by I2DS | Jan 30, 2019 | Blogs
By Vivek Bhachawat
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.
by I2DS | Jan 30, 2019 | Blogs
Quality has become the most sought after competitive priority to excel at, for organizations around the world. Consumers are willing to pay top dollar for products that claim to be of superior quality and can prove to be the quality leader in their category. There are nine facets of quality, 1) Aesthetics, 2) Conformance, 3) Durability, 4) Features, 5) Response, 6) Reliability, 7) Service, 8) Performance and 9) Reputation. Most of these facets depend on the process of production and to the extent the process can be controlled and modified. When a process can be controlled, its Quality can be improved as all possible and assignable causes of variances can be detected and successfully removed.
Customer satisfaction largely depends on the Quality of product, thus we can safely say that Quality management is vital for any organization that wishes to be competitive and achieve a higher market share. Quality control can be performed effectively when the vital process metrics can be measured and controlled effectively. To be able to make better use of the process metrics an SPC system or Statistical Process Control System is extremely useful. An SPC system becomes mandatory for products that have a complex process and face a high level of technological turbulence. An SPC system if used should be process specific and be able to provide information that is highly refined and helps efficient and real time decision making.
Even modern theories and systems such as TQM, Six Sigma, Lean and JIT, lay a lot of stress on management by facts. Many management theorists have stated and concurred the belief that what can be measured can be managed. The school of thought that advocates the use of facts and figures in management makes a very strong case, this is because it gives a factual and analysis based perspective to management and does away with managerial whims and fancies. But to be able to manage any process by facts and figures, it is imperative to have these facts and figures. Any process irrespective of its type, functionality or end product always has parameters that define it; every process generates data that can be measured to ascertain its performance. The use of standards, metrics and process generated data, for improving the process and better controlling it is what SPC or Statistical Process Control is all about.
TQM theorists and practitioners believe that SPC is the best way to manage and improve a process and that without SPC; a TQM effort can never be fully achieved. In the early 1980’s managers found the use of SPC very difficult as it required them to possess a very good command on statistical tools. This scenario has changed for good in the present SPC modules available for managerial decision making. Today there are SPC applications that can perform all the required calculations and provide the required information, this means that it’s the application that processes the raw data and the manager is saved from performing lengthy and time consuming calculations.
Most futuristic organizations of the world are moving towards the use of SPC applications for improving the over all process efficiency of their production units. The trouble is whether to use an SPC solution which is available off the shelf or design one that can be tailor made for the organization’s requirement. This is a common dilemma when it comes to any IT application; it is because besides the functionality there is a certain cost constraint involved in such decisions. Till now we have established the importance of an SPC solution and are stuck on the question whether to have a custom made solution or whether to buy a standard one? Well, for me the answer is quite simple, if you need a truly efficient SPC solution it has to be process specific, the analogy I am using here is also simple. Let’s say a patient has a unique medical condition, he cant rely on general medication for getting cured, he needs a specialist and a unique treatment for his ailment. Since every process is unique in nature buying a standard SPC solution can never prove beneficial.
I2DS is the best choice, if you want the Best-In-Class SPC application at a reasonable price.I2DS has the ability to understand your process needs and how an SPC application can benefit your operation. At I2DS we realize the value a potent and process specific 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 | Jan 30, 2019 | Blogs
Prahlad and Hamel stated in their studies that Data mining is a key attribute, which is essential for applying strategic leverage. The data generated from your process is extremely crucial and helps you develop deeper cognition of the process. If the data generated from the process is carefully analyzed, it could contribute to the overall knowledge base and in-turn lead to a higher competency level. Every process and every organization generates huge volumes of data every day, but is hardly ever put to use, the reason for this is the inability to extract and analyze process data. This can be a fatal error on any organization’s part; in today’s cut-throat competition it is essential to have a deep and profound knowledge about the process and its performance.
Data generated from process equipment and tools is extremely important and needs to be provided to the management for decision making and competency recognition. Tools and equipment provide data that can help you realize the chinks in your process’ armor. This data is highly significant if there is high level of competition in the market or you are looking to become the best-in-class operation. So ask yourself this question- Is my automation application capable of extracting data from my process equipment? If the answer is no, which is the most likely answer, you should reconsider the application in place.
