The most successful manufacturers, no matter what they make, all share a few key ideas. They get the basics right. Think of it as the ABCs of manufacturing. They build their success on:
- A for Automation
- B for Business Intelligence
- C for Customer Care.
Let us break down what that really means.
A is for Automation: Let Your Systems Do the Heavy Lifting
Automation is the engine of efficiency. To compete on a global scale, you have to keep your costs under control. Automation is absolutely about cutting costs, but it is also about unlocking your team's true potential. It is about eliminating the wasteful minutes spent on repetitive, manual tasks so your people can focus on innovation, problem-solving, and proactive management. When you let your systems handle the busywork, you empower your people to do their best work.
Some key basics include:
* Put scheduling on autopilot: Many manufacturers feel like they are constantly juggling schedules. Lean manufacturers do it automatically. This saves an incredible amount of time and frees up schedulers to become strategic planners, looking for efficiencies instead of just plugging in data.
- Take the guesswork out of purchasing: Knowing when to buy parts and in what quantity should not be a guessing game. Automation removes the uncertainty, allowing the purchasing team to focus on negotiating better prices and improving delivery times, which directly impacts your bottom line.
- Make it your own: True, effective automation is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Every manufacturing business is different. That is why automation, from quoting to shipping, requires a flexible system that can be tailored to meet specific processes, machines and philosophies.
When you fully embrace automation, it becomes a powerful engine for growth.
B is for Business Intelligence: Your Blueprint for Profitability
A business produces a massive amount of data every single day. Business intelligence harnesses that data to make smarter, faster, and more profitable decisions. This starts by breaking down information silos and creating a single source of truth for the entire operation.
Key considerations:
- Get everyone on the same page: The most successful manufacturers manage their entire business, from quote to cash, with a single, integrated ERP system. Juggling separate software for accounting, sales, and production is a recipe for errors and inefficiency. When all your data lives in one system, your team can trust the numbers they are seeing, and everyone from the shop floor to the front office is working with the same real-time information.
- Know your numbers cold: You cannot manage what you do not measure. Healthy manufacturers live by their key performance indicators (KPIs). These are the vital signs of your business-metrics like on-time delivery rates, gross profit margin by job, and scrap percentage. Tracking these KPIs allows you to spot positive trends and identify money-draining challenges before they become major problems. It lets you manage your business with facts, not just gut feelings.
- Make data-driven decisions: When you have accurate, real-time data at your fingertips, you can make better decisions about everything. You can quote jobs with confidence, knowing your true costs. You can manage inventory more effectively, protecting your cash flow. And you can see which customers and product lines are the most profitable, allowing you to focus your efforts where they will have the biggest impact.
C is for Customer Care: The Heart of the Business
Ultimately, all the efficiency and data in the world serve one primary purpose: to take better care of your customers. Excellent customer care is the cornerstone of growth. When you make your customers' lives easier and help them succeed, they do not just come back-they become your biggest advocates.
Key considerations:
- Win more jobs with faster, smarter quoting: In today's market, speed and accuracy win business. The more quotes you can get out the door and the more accurate they are, the more jobs you will win. It is that simple. An integrated system allows you to generate quotes that are not only fast, but also highly accurate, based on real historical job costs and material prices.
- Provide instant, confident answers: The last thing a customer wants to hear when they ask about an order is, "Let me check on that and get back to you." A culture of exceptional customer care is built on providing immediate and accurate answers. When ERP and CRM systems are fully integrated, the entire team has access to the same up-to-the-minute customer information. They can answer questions about job status, shipments, and invoicing on the first call, building trust and strengthening relationships.
- Become a true partner: When you have a complete view of your customer's history, needs, and ongoing projects, you can move beyond being just a supplier and become a true partner. You can anticipate their needs, alert them to potential issues, and use tools like "what-if" scheduling to accommodate rush orders and changes, proving that you are a flexible and reliable part of their success.
Making It How You Work, Every Day
Mastering the ABCs of modern manufacturing-Automation, Business Intelligence and Customer Care-is a transformative journey. It is a commitment to continuous improvement that pays dividends across your entire organization. With the right integrated ERP system as your foundation, these principles become more than just a strategy; they become the way you do business, leading to leaner operations, greater efficiency, and a healthier, more profitable future.
Authored by Adam Grabowski, Director of Marketing, Global Shop Solutions
For more information contact:
Global Shop Solutions, Inc.
975 Evergreen Circle
The Woodlands, TX 77380
800-364-5958
www.globalshopsolutions.com