Last updated on October 26, 2016
The domain of manufacturing, all around the world, is feeling the power of IT transformation every day. With growing complexities, scale of operations, interdependence of geographically dispersed plants, resources’ deployed, the game has become challenging.
In order for them to beat the competition, and leverage maximum possible profit margins, organizations need to deploy the best possible IT tools. They need to integrate IT, both horizontally and vertically in the organization.
In a dynamic manufacturing environment, interdepartmental processes need to be perfectly synchronized for better utilization of resources. Factories are aiming towards the latest methods of lean manufacturing systems to drive out waste. But only with the right combination of technologies throughout the value chain will it be possible. One must also keep agile development practices in mind.
Agile development today is a buzzword in the IT industry. It is derived from the notion of agile manifesto in the year 2001. The same attempts to overcome the challenges faced by outdated software integration or project management methods.
The methodology revolves around four basic values, which are imperative for success of a manufacturing firm going for IT deployment.
- Individuals and interactions – Individuals should be empowered enough to take independent decisions during project implementation. This keeps up the workflow and facilitates faster project completion.
- Working software – While in a meeting with your IT vendor, ask for a working software interface than cumbersome documentation and presentations. This way, you can visualize your requirements better and understand the capabilities. This will also help you track the work.
- Customer collaboration – During the initial SRS (system requirement study) sessions, it may be tough to state the exact requirements. Manufacturers tend to realize their requirements and capabilities in stages. Therefore, your vendor should be involved actively throughout the implementation processes. Cross-functional teams with a project coordinator should be assigned to communicate regularly with the implementation partner.
- Responding to change – Any change during the implementation process should be addressed instantaneously, as it facilitates continual development.
The above values are used in conjunction with IT deployment methods for effective transformation of the business environment into a Hi-Tech one. Effective deployment methods are a systematic chain of activities from initiation of the job to the end of its life cycle. It starts with the activation of sub-programs and setting the platform for main software integration. During the process adaptation of existing programs, up gradation of versions, built-ins or add-ons are executed carefully.
Manufacturing value chain is the representation of the process flow of the business, whereby, the entire organization orchestrates as a system. The same is further subdivided into interdependent subsystems, with various inputs and outputs.
Huge amount of data is generated at each I/O interface. To arrest the value generated in the chain, manufacturers are making their organizational environment more IT oriented, with the above-mentioned practices of agile development in IT deployment.
These latest practices are followed to adopt customized technologies, which help to effectively manage selection, planning, and execution of jobs effectively. They help in optimum resource allocation and thus, weed out unnecessary processes. The focus is on plugging the revenue leakage and increasing productivity by spreading more control over operations, with the help of customized IT solutions. With the advent of such latest practices, managing the whole landscape of manufacturing value chain has become a lot simpler and effective.
Author bio:
Preethi vagadia is a business architect worked in Mortgage and Finance software department with top notch companies and has over 8 years of experience in Mortgage Lending Technology, Warranty Administration management etc. She has also worked in several process improvement projects involving multi-national teams for global customers in warranty management and mortgage
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