Smart manufacturing is the implementation of digitization to streamline processes, create efficiencies, and work smarter, not harder. Similar to Lean Manufacturing, Smart Manufacturing is taking efficiency to the next level to help organizations achieve success.

This is the first in a three-part series on Smart Manufacturing. Today’s post is devoted to the role smart manufacturing plays in delivering new services. In the coming weeks, we’ll discuss optimizing digital operations and transforming the workforce. Stay tuned!

Delivering New Services

According to Wikipedia, smart manufacturing is a broad category of manufacturing that employs computer integration, high levels of adaptability, rapid design changes, digital information technology, and more flexible technical workforce training. Critical technologies in the movement towards smart manufacturing include big data processing capabilities, industrial connectivity devices and services, and advanced robotics.

Automation is a crucially important factor in achieving true smart manufacturing. In fact, it is quickly becoming one of the top areas of investment across the industry. Manufacturing businesses automate because they must; likewise, manufacturers work smarter because they must.

Today’s competitive landscape is not the one to which we’ve all grown accustomed. Advancements in technology allow for new ways to create products, new ways to deliver products, and new ways to engage with customers. Recent technological developments – like Digital Twins and Machine Learning – have completely reshaped how we look at the industry. The hard truth is that if organizations in the manufacturing industry aren’t thinking progressively and outside the box, they’ll be outrun by the competition – it’s just that simple.

And with that in mind, it’s necessary for manufacturers to put on their ‘product-as- a-service’ hats when contemplating how to turn customers and vendor relationships into revenue, win more deals, and increase margins. Achieving these objectives will naturally translate to a deepened sense of customer loyalty.

A robust business platform like Microsoft Dynamics 365 provides a 360-degree view of customer engagement across sales and service channels. Manufacturers can win more deals and increase margins with best-in-class solutions for configure, price, quote, and contract lifecycle management, along with end-to-end quote-to-cash for all unique products and services.

In addition, with Dynamics 365 for Field Service – and especially with Microsoft’s Connected Field Service, which is tailor-made for manufacturing organizations – manufacturers can deliver on profitable services to enhance the customer experience even further.

There’s a lot more to smart manufacturing than streamlining a few key areas that identify new sources of revenue. Learn more by downloading this digital transformation fact sheet and stay tuned for more blogposts on smart manufacturing over the next few weeks.