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Strategic Transformation: Mobile Work Order Technology for Maximum Maintenance Processes Efficiency

StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article | Strategic Transformation: Mobile Work Order Technology for Maximum Maintenance Processes Efficiency

In the evolving world of manufacturing, one cannot underscore the importance of optimization. Maintenance supervisors, managers, and directors continually strive to refine processes, ensuring that production lines run smoothly. Central to these efforts is the implementation of digital transformation and the burgeoning role of mobile devices—particularly in the utilization of Mobile Work Order systems.

Digital Transformation and the Power of the Mobile Work Order

Gone are the days when maintenance operations relied solely on heaps of paper, manual logs, and face-to-face communications. In today’s tech-centric era, the transition to digital platforms—anchored by the Mobile Work Order — has revolutionized the way manufacturing plants operate.

Boosting Wrench Time

Wrench time, or the direct, hands-on time technicians spend on tasks, is paramount in maintenance. With the Mobile Work Order system, workers no longer need to scour through piles of paperwork or physically visit stations to get updates. Instead, essential data is readily accessible on their mobile devices, allowing them to focus more on the actual maintenance tasks at hand.

Elevating Frontline Worker Productivity

The potency of the Mobile Work Order shines brightly in its ability to bolster the efficiency of frontline workers. By having real-time access to tasks, schedules, and machine histories on their devices, workers can swiftly transition from one job to the next, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity.

Accelerating Work Order Completion

The crux of the Mobile Work Order system is in its name—mobile. Traditional work orders might get misplaced, delayed, or be subject to communication lags. However, with digital work orders available on mobile devices, tasks are updated in real-time, feedback is instantaneous, and the entire process from initiation to completion is streamlined.

Enhancing Operational Visibility

For managers and directors, having a bird’s eye view of operations is invaluable. Mobile Work Order systems offer dynamic, comprehensive dashboards, available at a touch. Supervisors can monitor ongoing tasks, machine performance, parts inventory, and more, all from their devices. This boosts transparency and ensures that resource allocation is both timely and effective.

Guaranteeing Data Accuracy

Human errors in manual data entry can lead to significant discrepancies. However, with Mobile Work Order systems, data is directly fed into the platform, ensuring accuracy and consistency. Whether it’s recording machine metrics, logging task completion, or updating parts inventory, the data is precise and reliable.

Empowering Decision Making

Accurate, real-time data is the backbone of informed decision-making. With the insights derived from the Mobile Work Order system, maintenance directors can make strategic decisions regarding preventive maintenance schedules, resource allocation, parts procurement, and more. Decisions are no longer based on estimations but rooted in concrete, actionable data.

The pathway to efficiency in manufacturing maintenance has been unmistakably paved by digital transformation and the integration of mobile devices—especially through the Mobile Work Order system. Its role in modernizing traditional processes is both undeniable and indispensable.

For maintenance supervisors, managers, and directors, the message is clear: adopting and championing the Mobile Work Order system is not just a strategy for optimization—it’s an imperative for sustainability and growth. In this era of relentless competition and technological advancement, staying updated, streamlined, and efficient is the only way forward.


About the Author

Sundeep V. Ravande is the CEO of Innovapptive Inc. He is responsible for driving the company’s vision to become the #1 provider of Connected Worker experience software. Sundeep received a Master of Science degree in aerospace and mechanical engineering from the University of Mississippi.

Reasons Outsourcing Your Production is a Good Idea

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Outsourcing Production|Reasons Outsourcing Your Production is a Good IdeaOutsourcing is a popular term these days. Outsourcing refers to contracting out, or “outsourcing,” part of your production to another company. There are many benefits to outsourcing your presentation, including more time and money!

Labor Costs

You have to be very careful with your money as a business owner. This is where outsourcing production of goods comes into play for many entrepreneurs. Outsourcing helps ensure that the quality of products or services will remain high while not breaking your budget. In addition, by paying someone else to handle this aspect of your business, you can focus on other vital areas, such as marketing and sales.

Another reason to outsource production is that labor costs in other countries are often much lower than local ones. This can save you a lot of money on manufacturing or producing your products. In some cases, it may even be cheaper to have someone else make your goods overseas than to do it yourself.

Quality Control

One of business owners’ main concerns when outsourcing production is quality control. It is essential to find a company that will maintain the same level of quality as you would produce if you were doing everything in-house. This can be done by conducting due diligence on potential production partners and asking for references.

Another concern is the cost of outsourcing production. It is essential to find a company that can provide quality products at a competitive price. Again, references and due diligence are vital in finding the right partner.

When you work with a company specializing in manufacturing and assembly, they have the equipment necessary to produce high-quality products. If your product is going to be shipped out across several states or even countries, to meet certain quality leaves their warehouse. In addition, there are many standards before it needs to be reworked or scrapped altogether.

