Manufacturers Need Predictive Planning

Whether you are a job shop or production manufacturer, you need to have accurate, real-time data and understand how to use it to improve operations.

Unfortunately, manufacturers often lack the data they need to deploy anything resembling predictive planning. Their data is trapped in multiple incompatible systems and machines. Or they gather data but have no way of using it. Or they lack the data needed to submit accurate bids. Too many discrete manufacturers don’t have an accurate read on machine utilization rates, and/or what’s driving those rates. They don’t have a good—or even okay—feel for setup, downtimes, run rates, and a host of other critical manufacturing analytics.

There may be an emergency happening on the shop floor, yet the missing data prevents the ability to solve the problem in a timely manner. Production managers and owners often do not know how to solve a problem simply because they don’t have real-time, data-driven insight.

AMF focuses on predictive planning to drive success

All Metals Fabricating, a discrete manufacturer in Texas, has a plan to become the best and most automated contracted discrete manufacturer in the world by 2030. As far as predictive planning goes, it is an audacious goal—and one that requires a significant amount of data-driven, real-time insight.

Getting the data they need by implementing Alora by Data Inventions on their shop floor has pushed All Metals Fabricating toward their predicted goal.

“Initially, it was all the data monitoring that was the big appeal,” said Lance Thrailkill, the company’s CEO. “Then we got into the dashboards and analytics, and I realized real-time insight goes hand in hand with what we’re doing here.”

Lance and his team are implementing a plan to become the best in the world, and now have the data they need to predict their outcome. Their map has filled in, making the likelihood that they will reach their predicted destination even more certain.

Access to data-driven, real-time insight has helped the company improve its machine utilization rates by as much as 152%.

Get the tools you need for predictive planning

Predictive planning is an old idea. Whether you rescue people or build things, you need a goal and a strategy to achieve that goal. That strategy is infinitely more likely to work when manufacturers have the data they need. Alora delivers this data.

From traditional KPIs like machine utilization rates and shop floor efficiency to specialized KPIs designed to measure unique aspects of your performance, Alora gives manufacturers the data they need to improve efficiency and productivity.

Contact your ECI team to learn more.

If you enjoyed this article, check out these other publications:

• How Integrating Alora Helped All Metals Fabricating Increase Utilization by More Than 150%

• Alora Works for Complexus Medical with Unexpected Results

• Get to Know Lance Thrailkill, CEO of All Metals Fabricating