AI AUTOMATION
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With the emergence of digital technologies and supply chains becoming more extended , there have been significant changes . There have been big improvements in safety ; there is less paper , more automation , shorter flows , more operator engagement , smaller batch sizes , smarter assembly and less re-work — all using data to rapidly understand and address issues . The opportunity to use advanced tools is so much bigger . Ten years ago , you had to ask a software engineer to develop an analytical tool to optimise equipment throughput . Now , an intern can create that in a week . Analytics are performed faster and with a lot more data . Everything is connected . It is more commonplace to analyse manufacturing data alongside finance data , training data , and quality data in order to holistically understand operations .
How has COVID-19 impacted and changed the way manufacturers work ?
For many clients , the pandemic has been a rollercoaster in terms of demand swings and supply disruptions . In the immediate aftermath , we have obviously seen measures to protect worker safety , for example , physical spacing , A / B team schedules , use of PPE , etc . COVID-19 has also resulted in greater awareness of the vulnerabilities in today ’ s complex value chains from a supply base and health perspective and that “ stable ” demand can quickly change .
On a larger scale , it has also dramatically accelerated digital adoption with things like remote collaboration and customer and supplier interactions . Overall , supply chain leaders are thinking much more about agility and resilience . Companies are rethinking
NOVEMBER 2020