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 second in a three-part series on Smart Manufacturing. In Part 1, we described the role smart manufacturing plays in delivering new services. In the forthcoming Part 3, we’ll discuss how smart manufacturing is transforming the workforce. Today, in Part 2, we’re writing about how smart manufacturing is optimizing digital operations. Enjoy!

Optimizing Digital Operations

Manufacturing as a concept is in the midst of a fourth major industrial revolution. The first and most widely recognized was the introduction of water/steam power in the early 1800’s. A century later, manufacturing was forever changed by the emergence of mass production and electricity – the second major industrial revolution. About 50 years ago, manufacturing was again revolutionized – this time by electronic automation. And now, with the advances in smart automation, manufacturing is changing exponentially right before our eyes. Indeed, machine learning and artificial intelligence are changing literally everything – and smart manufacturing is a perfect example!

Let’s consider some of the problems that used to plague manufacturing companies:

• Disconnected systems led to inaccurate stock counts
• No real-time updates/data/inventory
• Disparate and legacy solutions patched together
• Systems unable to handle product recalls

Through the relatively simple act of optimizing digital operations by implementing smart manufacturing technology, such problems are nonexistent. How is that possible? Well, a robust technology solution like Dynamics 365 – especially with related Microsoft Business Applications working in concert – is what makes it possible. And it does so by empowering all of the following for organizations:  

• Close your books faster, deliver robust reporting, increase profitability with business intelligence, and ensure global compliance.
• Bring agility and efficiency to your manufacturing to connect and optimize production planning, scheduling, operations, and cost management.
• Modernize your supply chain with unified, advanced warehouse and inventory management to improve fulfillment, material sourcing, and logistics.
• Drive innovation with an intelligent application that is easy to tailor, extend, and connect to other apps and services you already use.
• Seamlessly connect sales and purchasing with logistics, production, and warehouse management for a 360-degree view of your supply chain.

In addition, with Dynamics 365 for Field Service – and particularly with Microsoft’s Connected Field Service, which is tailor-made for manufacturing organizations – today’s manufacturers are optimizing their digital operations.

There’s a lot more to smart manufacturing than just optimizing digital operations to increase efficiency and revenue. Learn more by downloading this digital transformation fact sheet and in a few weeks, look for the final installment in this 3-part smart manufacturing series. Stay tuned!