How To Get A Positive Return On Your Manufacturing Intelligence Platform

Ensure higher machine utilization and productivity

Manufacturing intelligence systems give you actionable data to increase machine utilization and reallocate resources from purchasing a new machine to using each machine better. However, these systems still need regular attention to ensure that the connection to the machine is stable.

Take time regularly to understand your data

As a best practice, take time weekly to understand the source of unacceptable utilization rates, excess waste, and poor machine output before making a decision. Regularly look at your setup and run hours, machine uptime vs. targets, and operations by work center to discern between efficiency and utilization, two key elements of an innovative, productive, profitable manufacturing operation.

Delegate responsibilities

Because manufacturers are busy, it may be easy to deprioritize regularly reviewing the data your manufacturing intelligence platform provides for you. To get the most out of your data, consider adjusting an existing job role to investigate and implement changes based on what the data shows you. This will allow more focus on getting regular wins in utilization and productivity and increase accountability with your vendor and within your internal teams.

Display for easy viewing

Leverage the platform’s user interface to allow operators and foremen to compare daily utilization rates against recent benchmarks and allow schedulers to understand what is happening on their shop floor.

With intuitive visualization displayed on screens around the shop floor, schedulers can immediately know when a job is missing its target to keep setup and run rates on track. They can compare actual uptime to targets to improve utilization. With the right manufacturing intelligence platform, schedulers can see what is happening across every machine — setup time, jobs in the queue, jobs in action, forecast vs. actual utilization, and production, allowing your shop to meet deadlines and increase on-time delivery.

Invest in Alora

Alora, ECI’s manufacturing intelligence platform, simplifies data collection, improves machine utilization, and provides manufacturers with actionable data. With this platform and relevant process improvements, manufacturers can easily see improved efficiency and become more competitive with their resources.

If you enjoyed reading this article, check out these blog posts:

• Achieve Above Average Machine Utilization Rates
• Using Data Visualization to Improve Employee Satisfaction
• Manufacturing Leaders: Do You Want to Better Leverage Data Insights?