THE SMART FACTORY JOURNEY NOT JUST TECH
by JAMES CREAN The implementation of Smart Factory transformations across industries has been part of a growing discussion in recent years – particularly given the impact of the pandemic on manufacturing operations, and the increased emphasis on supply chain flexibility. For any company that intends to remain competitive, making the transition to Smart Factory solutions isn’t an option—it is essential. As organizations begin navigating the process of implementing Smart Factory solutions into their business models, they must ensure that the process is laid out carefully and strategically. Bottom line: it’s not just about the tech. The fundamental mistake too many companies make is focusing on the technology aspect of Smart
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Manufacturing Outlook / June 2021
Factory solutions. They want to be newer, more efficient and keep up with industry advancements, but Smart Factory doesn’t simply mean adding technology. If you focus on the technology without first optimizing the process, you may very well realize that the technology made no improvement at all to your process. Technology additions need to be in the context of improving a company’s competitiveness in the marketplace—which means your people and process should be more of the focus of the transformation than the tech itself. With a proper Smart Factory implementation, companies can minimize cycle time, reduce labor costs per unit, and become more flexible producers, which ultimately strengthens their position in the market.