by I2DS | Apr 26, 2023 | Blogs
What makes an Organization a Leader, is it better management, better machines, better leadership, better resources, better technology? What exactly does a company do better than others to become a leader? Well, all the above mentioned factors play a vital role in any organization’s success, especially its leadership and employees, but that’s not all. Organizations that become leaders have one factor in common above all others; this is their unrelenting and uncompromising pursuit of Excellence, this pursuit of excellence keeps them alert, keeps the hungry for success and drives them to outperform themselves every single day. The pursuit of excellence is not just a plan that these leaders try and execute; it is a way of life. Such feverish dedication and lust for success, comes from strong values, leader’s vision and continuous cycle of strategic planning, execution and review.
To become a leader this passion to achieve excellence needs to be coupled with carefully planned actions, which ensure that you achieve and maintain your competitive edge. It is easier said than done, to become a leader, you need to look at issues like strategy, operations, management, planning and above all technology, in a proactive and positive way. Rather than trying to reengineer your entire process, I suggest that you try and understand the present flaws of your process and pursue excellence through careful application of planning and proficient execution. Technology should be a major player in your pursuit for excellence, and should be the main consideration in your strategic planning along with other proposed management practices that may be looked at such as TQM, Benchmarking, Lean or JIT.
Technology will play a vital role in achieving excellence; IT will be at the forefront of your leadership pursuit. Yes, IT applications are making manufacturing processes more efficient by providing better process control, higher throughput, lower costs, real-time decision making and thereby greater profitability. Even for industries at the pinnacle of technology in terms of equipment and process capability, IT applications can still lead to better process performance, faster cycle time and a boost in profitability.
The need of having better information processing and higher level of transparency coupled with the desire to achieve better quality and control are the key drivers of the proliferation of Information systems in manufacturing. The level of excellence that you desire and crave from your process is only possible through the application of IT solutions. You will be amazed to see how IT has influenced every aspect of production right from design to dispatch of the end products. Now that we have established the necessity of IT applications and justified that they are the future of manufacturing, let me introduce to you the premium provider of these innovative and efficient IT application, I2DS.
I2DS has realized the need of the futuristic organizations to manage and retain their knowledge and has developed Information solutions to meet these needs of future, today. We offer a seamless integration for the entire Organization, our services and solutions range from Database Management to Manufacturing Excellence. We can achieve the level of integration desired by the Organization as we have developed solutions that are aimed at automation of Information Processing and better Knowledge Management. Let’s have a brief glance at all our verticals; they are, Data Management, Factory Automation, Factory MES, Manufacturing Excellence and IT/Software services.
Our verticals have been designed specially to provide integrated platforms, which have the functionality of converting raw data to information and providing seamless information to achieve smooth learning resulting in an Organization wide Knowledge Base. We have experts in all verticals mentioned above, which gives us the ability to empathize with Organizations and realize their pain points better, our solutions are aimed at resolving present information problems and better dealing with the future ones. So if you are an Organization that aspires to be a market leader through effective and efficient Information Management, I2DS is the right partner for you. If you want to get a glimpse of our world class product line e-mail us at info@i2ds.com or hit the Request Live Demo button on this page.
by I2DS | Apr 21, 2023 | 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 | Apr 20, 2023 | Blogs
Integration of production facilities, does it mean the physical integration or is there more to it? Well, not necessarily, today due to the miracle of technology, the end-to-end integration of a production facility is possible even if the entire process is not executed under a single roof. It is now possible to monitor and control subsequent operations taking place at varied physical locations. Even when the entire process is executed at the same location can it be considered integrated if there is a delay in decision making and process control? A process becomes integrated only when it can be monitored, controlled and executed in real time. This is possible only when there are applications that allow real-time capture and analysis of raw data, which can be presented to the relevant management personnel in the form of actionable information.
The next question that arises is- Do we really need an integrated production process? The answer to this question is pretty simple, yes. Yes, you need end-to-end process integration, because it leads to process improvement, inventory control, cost cutting and boosts throughput and profitability. Applications that can help monitor a production process in real-time and provide a comprehensive integration of the process should be considered seriously. It is very important ton realize the importance of having the entire process integrated on a single platform and the value that it adds for the end customer. MES applications are applications which provide end-to-end integration of a production process.
