Efficiency and productivity are key elements that determine the success in manufacturing. That’s why the right plant productivity tools are important. Read on and learn about the tools you need to stay ahead of your competitors.

Plant productivity tools, which include a diverse mix of software, technologies, and strategies, are specifically designed to enhance different parts of the manufacturing process. These tools help streamline operations, reduce waste, improve quality, and increase profitability. By offering  real-time data and analytics, they enable manufacturers to make informed decisions, identify bottlenecks, and implement effective solutions.

Whether for scheduling, inventory management, quality control, or predictive maintenance, plant productivity tools are essential for any manufacturer who wants to stay ahead in today’s fast-paced industrial landscape.

Why You Should Embrace Plant Productivity Tools

Embracing plant productivity tools is a strategic decision for any manufacturing business aiming to enhance its efficiency and output. Essentially, these tools comprise software solutions and hardware devices designed to optimize the operations in industrial plants. 

  • Enhancing OEE: Plant productivity tools play an important role in improving Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE), a comprehensive metric evaluating a manufacturing unit’s effectiveness by considering availability, performance, and quality. They can boost your OEE by facilitating real-time equipment monitoring and early problem detection, ensuring machinery operates optimally. 
  • Increasing Throughput: Besides improving OEE, these tools can also increase your manufacturing throughput by streamlining processes, eliminating bottlenecks, and ensuring balanced workloads.
  • Preventive Maintenance: These tools achieve enhanced equipment availability through preventive maintenance schedules, reducing unexpected breakdowns.
  • Reducing Scrap and Downtime: Plant productivity tools play a crucial role in reducing scrap and downtime via quality control measures and predictive maintenance.
  • Micro Stop Tracking and Break Creep Analysis: Features such as micro stop tracking and break creep analysis pinpoint minor production pauses or subtle slowdowns, allowing for timely intervention.
  • Reducing Labor Costs: Automating routine tasks with these tools can decrease labor costs, freeing your workforce for more significant tasks.

 

Hence, adopting plant productivity tools can lead to significant enhancements in your manufacturing process.

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5 Examples of Plant Productivity Tools

1. Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

MESs are computerized systems used in manufacturing to track, document and control the transformation of raw materials to finished goods. They provide information that helps manufacturing decision-makers in understanding how current conditions on the plant floor can be optimized to improve production output. They also monitor real-time data on machine performance, operator productivity, and product quality, fostering heightened operational efficiency across the factory.

2. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems

ERP systems are business process management software that allow your organization to use  integrated applications to oversee various business aspects, including technology, services, and human resources. For manufacturing, ERP systems help in inventory management, production scheduling, and shop floor activity control. By consolidating all operation facets, from product planning, development, manufacturing processes, sales, and marketing, these systems can streamline processes and information across the organization.

3. Lean Manufacturing Tools

Lean manufacturing is a structured method for minimizing waste within a manufacturing system without compromising productivity. Tools associated with lean manufacturing, such as Kanban, 5S, and Value Stream Mapping, aim to reduce waste, optimize processes, and improve quality. For example, Kanban is a scheduling system for lean manufacturing that controls the logistical chain from a production point of view, aiming to manage and improve work across human systems.

4. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)

IIoT refers to the extension and use of the internet of things (IoT) in industrial sectors and applications. With a strong focus on machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, big data, and machine learning, IIoT enhances manufacturing and industrial processes through sensors, real-time analytics, and connected systems. IIoT can lead to unprecedented levels of efficiency, productivity, and performance in the manufacturing sector.

5. Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS)

CMMS are software systems that maintain and analyze data related to a company’s assets, equipment, and facilities. These systems help to track the upkeep of equipment and associated costs, schedule regular maintenance tasks, manage work orders, and ensure compliance with safety regulations. By using a CMMS, plant managers can prolong the lifespan of their equipment, reduce downtime due to breakdowns, and improve operational efficiency.

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Why Shoplogix is your best bet for plant productivity tools

Shoplogix is a leading software provider of smart factory solutions, helping manufacturers in visualizing, integrating, and acting upon production performance in real-time. The Smart Factory Suite offers a holistic strategy for augmenting plant productivity, featuring real-time machine monitoring to predictive analytics. Take a closer look at the following plant productivity features that Shoplogix can offer you:

Smart Factory Suite

The Smart Factory Suite is designed to optimize manufacturing operations by providing real-time shop floor visibility. It encompasses tools for machine performance tracking, enabling manufacturers to identify bottlenecks, reduce downtime, and maximize efficiency – leading to significant improvements in overall productivity.

Analytics Suite

Shoplogix’s Analytics Suite translates plant floor data into actionable insights. It provides comprehensive reports and dashboards, empowering you to understand your production data more insightfully. Leveraging these insights allows for more informed operational decisions, leading to improved productivity, quality, and profitability.

Variety of Modules: Quality Module and Digital Andon

Shoplogix offers specific modules targeting various plant productivity facets. The Quality module helps manufacturers improve product quality by identifying and tracking quality issues in real-time. It allows you to set quality standards, monitor compliance, and take corrective action when necessary.

The Digital Andon, on the other hand, is a revolutionary tool that enhances the traditional functionality of Andons. Traditional Andons are often limited to indicating machine status and are placed near the machine, limiting their visibility.

Digital Andon takes the concept of traditional Andons to the next level. Instead of just indicating machine status, it provides detailed information about the issue at hand. When a problem occurs, sensors on the machine trigger an alert, notifying the relevant team or department in real-time. This immediate notification allows for swift intervention, reducing downtime.

Unlike traditional Andons, which require physical visibility of the machine, Digital Andon delivers notifications to any device. This feature means that you can stay informed about your machines’ status, even if you’re not physically present at the plant. This level of connectivity and visibility significantly boosts productivity and operational efficiency.

Final Thoughts

Manufacturing plants face immense pressure to maximize productivity and efficiency. So, for you to adopt the right plant productivity tools is critical if you’re looking to optimize operations, reduce waste, and boost profitability. These tools provide valuable data insights, predictive capabilities, and process improvements.

For manufacturers wanting a comprehensive plant productivity solution, Shoplogix offers with their Smart Factory Suite powerful analytics, tracking, scheduling and maintenance tools. Standout features include real-time machine monitoring, quality control modules, and an innovative Digital Andon system that takes traditional Andons to the next level. With these tools in place, manufacturers can act on data-driven insights to continuously improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness.