I’m about to drop a mind-blowing stat on you — are you ready for it? 

The failure rate of digital transformation efforts is estimated to be in the range of 70 to 90%. That is not a typo. Nearly all digital transformation efforts fail, according to Forbes and McKinsey.

So, why would anyone do it?

Well, you know the answer to that: Because automation is revolutionizing manufacturing. From robotics, machine learning and automated guided vehicles to 3D printing, AI and the Internet of Things, some companies are making huge gains by leveraging manufacturing automation to improve their business.

3 Things to Consider Before You Automate

Everyone wants to be among the few who are doing it right. Good news: We have the secret to their success!

1. Don’t solve a problem that doesn’t exist. There are folks out there who are so wowed by the next great thing that they implement it without due cause. We all know that that could end up hurting a lot more than helping.

Instead of jumping on the bandwagon, hold off until you see a legitimate need. Don’t treat it as a technology looking for a problem.

2. This isn’t the place to pinch pennies. The cheapest solution may work well at first but then quickly erode as the automation degrades or, worse, stops functioning altogether. 

Instead of automatically going with the least expensive option, do the math to determine the overall cost/benefit, making reasonable assumptions about the automation over its entire projected lifetime.

3. Think outside your own box. What are you automating? Is it simply something you’ve always done without taking a look to see if there are unnecessary steps that could be eliminated? Consider streamlining before determining whether newer technology could provide a better, faster, more precise result.

Automating Your Quality Processes

Automation is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Your business has unique needs and challenges. And it has to make sense. As quality professionals, when we evaluate automation possibilities, we need to translate those plans into dollars and cents saved for those who will make the ultimate decision.

Identifying tasks that are repetitive, time-consuming and require a high degree of accuracy is an easy first step. And while automation can certainly replace some menial or redundant tasks performed by people, it does not completely replace human employees, as some might fear. Instead, it has the potential to replace employees’ tedious, repetitive tasks with more meaningful contributions. Talk about a win-win!

Want to learn more?

Read our full article in Quality Magazine for a deeper dive into determining whether automation is right for you — and how best to implement it. You might also be interested in an earlier blog that shares PennEngineering’s journey in this area.