INDUSTRY TALK
How manufacturer digital future over The pandemic has brought many disruptions, organisations have not had it easy in the past year and have realized that a fundamental shift needs to take place by revising operational strategies and embracing digital technologies. Improving customer service has always been a major priority for successful manufacturers, and the continued integration of technology within manufacturing should assist in improving it even further. Paulo De Matos, chief product officer at SYSPRO explains how manufacturers can secure their digital future over the next 12 months.
O
ver the past year, manufacturers and distributors have needed to contend with multiple supply chain disruptions, huge operational inefficiencies and a lack of integration between disparate systems. Although these businesses are still in the midst of a short-term stabilization process, the smart manufacturer is already busy with preparations to ensure future-readiness for the long term. Many organisations have realised that a fundamental shift needs to take place by revising operational strategies and embracing digital technologies. The drive towards Industry 4.0 is truly underway. While the market has spoken about Industry 4.0 for quite some time, most midmarket manufacturers have limited the digitalisation process due to perceived capital
14
commitments and a lengthy implementation and payback process. Every conversation regarding Industry 4.0 begins with enthusiasm at the endless possibilities available, but when the reality of the costs involved in setting up some of the more basic requirements like Shop Floor Data Collection (SFDC), Industry 4.0 is reconsidered. Additionally, there is trepidation when it comes to investing in emerging technologies that will be replaced by newer technologies in the near future, even before the current investment has been recouped. Despite the hesitations of the past, the disruptions of the pandemic have proven that the uptake of Industry 4.0 is now indispensable in translating efficiency and productivity gains back into the business. The question is, where
INDUSTRIAL BUYER MARCH/APRIL 2021
do manufacturers strike a balance between competitive advantage and unnecessary expenditure?
A CASE FOR INDUSTRY 4.0 Manufacturers need to think about which business pain points they need to resolve, what these pain points are worth to them, and how their digital strategy needs to maximise ROI. When approaching industry 4.0 to become future ready, manufacturers and distributors should consider digital changes to their enterprise on two dimensions: • Customer experience • Operational efficiencies
