6 Ways Paperless Manufacturing Can Help Your Shop Floor

Paperless Manufacturing Systems can Quickly and Easily Deliver Even More Benefits Than You May Think

By David Oeters, Corporate Communications with CIMx Software

Many companies begin researching Paperless Manufacturing to solve a single problem. Depending on the problem, Paperless Manufacturing likely holds the solution. No other shop floor investment addresses so many of the challenges manufacturing faces.  Which is why manufacturing firms spent more than $5 Billion on MES and paperless manufacturing solutions in 2013, and estimates predict the MES market will expand more than 20% annually.

But, a powerful and capable Paperless Manufacturing system offers more than just a single solution or capability.  With the right system, you have workflow control and complete shop floor visibility.  As you consider a system for your shop floor, take a look at the six capabilities that provide the foundation of any paperless system.

1. Track, measure, record and dynamically manage work flow.

Every manufacturer must track and manage workflow – it’s the key to a production system.  The methods used to manage work vary between manufacturers, and can lead to vastly different results.

With Paperless Manufacturing systems, work flow is digitized, allowing automated tracking and recording of work.  Management of the work flow is made possible with instantaneous communication and error-free work instructions.

2. Create production plans with approved, accurate work instructions.

Operations benefit from standards, best practices, and process improvement plans such as Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma only when they are implemented in production.

Using a Paperless Manufacturing system, procedural enforcement ensures the productions team incorporates best practices on the shop floor. Planners use only the most recent and approved plans.  A library of approved work plans, best practices and standards ensures your team completes planning in less time and with better work instructions.

3. Collect data on all production operations.

Data is a valuable commodity.  Unfortunately for many manufacturers, the age and inaccuracy of collected data significantly limits its usefulness.

A successful Paperless Manufacturing system collects real-time data at each work station.  The system automatically verifies that specified quality metrics fall within acceptable ranges.  The collected data becomes a valuable tool for manufacturers.

4. Create a complete, accurate production record for all products.

The production record includes every action taken, every specification read, every training module referred to, every log in and out on a job, and every measurement taken on a product.

Most (if not all) manufacturers monitor shop floor activity, but an effective Paperless Manufacturing solution automatically creates a comprehensive production record used to verify all actions were completed accurately.  This unified record, compliant with all regulatory body or key customer standards, provides a rich source of accurate data for future use.

5. Have a continuous real-time view of all open work orders.

In the past, a real-time view of production meant walking around the shop floor asking questions.

With Paperless Manufacturing, manufacturers can get a comprehensive, real-time view of production.  Current work can be seen in the context of actual work flow order at each moment.  This real time view is invaluable to plant management and quality assurance, helping proactively solve problems and ensure smooth production.  It is a major component of business intelligence.

6) Enable seamless communication across the enterprise from a single source of truth about production.

Many companies struggle with data coming from multiple locations with no coordination, and often communication focuses on building consensus rather than manufacturing.

Paperless Manufacturing is built around the concept of a single source of truth about the product.  Everyone works from the same data and toward the same goal.  The solution has the flexibility to manage, record, and distribute information from multiple sources, eliminating mistakes from faulty information while managing WIP all the time. 

Delivering Benefits and ROI with Paperless Manufacturing

With Paperless Manufacturing, companies reduce quality defects, eliminate human error, minimize waste and scrap, and increase productivity. The system delivers shop floor control and visibility like no other product on the market. 

Current trends in manufacturing are pushing companies to adopt Paperless Solutions. Customers demand more customization and quicker turnaround times through smaller production runs. They expect real-time information on the status of their orders.  Paperless Manufacturing offers a clear advantage over paper-driven processes in delivering these goals.

Want to learn more, or to see what Paperless Manufacturing can do for you? Contact CIMx today and see how Quantum will change how you view your shop floor.