by I2DS | Apr 30, 2020 | Blogs
MES applications have long been viewed as an ideal solution for better management of production floors around the world. Their ability to support a wide range of complex production flows is widely recognized and accepted. But is that all? Or is MES software capable of more? This is a question worth considering in the current business environment. MES applications are becoming more collaborative in nature, just as businesses around the world are evolving, so are the software applications which support them.
Today we will consider one such example of how a collaborative MES solution impacts and potentially improves the Warehousing function. Traditionally warehousing activities are carried at both ends of a supply chain. For any manufacturer warehousing of raw material and finished goods is a common practice. The availability of raw materials affects the production process greatly, with the advent of JIT management, having raw material exactly when required is pivotal for success and smooth functioning of a factory/plant. Similarly, warehousing also plays an important role when the raw material is fully processed and becomes the final product or products, if finished goods produced, are not available when required the company faces potential losses which go beyond the economic value of a cancelled order, as the loss of goodwill and future business become imminent. Thus, warehousing becomes an important function, which needs to be proactive at both ends of the supply chain and enable smooth production and delivery, it also needs to be a collaborative function working hand-in-hand with Purchase, Production, Logistics and Sales functions.
So where does MES come into the picture? Well, MES applications have become much more versatile and are capable of working in tandem with ERP and MRP systems. Previously warehousing was a manual process, where goods were stacked on racks based on their item/part numbers, when required workers would manually procure these materials and fulfill the order, once an order was filled, the workers would enter the data in an ERP system, which would then place an order for the materials depending on the pre-set reorder point. However, as technological advances are made, traditional warehousing practices are becoming extinct, modern warehousing is an intelligent activity, which is far more efficient and productive. Modern warehousing is an intelligent activity, which reduces human intervention in most parts of the process, it uses robotic arms or mobile robotic devices to fill orders and collect/place material on racks. In some warehouses racks themselves are mobile and reach the worker filling the order with required material rather than the opposite.
Due to the higher degree of automation, intelligent enterprise applications are extracting data almost at the same instant as an order is filled or a material is stacked. MES applications then communicate with such enterprise applications and both extract raw material data and provide production data to the application. Thus MES basically collaborates with other intelligent systems to provide a real-time picture of the raw material stock to the production/operation managers and at the same time allows sales/logistics and warehousing functions to know the status of the WIP and finished goods from the production process. This sort of collaboration benefits the entire operation of the supply chain and allows for proactive management and faster response time. The MES also acts as a vehicle for improving overall efficiency of the warehousing operation as the information received from the production function allows for better material planning and implementation of practices line JIT and Lean management.
So when you are deciding to choose an MES application for your production unit, take some time and consider whether the MES you are considering has the collaborative capabilities mentioned above. The warehousing example mentioned above is just a small illustration of massive benefits which an intelligent MES application can offer. To end the discussion I would like to stress the fact that an MES application is more capable than what it is considered capable of, it is important to consider all its capabilities and functionalities before selecting the application.
by I2DS | Apr 20, 2020 | Blogs
Every Top Boss of every Organization of the world strives to make his/her organization the best in its class. If you read the Vision or Mission statement of any organization in the world this desire to be the best and even better, will become very evident. Irrespective of the line of business every company strives to be labeled the best in business, today we will talk about achieving this dream and making it a reality for manufacturing organizations, for whom their factories/plants are the main source of revenue.
To become the Best-In-Class operation, you need to realize that there is much more to the endeavor, than benchmarking the present best in the industry or otherwise. Benchmarking is very helpful but the main reasons for the success of the best organizations around the world can be attributed many factors, such as, strong leadership, clear vision, pro technology outlook, innovation, process control, quality ownership, zero error philosophy and above all 100% customer satisfaction. When the above mentioned features are embraced by the entire organization and these beliefs and practices enter the value system of each and every employee in the organization, becoming best-in-class is just a matter of time.
To develop such value system, integration of the entire process and involvement of employees along with ownership of process in critical. Information Solution like MES are providing process integration and automation for Organizations globally, which is helping them develop a more efficient, coherent and profitable operation. So what is an MES solution? Well, an MES application, as the name suggests helps better and more reliable execution of a manufacturing process, it gives higher degree of control over the process and facilitates real-time decision making. MES applications integrate every aspect of a production process and ascertain that no vital information is ever missed. Real-Time decision making happens when the MES keeps the process owners informed of every value adding activity at every step and ensures that tasks are performed as scheduled and are conforming to the perquisite standards. Such applications have proven to be extremely successful in controlling costs and increasing throughput.