When you outsource your production, you can be sure that every step of the process is overseen by a professional. As a result, any errors or inconsistencies are caught and corrected before they become a problem. Additionally, since the people watching production are experts in their field, they know how to get the most out of your product and produce it in the most efficient way possible.

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Reliable Production

Outsourcing is an excellent idea for any company looking to expand but doesn’t want the hassle of hiring employees and building out new facilities. Outsourced manufacturing companies can provide solutions with short-term projects and long-term engagements depending on your business needs.

When you outsource your production, you’re essentially tapping into a new and more reliable manufacturing source. By partnering with an experienced and capable outsourced manufacturer, you can increase your production capacity without investing in new equipment or training for your staff. In addition, you can learn more if you are looking for a company with experience in this area.

When you outsource your manufacturing, you’re looking into a team of experts who have the knowledge and resources to create high-quality products efficiently. By working with an experienced manufacturer, you can avoid common problems during production, such as defects and missed deadlines. Additionally, you’ll have access to several different production methods that can be more affordable than working with local manufacturers.

Decreased Lead Times

In today’s world, time is of the essence. Outsourcing your production can lead to decreased lead times for your products. In addition, when you work with a company that specializes in manufacturing and assembly, they will have the latest and greatest technology at their disposal. This means that they can get your product to market faster than if you were to try and do it yourself.

Project Management

When you have someone else produce your product, they will likely have their team in place that can handle all aspects of the project. This means that you don’t have to worry about coordinating different groups or managing multiple deadlines. Instead, you can focus on other aspects of your business that are equally important.

Communication

One of the main benefits of outsourcing your production is how much communication you will save. When you outsource, it’s typically a “hands-off” approach, and everything is handled by email or phone calls. There are no in-person meetings that require extensive preparation on your part. This saves time when trying to schedule and organize a project.

Design

Outsourcing design work allows you to have a team of designers that can create custom graphics for your product. This way, everything looks uniform and consistent across the board while still having a unique flair that speaks to your brand’s identity. It also ensures high-quality results with each step of production instead of relying on multiple people to produce subpar work.

Shipping and Logistics

With more companies outsourcing their shipping, logistics, and fulfillment work, you’ll no longer need to worry about hiring additional employees for these tasks. Many eCommerce businesses choose this route because they don’t have the space to store or ship their products. By outsourcing, you can free up valuable office and warehouse space.

Outsourcing your shipping operations also allows you to take advantage of economies of scale. You’ll get better rates on shipping when you work with a company that specializes in this area. And, since these companies have a lot of experience shipping all kinds of products, you can rest assured your orders will be processed quickly.

In addition to saving time and money for your business, outsourcing also helps reduce the stress of managing fulfillment operations in-house. Your employees won’t need to spend their days packing boxes or dealing with suppliers. Instead, they can focus on more critical tasks to help your organization grow. With the correct shipping and logistics partner, you’ll be able to concentrate on growing your business without worrying about how it all gets done behind the scenes.

There are a lot of reasons to outsource production for your business. It can help give you more control over your product, lower costs, and time-to-market, to name a few. However, when it comes down to finalizing whether or not this is the right choice for you, some key things will determine if outsourcing production is the right decision for your business.

5 Steps for Starting a Successful Manufacturing Business

StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article | 5 Steps for Starting a Successful Manufacturing BusinessStarting a new manufacturing business can be a daunting prospect, but if you pull it off, there can be great rewards.

One of the most important things is that you don’t rush into it without being ready, and this means careful planning is needed. These five steps for starting a successful manufacturing business can help you on your way.

1. Planning

You can’t just go into business and hope things will fall into place, because they invariably won’t. Instead, you’ve got to plan your approach in as much detail as possible.

Some of the first things you need to think about are how you’re going to enter the market, where your competitive edge lies, and how you’re going to finance the venture. There are a lot of start-up costs associated with manufacturing, so you may have to come up with some innovative ways of financing your company.

2. Location

Where you locate your factory is going to play a big role in your business’s success.

Logistics play a huge part in manufacturing, and you’re going to want to minimize these costs as much as possible. One of the ways you can do this is by finding a factory in a location with excellent transport links.

Great transport links also make it easier for customers to get to you and your staff to get to and from work.

3. Personnel

When you’re starting a new venture, it’s vital you get the right people in to help you out. This is a critical time for your company, so you want to be able to rely on competent staff to help carry out your vision.

If you hire well and build a good, solid team, you start to breed a culture that will define your business for the years to come, but if you get your hiring wrong, it can lead to bad habits and poor-quality work.

The hiring process is crucial, and you need to be getting the right people in, something that has served this dowel pin manufacturer well.

4. Technology

You can only get the best out of people if you give them the right tools to do their job.

