Reduce Manufacturing Complexity and Improve Operational Efficiency

I believe that a higher degree of Process complexity is desired today, as it becomes difficult for the competitors to copy the process. But I can’t say the same about manufacturing complexity. A process can become complex in various ways, using state-of-the-art machinery or use of protected or difficult to obtain resources, all this makes the process complex and thereby makes it harder to imitate. But manufacturing complexity is the level of difficulty one faces in the execution of the process. It is desirable to keep the manufacturing complexity at a minimal level as it would result in less variance and ultimately better quality. If the process becomes easier to execute it could have a lot of plus points like, a shorter TTM, Better Quality (of product and decision making), Higher flexibility, Higher Productivity and Faster Throughput.
So how can we reduce this manufacturing complexity? The best way to deal with Manufacturing Complexity is to integrate the entire process through the use of information systems and information technology. A complex process becomes easy to execute if it is transparent and allows clear decision making, this functionality can be obtained only when all the operations of the process exist on a common platform and can be executed systematically and in synchronization with other operations. An information system that is all pervasive can help integrate the entire process and achieve the desired transparency.
MES applications are revolutionizing the way operations are performed across the manufacturing industry. Irrespective of the production process, i.e. discrete manufacturing or process manufacturing, MES applications are applicable to either. MES or Manufacturing Execution Systems are basically information solutions that can integrate any manufacturing process. An MES application can be simple or complex depending on the process and the level of integration that is required by the process owners. There are many players in the MES business but the choice of the right partner and the right product can be a strategic decision to make. A wrong partner or product can make the process even more complex and lead to a loss of profitability and higher resistance to change.
I2DS has proved to be a worthy and reliable partner for MES application for many of its esteemed and highly result oriented customers. At I2DS our aim is to develop products dedicated to the unique requirements of our customers and achieve higher profitability through a simultaneous reduction in complexity and improvement in quality. Our MES application allows integration of al operations of the process, which aids faster decision making and lower complexity. Our experts have a huge experience base in MES applications and Operations Management, which makes us a better choice than a regular IT company. Our team specializes in streamlining complex processes and automation of manufacturing plants. To get hands on experience of our powerful MES applications get in touch with us right away, e-mail us at info@i2ds.com. With I2DS as your MES partner you can forget about manufacturing complexity and realize your process’ true potential.

Excursion Prevention – A Critical Piece In Manufacturing Operations

Almost every Doctor I have ever met has told me a cliché “Prevention is better than cure”. I believe that this statement although it might be a cliché, holds true for every man made process as well. All Operations professionals know this and would agree that the sooner an excursion is detected the easier and cheaper it is to deal with. Theories like Total Productive Maintenance or TPM greatly emphasize the need for excursion prevention rather than the standard practice of excursion detection and subsequent corrective action. Most manufacturing processes in the world have become highly complex, to make it difficult for competition to imitate them, also almost every production process is unique in some way even though the equipment used might be similar to others. Information Technology and process automation and integration applications are helping organizations around the world exercise better control and achieve higher excursion prevention. But just any ‘off the shelf’ application will not help you improve your unique process and changing the entire process to better suit the soft ware application does not make sense. A tailor made solution is required that has been designed to suit your process and then achieve the required functionality of excursion prevention. I2DS has been able to devise such solution which are helping its customers increase the effectiveness of their prevention efforts and thereby increasing their profitability as well. Most systems lack the capability of tracking material through the production line; this may lead to a major loss in material and production time. There is an evident need for a solution that can help track material throughout the production line and I2DS has just the solution for this problem. We have developed a unique Inventory Management Solution, which allows you to track your material even after it leaves the Ware-house. Our system gives you the ability to track the exact location of material, anywhere and everywhere in the production line, right up to the finished goods stage. Our system is capable of collaborating with your existing ERP system to give you better control and complete traceability for your material. Our system is in-line with JIT theory and helps you monitor the inventory at each and every step of production and insures you not only detect but prevent any excursion that might happen. Our system allows you to detect excursions faster and thereby helps you to prevent losses which might have otherwise occurred. So if you are interested in cutting your losses and improve traceability of your material, contact us right now and get a free demo of our path breaking solutions, e-mail us at info@i2ds.com.

A Boost In Productivity Is a Boost In Profit

Process efficiency is a function of process capability, external and internal environment factors that directly or indirectly affect the process. The external environment factors that are directly under the organization’s control such as supplier material quality, 3PL service provider’s performance can be controlled to some extent. But most external factors remain out of control for any organization. When there is bullish demand for our products we can safely say that the profitability is directly proportional to productivity and thus also to process capability. Also when I say directly proportional it’s just a figure of speech and not a mathematical deduction. What we can safely say is if the demand for our products is high and our process is inefficient we are going to face loss which is multifaceted in nature, i.e. direct loss resulting from stock outs and indirect loss resulting from bad publicity and customer dissatisfaction. Achieving high productivity remains the only solution in such a situation, if subcontracting is not an option. Now let us assume that the process capability can not be varied, does this mean we can’t increase the productivity? No, it is certainly not the case; most manufacturing organizations fail to deal with their internal environment which affects their productivity. Doing things right the first time, laying greater emphasis on initial design of process and product and exercising statistical process control can boost your productivity manifolds. This productivity boost however is impossible without the use of Information Technology systems that can integrate the process and make it possible to detect, control and eliminate the assignable causes of failures. Such systems are being developed by I2DS which achieve not only high productivity but also make a difference to the bottom line by reducing costs and increasing profitability. The range of products we offer are- Factory MES, Communication Management, Manufacturing Excellence, Inventory Management, Safety Management, Quality Management, Equipment Management, Database Management and Process Automation. The above mentioned solutions are tailor-made to our client’s needs and can be applied individually or as a complete package. With solutions such as the ones I have just discussed you can better control your process and set achievable targets for boosting productivity. Our solutions are helping our customers increase their profitability and cut operating cost at the same time. I2DS systems have the capability to integrate your entire process irrespective of location, equipment type, level of automation and process complexity. So if you agree with me and need a partner who will make your operations more productive and profitable write to us at info@i2ds.com.

