 25, 2023 | 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 | Jul 21, 2023 | Blogs
I have always had a strong belief that companies that aspire to be more efficient also achieve higher profitability. It is only through doing things better, faster and cheaper that profitability of an operation increases, assuming that the demand is constant. Even if the demand for your end product is variable which is always the case, an efficient process can better adapt to varying demand and use the valuable resources available for other areas of attention. Technology plays a key role in the pursuit of higher efficiency; it is through the application of technological marvels that a quantum leap can occur in process efficiency.
One of the major changes that have occurred in the last decade or so is in the way organizations handle their information and knowledge management. Information Technology has become the most important area of Strategic decision making. IT applications are being used to integrate and automate the entire operation of multinational organizations, right from purchase of raw materials to the point of sale. It is these information solutions that negate the bull-whip effect in supply chains, achieve better demand projections, ensure higher customer satisfaction and enable efficient production.
ERP applications have become commonplace and are helping companies save valuable time, resources and money. Such applications are making the overall operation of the entire value chain of such organization more effective and thereby more efficient. Even in Organizations primarily into manufacturing of products, solutions like MES, RFID (for inventory and process control), Manufacturing Excellence, LIMS, DMS, and FIS. are helping operations become faster and more flexible. These information solutions are automating the entire manufacturing process of Organizations, even the ones which have different geographical locations for different operations. These solutions have the power of achieving higher process efficiencies and real time decision making.
The question is not whether these solutions are required, off course they are. The real question is who is the right technology partner for such applications? Organizations that are facing trouble managing information and don’t want to go for a standard package with limited functionality, what should they do? The answer is you need to gauge your requirement and ask your self these questions- 1) Do we need a real time database management and data processing capabilities? 2) Do we require to Tap Data directly from tools to our MES or present System? 3) Do we require features Like SPC, APC, RFID integration, Inventory & Ops Management? 4) Do we need to monitor Safety, Quality and Equipment issues in real time? If the answer to all or majority of these questions is ‘YES’, then you need to consider I2DS as your strategic partner.
We at I2DS understand the prevalent issues pertaining to Information Management and Data Architecture and we are committed to work out the best solutions for our customers, our aim is to provide world class Information Solutions at reasonable prices. If you want your Data Management problems to disappear you should mail us right away at info@i2ds.com or Click on the Request Live Demo button on our web site. We assure you that with our solutions applied in your Organization today, you will become the leader of tomorrow.
by I2DS | Jul 18, 2023 | Blogs
Are you unable to meet the growing demand for your products? Do you think you are operating much below your plant capacity? You want to improve the efficiency of your operations but don’t know how? All these questions will be answered as we proceed forward in this blog. Organizations lay great stress on increasing the demand for their products and often fail to consider the implications exaggerated demand might have on their production line. It is often seen that promotions and intense marketing causes the Bullwhip Effect and forward buying. In such cases the efficiency of the plant becomes indeterminate, due to the skewed nature of demand. However if the demand remains buoyant on a regular basis without a noticeable negative trend, the importance of improving the efficiency of current operations becomes critical before considering an increase in the plant capacity.
Complacency and lack of process knowledge are the two major reasons for decreased efficiency among others. Being complacent implies that the management believes that there is no further scope for process improvement and thereby no chance of enhancing efficiency. But this belief is self destructive in nature, as the great gurus of TQM have rightly proclaimed “No process is ever perfect”, which means that there is always a scope for improvement. Organizations should strive for integration of internal and external processes and avoid complacency. Lack of process knowledge is even more lethal, as what can’t be measured can’t be improved. The best way to improve process efficiency is by the use of technology to integrate the process and make the process related metrics available to all levels of management as required. The degree of integration of various facets of the production line will determine the degree of improvement in efficiency.
The need of the hour is to have IT 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 | Jul 17, 2023 | Blogs
Frederick Winslow Taylor, the father of Scientific Management emphasized the use of assembly lines in production and Henry Ford made assembly lines the most popular means of production. The times have changed ever since and there has been a massive proliferation in the products that are available in the market. The market itself has become a Consumer’s market and not a Buyer’s market like it was in the early part of the last century. Assembly lines are much more flexible and highly automated today. This has made the process flow more complicated and more difficult to manage. Modern management methods like customization and delayed differentiation have further increased the need for process automation.
