SMART MANUFACTURING
“ For a manufacturer to develop a smart supply chain , it all begins with digitisation ”
MARK HUGHES , VICE PRESIDENT ( VP ) OF EPICOR ( UK & I )
So What is Driving the Shift Towards Smarter Supply Chain ? With supply chains being made of several different links - sourcing goods , manufacturing , distribution , shipping and receiving - a vast amount of information and data is being produced . Coupled with a heightened awareness of supply chain risk , the industry is seeing an increase in the adoption of IoT technologies to make supply chains smarter .
“ If just one of these links are weakened , it can then have a devastating impact across the whole supply chain . Nobody wants to be the weak link in the chain , so organisations across the whole supply chain are continuously working to mitigate any risk .
What is a smart supply chain ?
A smart supply chain is one that draws on data from IoT sensors in the factory , AI and other intelligent technology and data sources to track , monitor and manage goods from manufacturer to retailer . This ability to monitor all processes from design , manufacturing , production and storage of products helps ensure traceability and compliance with the latest standards in quality and hygiene and provides better overall flow , visibility and collaboration across all stages in the value chain .
The smart supply chain is selfimproving and self-optimising . It can learn from its environment and past actions . It can predict bottlenecks and work around them to avoid disruptions . It can help optimise inventory and make sure that the right quantities are in the right place at the right time . For manufacturers , this can lead to better delivery times and performance , lower costs , efficiency gains , reduced risk and more .
manufacturingglobal . com 49