A Proven Model To Control Your Information Technology Costs

What is the need for Outsourcing IT? Is outsourcing IT really cost efficient? What is the extent of outsourcing that is optimum for IT? Who is the right partner for our IT needs? The above mentioned questions represent a few strategic and tactical concerns every organization has with regard to IT. Let me ask you a simple question- Is IT your Core Competency? If the answer is- No, then you need to outsource IT for your Organization. The reason for this is multifaceted, so let us look at all aspects of IT outsourcing and why it is so beneficial. From the strategic point of view, you need to concentrate on your core competence, so outsourcing IT seems obvious. But there is more to it, IT outsourcing gives you access to technical expertise of professional firms that specialize in IT, this will help you achieve better results and keep the head count minimal in your in-house IT department. From the tactical point of view the resources that are liberated from outsourcing IT can be better used for development and improvement of your strategically important processes. Development of IT means hiring professionals who specialize in the sector and this adds to the total costs, also since IT is not your core competence the career path for such professional becomes stunted. Successful companies remain successful for a reason and that reason is that they recognize the importance of concentrating on their core competence and yet recognizing the power of IT as a means of improving the business process on the whole. What I mean to say is if you specialize in making Cars or Solar Panels, stick to it, but don’t neglect the potential of IT in achieving performance excellence. By now, I guess it is pretty clear why you need to outsource IT but the bigger question is who to outsource it to? This is a question of strategic importance considering how vital IT has become in process development and control. The choice of the right IT partner depends on a few critical issues, such as, the competence of the partner in IT and your Industry, the solutions the partner can provide for you and the overall benefit your organization derives from such a partnership. For manufacturing Organizations worldwide the choice of right partner is fairly simple, it’s I2DS. Yes I2DS is the right partner for all your IT needs, because we specialize in solutions that are dedicated to manufacturing industry. The range of solutions we provide are comprehensive and cover all functional areas of a manufacturing organization, our solutions and services are- Factory Automation, Data Management, Factory MES, Manufacturing Excellence and all other IT/Software applications. We also provide the requisite manpower to help our customers right from installation to proper implementation and beyond, this way you can cut costs of having and paying an IT department. We believe in long term relationships with our customers and place their needs at the top of our priority list, our customers have entrusted us with the responsibility of managing their entire IT and we have been able to provide them the process improvement and cost efficiency they desire. So if you are looking for an IT partner who can help you not only by providing tailor made IT solutions but also make a difference to your bottom-line, you need to contact I2DS right away. Our e-mail id is info@i2ds.com and we are waiting to hear from you

Tap into the Power of Your PLC – Hidden Data You Thought You Never Had

PLC or Programmable Logic Control is one of the most advanced tools being used to provide automation solutions to Organizations. The functionality of the PLC has evolved over the years to include sequential relay control, motion control, process control, distributed control systems and networking. The data handling, storage, processing power and communication capabilities of some modern PLCs are approximately equivalent to desktop computers. It is due to the above mentioned features that PLC is highly desirable in Manufacturing Industry. But are all automation solution providers equipped with the required skill for development and application of PLC solutions, or do you need an expert? This is a very important question, as not all software solution providers have the expertise to implement state-of-the-art PLC application required by your facility. For achieving the desired results you should look at an expert in such applications. I2DS can be the right partner for you, because of our expertise and exposure to the management of complex and highly automated manufacturing operations. Our team of experts specializes in PLC implementation. If you are looking for the most modern methods of pulling process data, configuring the database structure, user friendly presentation of data, data processing and statistical tools like SPC, you are looking for a partner like I2DS. We have proved our competence in PLC for a satisfied customer base world wide and made process control and process improvement much more convenient for them. We have the expertise required for such complex and critical applications and we believe that every customer is unique and thus are solutions are Tailor-Made for your operations. With our PLC applications installed, you will be able to access, monitor and use data which you never knew had existed. If you want to benefit from our solutions and wish to have unparalleled process control, write into us at info@i2ds.com.

Factory Automation with APC

How much do you spend on R&D? I bet that if you are a competitive firm in today’s market, your R&D spending would be huge, it’s because you have to spend on Product Development continuously, and you have shorter Time-To-Market, Shorter Product Life Cycles and deal with many other Environmental factors. APC systems are being employed to better automate factories around the world and provide seamless integration and control of R&D lines. APC or Advanced Process Control is a necessity for today’s Organizations for their R&D segment. APC is composed of different kinds of process control tools, often used for solving multivariable control problems or discrete control problem. Advanced process control involves control engineering, signal processing, statistics, decision theory and artificial intelligence. In simpler terms APC is a tool that enables real-time process development and process control. Presently organizations lack the capability of being dynamic in process control and development, increasing operational efficiency while keeping the cost low is a major challenge. i2DS’ APC is a comprehensive tool which helps experts in designing and programming Automation Logic to minimize Human Intervention in R&D and Production lines & real-time maintaining process parameters by integrating in-situ metrology to Tool Control System through i2DS Framework. Our APC provides you with real-time maintaining process parameters by implementing feedback loop from offline Metrology to Tool Parameters through Factory Network. We have made our APC flexible enough to fit the R&D need of your operations and give you the ultimate control tool for your process optimization. To see our APC tool in action get in touch with us right now and let us make process control and process development simpler for you. Our e-mail address is info@i2ds.com, if you want the most modern and state-of-the-art APC solution, you need to e-mail us right away.