Have You Connected with Your MOM Lately?
When we say MOM, of course we’re talking about your Manufacturing Operations Management system. It’s the system of processes you use to bridge your ERP and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) with your equipment and shop floor automation. Whatever manufacturers need to manage actual manufacturing operations to get the product built and out the door – that’s MOM. And MOMs come in all shapes, sizes and capabilities.
A one size MOM definitely does not fit all – that’s what QAD’s Director for Industrial and High Tech, Glenn Graney, shares in a recent article in Canadian Manufacturing.
We’re seeing that forward-looking and successful manufacturers are those that understand that the most effective manufacturing systems are the ones that are adapted to the specific needs found in their individual operational environments. And those operational environments might be different in each manufacturing division, plant and even specific areas within the same plant.
Understanding that manufacturing operations evolve from the specific product and services applied on the shop floor is critical for adopting MOM solutions. The idea of putting all plants on the same manufacturing operations software is often misguided. Glenn points out, “I have seen more than one corporate initiative for dictating a MOM standard to diverse plants crumble and fail.”
Challenges on the Shop Floor
A recent survey by PwC on the future of MOM solutions showed that 44% of responding manufacturers reported challenges with transparency on performance and 37% lacked process control in production. Manufacturers face increasing complexity, smaller lot sizes, shorter lead times, greater product customization, cost pressures and unstable demand. The business environment for manufacturers is increasingly competitive.
At the same time, manufacturers are pressured to adopt new digital technologies to maintain a competitive edge. Making the transition to “smart manufacturing” or “Industry 4.0” manufacturing involves connecting people, sensors, machines and artificial intelligence together in an effective way to increase productivity, deliver quality products, delight customers and improve profitability.
Finding the Right Solutions
Some manufacturers use a home-grown MOM-type solution that might be a composition of loosely coupled systems, paper-based procedures and spreadsheets.
Manufacturers who adopt QAD Adaptive ERP manufacturing operations management solutions can enhance their productivity, improve supply chain efficiency and deliver greater customer satisfaction. QAD’s digital transformation solutions, IIoT, data storage and advanced analytics deliver real-time data for top-notch manufacturing operations management. The features introduced by QAD’s modern MOM solution eliminate data silos and foster transparency across functions and plant floor operations.
Digital manufacturing technology modernizes manufacturing operations and supplies real-time intelligence for improved decision-making and forecasting. With it, manufacturers can integrate planning, scheduling, quality control, cost management, inventory and overall shop floor control. Communication is improved, and stakeholders meet manufacturing objectives with clear, centralized data. Tracking manufacturing performance is also significantly enhanced.
QAD Adaptive ERP offers both off-the-shelf processes and a platform that encourages custom tailoring to fit the extant ecosystem. The current technology to blend MOM core capabilities while designing them with operational extensions to meet the specific needs of the manufacturing environment has never been better.
MOMs promote improved manufacturing operational control, better product quality and greater profitability. Management uses data from the MOM system to highlight and improve factory effectiveness, workflow management and regulatory compliance. MOMs are getting very tech savvy. Leading manufacturers should reevaluate ROI considerations as they explore the many benefits of a structured MOM.
Check out Glenn’s full article, “Breaking down Manufacturing Operations Management” in Canadian Manufacturing.