Gurus of performance excellence have always said that any phenomenon that can be measured can be controlled; any measurement produces data, data when collected and processed becomes information, this information when analyzed becomes learning, learning over time leads to knowledge. This process knowledge is what makes an ordinary operation an excellent one. If you fail to collect and manipulate data, then according to the above analogy your process knowledge is incomplete, thus you can never attain your true potential.
Having established the importance of information, 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, 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 30, 2019 | 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 | Jan 30, 2019 | Blogs
In his famous novel the Goal, Eliyahu Goldratt explains the importance of understanding the three most important aspects of a manufacturing plant or a business for that matter. These most crucial facets of business are- Inventory, Operational Expense and Throughput. Yes, Inventory Operational Expense and Throughput, and the real Goal is to reduce the first two and increase the third. Simply said, cut costs; produce efficiently and sell faster. This theory has a universal appeal and encompasses all sorts of businesses. Irrespective of the method or theory you apply to improve your process, i.e. TQM, Lean, Six Sigma etc. the main prerogative remains to cut costs, make better products and earn more money.
In a manufacturing scenario, the impact of the three factors mentioned above become very evident and can mean the difference between the survival and death of a business. Today the world is a very competitive place, consumers have become more demanding, competitors are fast in replicating a successful process and there are limited avenues for differentiating the end product. With such limited breathing space how does a company possibly survive? Well, it can not only survive but also achieve the best-in-class status in its industry. This can happen if the organization realizes the need to have better process management and move towards operational excellence. Even the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige Award emphasizes the importance of technology and automation.
Automation and integration specially in IT sector is very hard to replicate for a competitor as it is process specific and a well planned IT application can provide the organization the much needed and sought after competitive edge. An MES application for manufacturing organizations can help them reduce operational expense and inventory and at the same time increase throughput. MES or Manufacturing Execution Systems are basically information systems that help you execute your production process on an integrated application and help you make real-time cost saving and money making decisions. But, because these applications are process specific and help you achieve process excellence for your process individually they are highly desirable. An MES solution can help you differentiate in a way that is extremely hard for your competitors to copy or recreate.
An MES application which is well designed, carefully applied and well implemented, can achieve greater process control, which helps you achieve operational excellence or at least pursue the excellence in a more comprehensive way. Information solutions have become a major priority for organizations specially in manufacturing world wide and it is because of two major reasons which are that they are capable of making the process efficient and that if an application is tailor made to the process it can help the organization become the best-in-class operation and eventually make more money from their factory or factories. If you agree with me on the views on MES or you have a question about its applicability for your process, do not hesitate to e-mail me at info@i2ds.com or you can also leave your comments on this web-page.
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by I2DS | Jan 30, 2019 | Blogs
Technology and efficient management of data are the major drivers of operational excellence in the current industrial scenario. It is through harnessing and better application of modern technology that companies have been able to achieve Economies of Scale/Scope and develop more flexible, quality oriented production lines. Today the perception of technology has had a paradigm shift from process improvement to process integration and continuous improvement. Data Management has become a critical issue in the strategic planning of Organizations, Information processing and knowledge management are now the prime concerns. Effective Data-Management forms the back bone of the Technological Development efforts in any modern Organization.
Each Organization in the world generates large volumes of Data every day, every hour, every minute; practically all the time. However this data becomes useless if not stored in a proper Database and not processed in a strong Database Management System. Today IT is the biggest concern globally and opposed to normal belief these concerns are not being eliminated rather they are escalating, as the products being manufactured worldwide are becoming more and more complex and the need to have the right info as and when required is more intense than ever. There are a myriad of Database Management products and so called ‘solution’ providers, who are hell bent on selling you a standard package for your operation. A robust data management system needs to be tailor made to your operations.
So if you are a Manufacturing Organization seeking a robust data management system and don’t want to go for a standard package with limited functionality, then what should you 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 Data 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. Our team of experts specializes in Database Management and Database Architecture. They analyze every operation and respect the fact that all operations are unique. This belief helps them design and implement a Database Management system that is tailor made just for you and performs to your expectations. So 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.
