{"id":7243,"date":"2018-11-20T09:02:18","date_gmt":"2018-11-20T17:02:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-prod.qad.com\/blog\/?p=7243"},"modified":"2020-11-08T18:38:45","modified_gmt":"2020-11-09T02:38:45","slug":"accelerating-digital-transformation-qad-manufacturing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qad.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/accelerating-digital-transformation-qad-manufacturing","title":{"rendered":"Accelerating Digital Transformation with QAD Manufacturing"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Changing Business Dynamics for Manufacturers<\/span><\/h2>\n

Business dynamics for manufacturers are changing more rapidly and becoming more disruptive than ever before. The changes are driven by the rising expectations of consumers and business customers, increasing complexities of global supply chains, growing competitive pressures, constantly shifting regulatory requirements and many other factors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your operational strategies need to align with IT strategies to ensure the organization can evolve and adopt new technologies to help improve the time to market of new products, unlock cost efficiencies, enhance product quality and drive new revenues.<\/span><\/p>\n

Certainly, initiatives for automation and more controls across business processes have existed for decades. However, new technologies like <\/span>IIoT<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Machine Learning\/AI<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>robotics<\/span><\/a> are becoming more capable, mature and affordable to help resolve specific manufacturing and supply chain challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n

Digital Transformation: What and Why?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Adoption of these emerging technologies is still early. Companies are implementing or, at least, reviewing new technologies to boost speed, productivity, quality, flexibility and responsiveness. Typically, we see manufacturers starting with smaller prototype projects like using machine learning to better predict forecasts and maintenance requirements, deploying IIoT techniques to connect machines to provide more insights into manufacturing activities, or developing projects to improve visibility with advanced analytics implementations. With the help of management consulting and DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION CONSULTANTS, CAVENDISH WOOD<\/a> companies are trying their best to achieve the requirements needed to ensure that their businesses are running smoothly. <\/span><\/p>\n

Although many companies have achieved some level of automation in their material handling and shop floor activities and improved data accuracy, they often still struggle in knowing crucial process data points due to a lack of connected processes. Too often, we see production planners and schedulers relying on spreadsheets to plan and schedule daily production levels with complex calculations derived from MRP data.<\/span><\/p>\n

Material planners have their own spreadsheets to organize the material supplies required at the production lines and work centers. When tracking production activities, like material handlers not transacting receipts when they occur, the information is captured sometimes many hours later with only limited detail. Disconnected activities like this result in out-of-sync operations, which leads to uncertainties around the production process, including what has been promised to the customer, what to plan and where the products are physically. This can make it very hard to change priorities or manage the daily balancing act of demand and supply. <\/span><\/p>\n

Consider the following questions:<\/span><\/p>\n