These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
Please be informed that Hubspot, in its capacity of service provider, collects your data on an anonymized basis. If you however submit a form via Hubspot, you acknowledge and agree that your personal data will be used for marketing purposes.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Please be informed that Hubspot, in its capacity of service provider, collects your data on an anonymized basis. If you however submit a form via Hubspot, you acknowledge and agree that your personal data will be used for marketing purposes.
The UK Manufacturing sector continues to grow, even in uncertain times around Brexit. It is currently the 9th largest globally and contributes to a huge 44% of the UK exports. Rapid growth has resulted in successes and struggles, bringing about concerns faced by few other industries as a whole.
To continually grow as they have done in the past, discrete manufacturers have to conquer adversity, dealing with unique challenges. In this first blog of a three-part series, we’re looking at the key challenges in the industry and how technology can be used to address these issues.
As with the ever demanding market, it’s become the norm to have to do more with less. Which means increasing pressure from senior leadership, especially around Inventory Management. Of all the challenges discrete manufacturers face, visibility and management continue to be the most prevalent. Of the common issues facing manufacturers, which are you finding the most challenging in your business?
With the ever growing demand for increased product variations, this throws into the mix the problem of sourcing the raw materials in the first place. With a lot of suppliers needing extended lead times to get the products to the manufacturer, organisations struggle to forecast their inventory demand early and correctly, if not done properly it puts increased pressure on production planning and ultimately, client relationships become strained due to poor order fulfillment, sometimes to a point beyond repair.
It’s an area of Discrete Manufacturing which is the heartbeat of operations. These challenges can be detrimental to the success or failure of many manufacturers, with increased product complexity and the need to get products out of the door quicker, Production Planning takes a fundamental role in ensuring efficient processes and people management. Within the realms of production planning, here are a number of key issues facing manufacturers. How many of the below are still putting the pressure on your production planning?
It’s becoming very common to have endless product variations. Customer demand on organisations to demonstrate flexibility and continue to meet requirements but with more product variations, is now the reality of today’s discrete manufacturing industry.
The identification of changing demand patterns is certainly a common problem, product lifecycles are reducing drastically and the volumes are on the increase. This puts strains on enough skilled labour, equipment which has the ability to produce masses of product variants quickly and with minimal downtime. All these are drivers for hitting the bottom line and are a key issue within the cost pressure challenge.
With the above issues being very current, they are having real-time and drastic implications on the ability to meet the increasingly challenging revenue targets as well as satisfy customer demand.
Process optimisation is critical in manufacturing to:
Manna Foods recent SAP S/4HANA implementation has enabled them to empower decision makers and simplify production. From empowered consumers and high brand loyalty to greater trust between supply chain partners, the solution has driven more mature, streamlined processes. Find out more in the video case study here.
Without innovation in the business process and technology aspects of manufacturing, organisations are failing to address these challenges and are heading on a downward spiral. Consequently, competitors who innovate and continue to meet the ever demanding customer needs are the ones who are succeeding both now and in the long-term. Short term vision and planning can mean long term failure or stagnating growth.
Next up: The challenge of complex supply chains and the impact on business planning.
