With the rise of Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, smart logistics, and mobile-responsive last-mile delivery systems, today’s manufacturers must adopt mobile-optimized, real-time production tracking software. The costs of inaction are steep; missing on-time deliveries and slipping production schedules mean higher manufacturing costs, lower profit, and lost customers.
For today’s manufacturers interested in production tracking software, the choice is clear: embrace the modern ultra-competitive manufacturing landscape by investing in mobile-friendly Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) software for seamless production tracking and equipment and machine management — or continue to fall short by relying on outdated, manual, time-consuming, and inaccurate manufacturing reporting systems.
Why Deadlines Matter More in Manufacturing
Within integrated supply chains, manufacturers keep the engine humming. A single missed delivery, a production delay, or an unaccounted-for machine-related issue can have devastating effects. It’s not just about missing customer commitments or incurring additional costs. It’s ultimately about how that missed delivery reverberates throughout the supply chain until the end user is left with nothing but broken promises.
For manufacturers without production tracking software, missed delivery requirements become commonplace. These manufacturers seemingly go day-to-day, missing one delivery requirement after another, never fully aware of the inherent costs or downstream supply chain effects until they suddenly lose customers.
Today’s integrated supply chains require production tracking software for flawless execution. This tool increases visibility on incoming material shipments and provides near-instant summaries of production volumes. It also allows manufacturers to proactively schedule machine and equipment maintenance and downtime to minimize production disruptions.
Finally, production tracking software is critical for capturing manufacturing cycle times and production throughput with pinpoint accuracy, so last-minute adjustments are simple and — in most cases — anticipated.
The goal is to have CMMS production tracking software that accomplishes all these benefits through an easy-to-use digital interface, one that a key decision-maker can access through their mobile device. Only a live, integrated digital platform allows manufacturers to benefit from collaborative efforts.
The end result is a mobile-friendly production tracking solution that pulls together data from across the shop floor. It summarizes production volumes in a clear, easy-to-read dashboard, giving manufacturers the ability to quickly interpret small decisions and understand how they might impact the overall process before they’re made.
Monitoring and Adjusting Production Schedules
So, how does a CMMS production tracking software integrate everything on a manufacturer’s shop floor? How does it tie physical assets like machinery, equipment, tools, consumables, labor, materials, and production volumes into a single digital repository? Ultimately, it’s about incorporating multiple sensors and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, each designed to pool data and intel together.
However, just gathering intel and data from multiple physical devices and human assets isn’t enough. Those devices also need to speak to one another. The decisions and actions taken by production managers, line-side operators, manufacturing technicians, and employees must all be captured. Additionally, the system must account for production throughput emerging from individual machines and equipment.
Only after everything is digitally integrated can CMMS production tracking software empower production managers to make instant adjustments, rescheduling production-related and machine-related tasks in real time.
From adjusting material allocations, minimizing machine downtime, and immediately reacting to lost or idle time to ensuring that resources — both human and equipment — are allocated at the right time for the right purpose, CMMS production tracking software does it all.
Predicting Delays and Taking Preventive Action
There was a time during the early adoption of digital solutions when production tracking software simply reported production volumes — and that was more than enough. It allowed manufacturers to do away with manual tracking systems like Excel tables. That's no longer true. Modern CMMS production tracking software must go a step further.
This technology should move beyond the after-the-fact reporting processes of the past into a new realm where leveraging predictive analytics, historical patterns, real-time data, and emerging trends provides production teams with endless “what-if” scenarios and delivery timelines.
Imagine a production tracking solution where a production manager is notified well in advance of machine-related issues, enabling them to proactively schedule maintenance and repairs without impacting production.
Picture a system that allows production teams to account for material shortages and quickly divert production resources away to another need.
Envision a solution that notifies production managers of potential labor shortages or talent gaps so they can make near-instant decisions about assigning responsibilities to other team members — and the results of those decisions can be conveyed in refreshed deadlines and new timelines.
It’s a system that builds accountability, grows cohesiveness and fosters a culture of teamwork. That’s what today’s CMMS production tracking software can accomplish.
Future-Proof Your Manufacturing with CMMS Software
It’s time to do away with the outdated and antiquated production tracking systems of the past, where missed deliveries, high production costs, and machine and equipment downtime were unaccounted-for variables and chalked up as simply the cost of doing business. With CMMS production tracking software, manufacturers will no longer be held back by missed deliveries, production delays, and upset customers.
Seriously, if you are a manufacturer looking to future-proof your entire production process, take the next step and learn how CMMS production tracking software can help.