Companies that have been able to embrace new technologies such as MES and implement them successfully in their operations are experiencing unprecedented growth and market share. Information Technology has helped firms perform processes differently, thereby reducing related costs and increasing process efficiency. It is only through advanced applications of IT solution that the Best-In-Class companies have achieved their coveted status. Besides management practices, workforce knowledge, resource base and market conditions, IT is the most important contributor to the success of an Organization.
Manufacturing Organizations in particular have been able to outperform their competition by the implementation of Manufacturing Execution Systems or MES solutions. 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 allows real-time decision making. 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 developed one of the most respected MES applications in the world today. Our solution is capable of adapting and changing itself to suit your operation’s needs. We are successful in MES because we are not just an IT company; our team of experts has more than 100 years of experience in fortune 500 companies in Operations Management. We understand the importance of factors that are unique and inherent in every process; our solutions reflect the individuality of our customer’s process. We have been able to achieve operational excellence through the application of our MES products in different operations from diverse industries. So if you are looking for a partner who would understand your process first and then devise the best solution accordingly, I2DS is the best choice for you. To get a demo of our product made to fit your production process, e-mail us at info@i2ds.com or just hit the request live demo tab on this webpage and our team will get back to you.
by I2DS | Apr 18, 2023 | Blogs
MES applications are transforming the way production units operate, they are making factories more integrated, efficient and quality oriented. MES applications are basically software solutions that have the capability to provide seamless integration for a manufacturing facility, right from warehouse to the EOL or end of production line. An MES app helps you manage production in real-time and prevent formation of bottle-necks, monitor and control your process and above all improve the overall efficiency of production. The major advantage of having an MES app is the clarity you have about your process and how fast and accurate decision making becomes. The major contribution that such an app provides is towards the Quality of the end-product. An MES app can help you monitor every aspect of product quality and ensure that the end-product is compliant and perfect.
The heart of an MES app is an SPC tool, it is through this SPC tool that real-time data analysis and decision making is possible. An SPC application allows to enter and analyze all process and product related metrics. Such a tool can lead to not only 100% compliance but also help improve quality by removing assignable causes of errors. Companies that aim for a Six Sigma level process or the ones aiming to achieve Lean management in the true sense can hugely benefit from an SPC system embedded in their MES application. This saves not only cost but precious time that is otherwise wasted doing complex calculation, which is subject to human error or calculation error if performed manually. An SPC application also provides visual tools that help understand the Data better and achieve better process control. I believe an MES application is incomplete without an SPC application.
So the real question here is, how important is SPC in your Organization? Is your SPC application capable of delivering high class and potent decision making info? Do you need a better SPC application, embedded in your MES app? These questions are extremely critical if you are a manufacturing Organization that has highly complex processes and high quality standards for your final products. SPC application today requires being highly efficient and delivering much more than just basic trend charts. If your SPC application is delivering just Trend Charts you are not fully utilizing the power an SPC application can truly provide. A truly potent and capable SPC should be capable of applications like CpK Charts, Real-Time Process Data, Trends feedback, Tool Shutdown, SMS Text Capabilities, E-mail alerts and other process specific charts and reports.
At I2DS we realize the value a good SPC tool in your Organization’s system can add value to your entire operations. Our SPC solution is integrated in our MES system and it allows the above mentioned functionalities in real time. This makes your control function extremely powerful as you can monitor SPC data in real time and make decisions simultaneously, that too without having to use any other system/tool for analysis. Our SPC might appear magical to a common man but it’s a powerful tool for a manager who deals with issues like quality and cost of production. I2DS’ SPC has the capability to integrate and compare the process data from multiple factories of the Organization, providing you a comprehensive analysis tool. Our SPC is the perfect Quality and Equipment ‘Doctor’, because it helps you diagnose and cure every issue pertaining to them. The reports that our SPC generates helps you get a 360 degree view of the entire operation and this helps you make more accurate and profitable decisions. So for a live demo e-mail us at info@i2ds.com or request a Live Demo on this web page.
