I had the opportunity to sit down with one of our Senior Business Development Managers, Mark Wilhelm, who specializes in the manufacturing space. We had a great discussion about trends in manufacturing-related to technology. Keep reading to find out the insights learned through him.
Question One: What are Some of the Top Trends You See in Manufacturing?
The most significant trend in manufacturing is the continued movement toward complete automation. The move toward automation in production processes has been ongoing for years. Manufacturing facilities have started making their buildings smart and are moving away from labor-intensive processes. In addition, automating processes as plants are beginning to do reduces human error.
One example of the movement toward automation is moving away from barcode scanners. Barcode scanners were a great way to help with automation when they first came on the market, but they still leave room for human error. Now that more technological advancements have been made, plants are replacing barcode scanners with IoT solutions like asset tracking. In addition, plants are putting more emphasis on employee safety and accountability. For example, punch clocks are becoming a thing of the past thanks to badge tags. These tags track your employees as they enter the building and move throughout work zones, promoting more productivity since they know they’re being tracked. Companies are seeing the benefits of automation and want to implement ways to do so in their facility.
Another trend I’ve noticed is improving efficiency. Many companies are unaware of how efficient their processes are, leading to them being unaware of any bottlenecks limiting how efficient they can be. Even if companies know how efficient their processes are, they don’t always know how to become more efficient. As a result, companies have begun to look toward intelligent solutions that can help them find where they could be more efficient.
Question Two: Why Do Manufacturers Want an Asset Tracking System?
Manufacturers seek asset-tracking solutions to gain visibility of their entire supply chain from production to delivery. They want to know the location of their critical assets in real-time, not just the last known location that someone may or may not have written down. Having real-time location information allows manufacturers to make accurate decisions and provides them with in-depth knowledge of their production process.
Question Three: Which of the Features We Offer Do Manufacturers Find the Most Useful and How Do They Benefit From Them?
The long battery life AirFinder has saves time and money. The battery life ranges from 3-7 years, depending on network choices and update frequency. In addition, AirFinder has high accuracy when it comes to determining an asset’s location. Our AirFinder OnSite Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) has Just Right PrecisionTM, and AirFinder OnSite Xtreme Low Energy (XLE) has up to meter-level accuracy.
Manufacturers have appreciated our reporting capabilities. They can visualize the current location of their assets on a map or export the data to their visualization tool to ensure all data is in a consistent location. It’s flexible to each company’s use case.
Increase Your ROI by Investing in AirFinder OnSite
- Low Cost. AirFinder OnSite XLE is a fraction of the cost of competitors' pricing.
- Long Battery Life. XLE lasts up to 7 years with hundreds of location updates daily.
- Increased Efficiency. Spend less time looking for assets, and more time being productive.
Question Four: After Working With Multiple Manufacturers, In Your Opinion, Why Should Manufacturers Invest in an Asset Tracking System?
Manufacturers can achieve better efficiency and become more productive. In addition, the data generated from an asset tracking solution can help your company with more than just the original use case. For example, if your company seeks an asset tracking solution to help with work-in-process (WIP) tracking, you can easily add badge tags for employee tracking within the same system.
Question Five: What Areas Do Manufacturers See the Most Improvement in Their Plants Because of Asset Tracking?
The biggest area manufacturers have seen improvement in is WIP tracking. Tracking WIP shows managers where bottlenecks and dependencies are so they can make informed decisions about their production process. Manufacturers are also able to track waste with an asset tracking system. Tracking wasted materials provides managers with the information they need to make adjustments.
Question Six: Anything Else You Would Like to Add?
If you’re a struggling manufacturer and think asset tracking might be the answer, you’re not alone! Lots of manufacturers have found a need for asset tracking. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, and we’re here to help solve your problem.
Our company works closely with manufacturers to ensure our customers receive the information that will benefit them, even providing custom reports. We’re not just selling you hardware and software; we want to ensure you are successful.
Are You Ready To Invest?
After working with so many different manufacturers, Mark has seen them find success with the use of an asset tracking system. If you think your manufacturing plant would benefit from an asset tracking solution, book a demo with us to learn how we can help your specific use case!
