The Secret Sauce to manufacturing success: The right ingredients for your growth 

Every successful manufacturing business, much like your favourite cocktail or the way you like your toast, needs the right blend of ingredients. What works for one business may not work for another—each requires a unique recipe to achieve success. When it comes to manufacturing, there are two essential ingredients that stand out: technology and talent. 

Manufacturers must maximize the use of technology and tools, but how you integrate these solutions into your operation is the key. A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work. Instead, it’s about identifying the right technologies and implementing them in ways that align with your specific business goals and that help you overcome your key challenges, and aid you in achieving your objectives and goals. 

Minimising Downtime: A critical ingredient for manufacturing success 

Minimising downtime is a core factor in driving efficiency. While achieving a perfect 24/7 operation is unrealistic, an Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) score of 85% is a realistic benchmark for success. A lot of manufacturers hover around 60%, showing room for significant improvement. This gap is where technology, such as production monitoring systems, comes in. 

Production Monitoring systems: The key to optimising your operations 

Production monitoring systems are technological solutions designed to track and analyse the performance of industrial machinery in real-time. By harnessing data directly from equipment using sensors and data acquisition tools, these systems provide actionable insights into machine operations, efficiency, and potential failures. This enables manufacturers to identify inefficiencies, pre-empt issues, and optimise productivity.  

Here’s how production monitoring systems enhance and benefit your operations: 

  1. Boosting Productivity

By delivering immediate insights into machine performance: a key ingredient in your secret sauce, production monitoring systems empower manufacturers to enhance output. Identifying underperforming areas allows for swift corrective actions, reducing downtime and maximising operational efficiency. Predictive capabilities ensure that potential issues are addressed before they disrupt production. 

  1. Enhancing Communication: another key ingredient in your secret sauce

Improved communication between departments aid your talent (your staff). This includes areas such as production, maintenance, and quality control which will streamline workflows and accelerates decision-making. Real-time data sharing eliminates bottlenecks caused by miscommunication and fosters better collaboration across the business. 

  1. Minimising Waste

Production monitoring systems help reduce resource waste by tracking energy and material consumption. Manufacturers can pinpoint areas of inefficiency and implement corrective measures, contributing to cost savings and environmental sustainability. 

  1. Immediate Alerts

One of the standout features of monitoring systems is their ability to issue instant alerts when irregularities or potential failures are detected. These alerts allow for prompt interventions, preventing minor issues from escalating into costly breakdowns and extended downtime. 

Production Monitoring systems: The key to optimising your operations 

Downtime is a universal challenge and costs businesses far more than just time. Some of the key impacts include: 

  • Financial Loss: Downtime results in lost production and revenue. Reports vary considerably from £200-£200,000 per hour  
  • Psychological strain: Prolonged downtime impacts employee morale (your talent), affecting productivity 
  • Reputational damage: Delays and disruptions damage customer trust, leading to lost business 
  • Operational setbacks: Disruptions in schedules can affect the ability to meet demand and deliver on time, which also has financial implications 

The bottom line: Realising the potential of Production Monitoring systems 

For manufacturers operating below the 85% OEE mark, adopting an MES platform like Intouch Monitoring offers the opportunity to significantly improve operations. These systems not only highlight areas for improvement but also provide the tools needed to boost efficiency and profitability.  

What’s Next? 

By identifying and implementing the right ingredients for your business, you can mix up a recipe for success—one that helps you stay competitive and thrive in an ever-evolving landscape. And that your talent will adopt easily and help them be more efficient. A win-win. 

Learn more

How it works

Getting started with Intouch is as easy as 1, 2, 3

1. Book a demo

Let us show you what we can do. Jump on a demo call and our friendly team will take you through the Intouch system and answer any questions you might have.

2. Enjoy a free trial

Don’t just take our word for it! We’ll lend you our technology for a 60-day free trial so you can see exactly how it can benefit the everyday operation of your business.

3. Receive ongoing support

It doesn’t end there. If you decide Intouch is the right production monitoring system for you, we’ll work with you to help you take control and make significant improvements in OEE.

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