There are many players in the MES space, that provide MES solutions, but who is the right partner for you? I2DS has the most revered automation and MES implementation team in the industry. Our experts specialize in MES, 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, there by assisting your team to make your process the Best-In-Class process in your industry. 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 | Apr 7, 2020 | 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.
by I2DS | Mar 17, 2020 | Blogs
What helps the Organizations that are market leaders get to the position they are at? After wondering about this question myself, I realized that there is one major common factor, Evolution. Yes, the organizations that have made it big have all kept evolving, just like human beings, but only much faster. Organizations that have been proactive in their efforts to understand the needs of their customers and change their products and services accordingly, have been able to capture a larger portion of the market share than those who decided to stick to their old ways of doing things. Companies that spend a higher amount on R&D, also experience a higher volume in sales. It is through systematic and well funded R&D efforts that companies of the modern world have been able to devise much more sophisticated products and services and generate better business than their competitors.
But just having an R&D Lab is not a panacea for all future needs. It is extremely important how you manage the operation of your R&D facility and whether you have effective control on the process. R&D facilities have become more efficient by using technology and IT for managing operations. LIMS or Laboratory Management Information Systems are helping many Labs achieve their diverse objectives. Due to the dynamic nature and needs of an R&D facility no standard LIMS package can be suitable for your Lab. A Pharmaceutical lab has completely different objectives and operational needs than lets say an Aircraft development lab. This makes the design an application of LIMS a highly process specific and complex task.
The core function of LIMS is sample management; this includes the request from sample from the customer, the process of sample creation and also the tracking & delivery of sample to the customer. This requires data management expertise that is compliance oriented and process specific. A LIMS application can also have features beyond sample management, such as, equipment integration, electronic data exchange, export to excel/spreadsheets, audit management, barcode/RFID applications and the list virtually is endless. The presence of a good sample management application is pivotal for a successful LIMS system as the most important operation of any manufacturing R&D Lab is sample generation as per customer specs, effective sample creation and timely delivery of the said sample.
I2DS has successfully implemented the best-in-class, process specific, LIMS system for its customers. We have the expertise required to understand the diverse needs of different operations and design our solutions accordingly. Our sample management provides the desired functionality to our customers through effective data management, sample requisition tracking, material flow tracking, equipment issue resolution, Quality control, Inventory management, scheduling tools, sample analysis and a comprehensive database related to approval, rejection and compliance matters related to a particular sample. With our LIMS you can rest assured that your R&D facility will be working at optimum efficiency and achieve the desired results for your customers. So if you want to be a leader of innovation and achieve the coveted spot of market leader, I2DS can help you in this pursuit of excellence. All you have to do is e-mail us at info@i2ds.com and we will take care of the rest.
by I2DS | Nov 18, 2019 | Blogs
What are the true metrics of Manufacturing Excellence? Is it merely a phrase or has a deeper more palpable meaning? Why is excellence in Manufacturing desired? Are the Manufacturing Excellence packages available today capable of achieving their namesake? Let’s try and understand and answer these questions from an organizational and operations point of view. Quality, Cost, Speed, Dependability and Flexibility are the top five competitive priorities for any Organization. It was always thought that to achieve excellence in one of the above priorities another one has to be traded off. This school of thought still exists, but another theory advocates that the pursuit of attaining process excellence can help attain excellence in most of the priorities above mentioned. These competitive priorities in my opinion are the true metrics of excellence of any manufacturing operation. For Organizations that rely heavily on manufacturing, discreet or process, achieving manufacturing excellence is the only way to be more competitive and gain a larger market share.
Excellence can be achieved when simplicity in decision making and the subsequent action, results from monitoring and control of complex processes. Integration of the entire plant, process and personnel is vital for achieving manufacturing excellence. This integration can result only with the help of an information system that provides a seamless and holistic view of the vital process and personnel related parameters. This system should allow effective monitoring and efficient control for the entire process and aid real time decision making and action. There are many packages available in the market for Manufacturing Excellence, but is just any package the right package?
I believe every manufacturing process is unique; this is because of the fact that each organization has an inherent set of resources and unique environmental conditions. Thus a Manufacturing Excellence application should be process specific and not general. Every Operations manager gives importance to certain parameters, for the sake of this discussion lets say Quality, Safety, Equipment and Factory Communication. If the package available cannot capture the details of the parameters above mentioned, it is rendered useless for this particular Organization.
I2DS has devised a Manufacturing Excellence solution that can fit to your process and give you the power of monitoring and controlling the process parameters you consider vital. So if you believe that Safety, Quality, Factory Communication and Equipment issues are important cost centers and need to be monitored and controlled effectively, I2DS’ Manufacturing Excellence allows you to do exactly that. You have the capability to assign priorities and owners to each issue, see the real time actions and judge the performance of the entire process or the performance of individual parameters. With I2DS as your Excellence partner, you will never miss a vital issue and will be able to reduce the operating costs drastically, thereby achieving better profitability. With I2DS you can gain process excellence and this would help you become the Best-In-Class Operation. So open your doors to Manufacturing Excellence and I2DS, write into us at info@i2ds.com, and give us the opportunity to help you achieve excellence in all your competitive priorities.
by I2DS | Sep 17, 2019 | Blogs
Let me ask you at the very beginning of this Blog, do Safety and Quality management come into the top priority list of your strategic planning? 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.
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.