The degree of automation required depends on the type of product and the growth of process technology. Computer Industry has experienced a rapid change in its environment ever since the advent of the first computer, the ENIAC. Packaging industry has also experienced changes in products and technologies but at a much slower rate. The automation thus required in the above mentioned industries varies proportional to the degree of change they are subjected to. Most modern organizations wish to acquire higher automation. But such automation is easier said than done.
Proper analysis of the process and the ability of automation to be updated as technology changes are very important in an automation decision. Leading Edge automation can be achieved only when the process is automated in entirety, which includes all components, tools, equipment, factory production line and human beings. A unique platform is required to achieve automation by bringing all the above-mentioned factors together in harmony. This however is a task best performed by automation experts, decisions related to automation should be taken based on facts and decisions based on pure managerial whims should be avoided.
I2DS has the most revered automation team in the industry. Our experts specialize in Factory Automation, PLC, APC, SPC, Data Tapping, Database Management and RFID Implementation. Our approach to automation is highly professional and customer centric. We believe that every process is unique and the level of automation required varies for each organization. Our experts provide automation solution that is not only leading edge but also highly efficient. I2DS’ customers have experienced a higher throughput, better flexibility and greater profitability ever since they chose I2DS as their automation partner. Our goal is to provide process specific automation and manage the resultant change; this makes us a preferred partner in the industry today. So if you are in need of Leading Edge automation for your production plant, look no further, I2DS is here to assist you in this endeavor. For getting a better idea of how automation can improve your process and achieve a greater profitability, e-mail us right away at info@i2ds.com or just drop your inquiry in the comment box and we will get back to you
by I2DS | Jul 11, 2023 | Blogs
Markets have always been defined by certain forces, such as, Competitive, Political, Environmental and Technological Forces. Organizations around the world try to gain a better handle on these forces and use them to their advantage. Strategic positioning is extremely vital in the adverse market conditions that prevail today. Every company seeks competitive advantage to remain at a better position than its competitors. Competitive advantage basically means, being better than one’s competitor in one or more aspects of the entire value chain, i.e. being able to deliver a unique value to the customer. There are a number of ways in which companies achieve advantage over their competitors, such as, better quality, lower price, faster delivery, faster production cycle time, faster product innovation, better customer service, benchmarking etc. Gaining a better market position becomes easier for Organizations who strive to improve their process continually. For a Manufacturing Organization, all the issues mentioned above can be achieved with respect to its competition, only when it has a better control on its own manufacturing process. MES solutions are helping Organizations achieve this by integrating their production facilities, internally and externally, giving them the ability to monitor and improve their process in real-time continually. The data obtained from MES applications when used rightly can help you improve your process faster, which gives you leverage over your competitors, who are now slower than you. I2DS has developed an MES solution which helps its customers achieve a competitive edge by constantly improving their production process, by monitoring and controlling the vital parameters in their Factory Operation. Our MES solution gives you the functionality to not only collect Engineering and Quality Data, but also analyze it on our system in real time. Every aspect of your production, right from running maintenance, to monitoring the cycle time data, to performing SPC and running actual production, can be done in real time in our MES. If you are able to monitor every area, every piece of equipment and every production lot, on your computer screen and have the ability to modify, control and analyze the related data in real time, you have taken a large step towards continuous process improvement and achieving the competitive advantage you crave. The functionality abovementioned is possible only if you have a partner like I2DS who can help you achieve this seamless integration, in a smooth and professional manner. We boast our strong ability to understand various operations and deliver solutions that are both relevant and potent. We have been able to satisfy the desire of our customers to be more productive, flexible and competitive, by providing them an MES solution that best fits their needs. But I know you would not believe me until you see it for yourself, that, what I claim is actually true, so come see our MES solution in action. Help us make you a better competitor and eventually a market leader, write into us at info@i2ds.com or just hit the Request Live Demo tab on your screen right now.