Investing in technology is expensive, but if you’re investing in the right technology, it’s going to make a huge difference to your efficiency and make your company more profitable.

It might mean a big upfront investment, but technology can make all the difference in your manufacturing business’s success.

5. Suppliers

We’re always talking about customers and rightly so: they’re the ones that help pay the bills. That said, suppliers play a big role as well.

If you can start to build good relationships with your suppliers right from the very start, they can stand you in good stead for many years. Your suppliers are one of the very first cogs in the entire manufacturing process, so it’s vital you can rely on them.

Really do your research and due diligence on suppliers and try to cultivate strong relationships.

Key Areas To Focus On When Starting A Manufacturing Business

StrategyDriven Starting Your Business Article | Key Areas To Focus On When Starting A Manufacturing BusinessThe manufacturing industry is one which is always in demand, so it is easy to see why so many entrepreneurs look to start a business here. Manufacturing can also be a complex industry to work in and highly competitive, so success is not as straightforward as it may seem, especially when you consider how hard it is to compete with the much larger manufacturers.

This is why it is so important to focus on the right areas when you first start out so that you can hit the ground running and find some success early on.

Market Research

Much like with any new business venture, the first stage will involve thorough research. This will help you to determine if it is a viable business idea, which sector you should operate in, who your competitors are and who your target customer is.

Business Plan

With this information, you can then create a detailed business plan which will act as a blueprint to your success and guide you through the early stages of the startup. In addition to this, a business plan will also be important for securing funding which will be crucial for getting the operation up and running to a high standard.

Premises & Location

Manufacturing operations often require a lot of space so you need to find suitable premises that will allow your team to work safely each day. In addition to being a large enough space, this should also be somewhere that is easy to access with plenty of parking so that staff and suppliers can easily reach the site each day.

High Quality Equipment

High-quality equipment is essential for any manufacturing business so that you can create products of the highest standard. For those working with liquids, this is likely to include float switches designed by a specialist, so that you are able to increase productivity and allow staff to work to a high level each day.

Staff

Following on from this, you also need to make sure that you take the time with recruitment as it will be impossible to succeed without a skilled and hardworking workforce. A good way to keep costs down is to outsource certain areas of the business, but for the key parts of the operation you need to find the right people for the job and keep them happy in their role.

Marketing

It is important to start marketing your manufacturing company early so that as many people are aware of your business as possible from day one. As previously mentioned, it can be hard to compete in this industry, which is why marketing is so important and also why you should use the services of an experienced agency to raise awareness about your new business.

Focus on these areas when starting a manufacturing company and it should pave the way for future success, as well as help you to hit the ground running in what can be a challenging industry to succeed in.

 

Why Is Manufacturing So Hard to Master?

StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article | Why Is Manufacturing So Hard to Master?Manufacturing is something that trips up a lot of smaller and medium sized businesses. Many feel that they’d prefer to keep their production in house rather than outsource to another company due to costs and control issues- but are put off due to it being such a mammoth task. What exactly do you need to know when it comes to manufacturing, and is it really out of reach for smaller and medium sized companies?

Getting set up

Whether manufacturing your own products will be a possibility will mainly depend on what you want to make and what your budget is. If your business makes complex items  such as electronics which require a lot of technology and specialist manpower then you might struggle. For other companies, it might not be too difficult to source and run the machines you need, even if you have to buy second hand. Some of the practicalities you will need to consider is where your plant will be based, and whether you can source skilled workers to run things. If you’re able to do this, then manufacturing might well be in reach for you.

The costs

One of the major roadblocks for SMBs looking to manufacture their own products is the costs of getting set up can be incredibly high. You’ll need factory and warehousing space, equipment, materials and staff. However, if you’re able to make this work, once you’re up and running it’s worth knowing that you will save more in the long run compared with outsourcing. So if you’re in it for the long haul when it comes to your business, and you have a product which is selling well, taking out loans to cover the startup costs could well be worth doing as it will pay off for you long term. Just be sure to get your finances right, you need to ensure you’re able to cover the costs of borrowing money as if things spiral out of control it could easily lead to bankruptcy. Spend some time sitting down and crunching the numbers, find out if it’s worth it for you.

Health and safety

Any workplace comes with risks, even in a shop or office employees can suffer slips and trips which can be disastrous if it was a result of your neglect. However, when you’re running a manufacturing plant, there are many more risks of accidents and injuries due to the nature of the workplace- from heavy machinery being in operation, vehicles like forklifts going back and forth and powerful equipment such as drills and saws being used, it makes things much more risky. For this reason, you need to take health and safety incredibly seriously and make sure that you’re insured correctly. Everyone should be properly trained and qualified and wearing the right equipment. If not and someone is hurt, you’ll end up with a personal injury law firm on your case, seeking the compensation your employee will be entitled to.

Have you ever considered manufacturing in your SMB?