by I2DS | Apr 17, 2023 | Blogs
Over the years Manufacturing has become more precise and process dependent, any deviation from the set procedures and norms can have dire consequences for the factory. In operations like Semiconductor manufacturing a spec of dust can destroy an entire production lot, such controlled and highly automated environments call for much tighter and fool proof production and process control, than ever required in older more manual processes. Modern manufacturers rely on early detection and prevention of any deviations and excursions in their fabs, generally the burden of such activities is borne by an IT application, which in most cases is the MES.
MES applications are employed not only to execute a process in entirety, but also to exercise tight control and precision in workflow. In automated environments where human intervention is less than 10% the MES is expected to communicate directly with process equipment and report valuable process information, in a user-friendly manner.When it comes to issues, such as deviations in the process, the MES should be capable of detecting and highlighting the issues in real-time so that they are noticed by the requisite personnel.In paper-based and legacy MES systems issues which were detected, got reported only when they could no longer be controlled, which made the entire process reactive in nature. These issues have been mitigated by the modern MES which not only detects issues, as or even before they happen but reports them instantaneously to multiple individuals, making sure every issue is dealt with before it escalates and becomes a major problem.
This unique capability of the MES to act as an interface between workforce and equipment allows it to be an ideal platform for root cause analysis and process control. Since every deviation right from material quality to equipment errors are reported, it becomes easy for process owners to pin-point the location of the problem, once the problem is localized, it can then be analyzed using the MES by either drilling down the historical/genealogy data or simply asking the activity owner for explanations. Once a problem is analyzed both subjectively and statistically, its root cause can be determined by allocating assignable causes or special events, like the material thickness being 0.2 mm more than usual etc.
Once a root cause of an issue is determined, it can be archived in the system as a problem type and can be inculcated in the company’s knowledge system, so that whenever similar issues occur the workers can reference the system to find the best way to deal with the issue. This power of pro-activeness that the MES brings to the table is unparalleled and just can’t be matched by any other application, which is because the MES is designed for executing the process and not for reporting financials or planning inventory, this statement however does not mean that the MES cannot perform these functions as well.
Sticking to the topics, having served in Operations myself, I believe for any operations professional, knowing what the problem is, and where it occurred in the process itself is half the battle won, the MES goes a step further and provides information to cross-reference the issue with other similar ones in the past and the specification for that particular jobs. Knowing all this a skilled team of operations professionals can not only detect the root cause of an issue but also increase the money-making capacity of an operation by preventing issues from ever occurring again.The MES is an ideal solution for mature-automated processes, which are in pursuit of improving continually and are practicing Lean or Six-Sigma.The MES would actually allow such processes to channel their improvement efforts towards the areas that need greater attention, thereby reflecting results faster. So if you are looking for better process control and enhanced problem detection/correction, think MES.
by I2DS | Apr 11, 2023 | Blogs
Is your factory operation the best-in-class in your industry? Is it operating at optimum efficiency/effectiveness? Are the operational efforts well-coordinated, well communicated and well documented? Do you have the ability to monitor each and every activity in real-time and make profitable decisions? Today these are the questions that are critical for an Organization that believes in achieving the highest possible Quality at the lowest possible cost. Manufacturing organizations today are constantly under pressure to develop newer, better products much faster than ever before. This means that the factory operation needs to be achieving optimum efficiency just to be able to cater to the needs of the dynamic conditions and highly demanding markets.
Organizations that can boast of having the best-in-class operations in the industry have been able to do so by strategic planning and employing/developing path breaking technologies. For manufacturing Organizations, it is extremely vital to have a synchronized and integrated operation, which works together as a single unit. Understanding the importance of Technology and the role it plays in the success of the best organizations can help us understand how technology can contribute towards making our operation the best-in-class operation. One of the most important facets of technology is IT or Information Technology. IT is being used to integrate operations, provide better customer service, facilitate decision making and increase throughput of the entire Organization.
The need of the hour is to have information 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.
