Data Driven Manufacturing
Manufacturing / June, 02 2023

4 Key Steps to be a data-driven manufacturing enterprise   

In today’s competitive marketplace, it is more important than ever for manufacturing enterprises to be data driven. Manufacturers can identify trends, improve efficiency, reduce costs, increase quality, and make fool proof, data-backed decisions by collecting and analyzing data. Are you a CMO looking for the key steps to become a data-driven manufacturing enterprise? Then this blog is for you.  

A recent study by Harvard Business Review found that 91%of enterprises believe that being data-driven is critical to thriving a business. That apart, haven’t we seen some of the world’s leading manufacturing giants losing steam over time? Kodak, Nokia, and Sears are some instances where these companies’ inefficiencies to keep up with trends, collecting and analysing data effectively have led to their downfall. However, if you look at the case studies of multinational conglomerates such as Siemens, General Electric, and Honeywell it is amazing how these manufacturing enterprises have embraced data and, with the help of data analytics have stayed ahead in their game. 

Why and how is data necessary for manufacturers?   

When it comes to competitive advantage and more efficient operations, manufacturers who use data to derive strategic and operational insights are steadily edging out their competitors. Additionally, they are more adaptable and robust in changing market realities.  

Manufacturers today aspire to fundamentally alter how they do business to achieve operational excellence, sustain growth, cut costs, and improve product quality, all in a way that supports sustainability goals also. But accomplishing this depends on having the capacity to decide wisely, at the appropriate moment, and using the proper data.  

Let us observe the case study of Toyota- a leading car manufacturing enterprise that uses data-driven analytics to improve its cars’ reliability. By collecting data from its cars as they are being driven, Toyota is able to identify potential problems before they occur. This has led to a significant reduction in the number of recalls that Toyota has issued. 

What are the steps to becoming a data-driven manufacturing enterprise?   

Is there a guide for transforming a manufacturing enterprise to one that is data-driven? Is it even possible, really? Yes, that is the answer.  

Although no universal maxim exists, we give the four fundamental steps to enhance your data journey in the paragraphs below. 

Develop a comprehensive data strategy to leverage the full potential of data     

The first step involves leveraging the full potential of data by developing a solid, comprehensive end-to-end data strategy that guides the complete data journey, from gathering and storing data to using it.  

Your strategic imperatives form the basis of a thorough data strategy. A data strategy must always be connected to the targeted business value that an organization hopes to accomplish to be effective. Put another way, figuring out what matters most to you, what improvements you want to see, and what is feasible. There are several manufacturing industry challenges for becoming a data-driven enterprise. A robust data strategy will help them to solve those challenges. 

There are various data use cases for manufacturing:  

  • The most well-known applications of data on the shop floor are quality analytics of raw materials or parts and predictive maintenance of machinery. Machine learning can similarly assist process improvement.  
  • Digital twins are yet another application. Digital copies, for instance, can be tested and improved in product design before investing money in manufacturing. Additionally, performance across the course of the product’s whole life cycle can be built and tracked using digital models.    
  • Finally, a crucial area of discussion for the sector is how to use pertinent and valuable data to meet sustainability and carbon neutrality targets and satisfy stakeholder expectations. The recent energy crisis has led to a rise in data use cases related to energy use.  

In other words, asking (and responding to) the broad question – What can data accomplish for my organization? This is the first step in developing a data strategy.  

Ready to be a data-driven enterprise?

Contact Us

Managing data throughout its entire lifecycle   

Data management is the second step in the data journey. It refers to how data is handled throughout its full lifecycle, including user management, access rights management, quality management, security management, and integrity management.  

Realizing value from data requires a comprehensive, enterprise-wide strategy for data management that incorporates a semantic model to produce clean data sets, arrange them, and elicit meaning. Additionally, it is a requirement for developing digital twins.  

The creation of a “digital continuum,” or seamless and integrated data flows between business units, processes, and technologies, is the holy grail for a data-driven (manufacturing) organization. Adopting data standards specific to the industry greatly aids in achieving this interoperability.  

However, standards are not the only factor in data quality. Throughout the entire data life cycle, an informed strategy is necessary to ensure the data is fit for purpose. This includes:   

  • Gathering and collecting pertinent data from assets and throughout the business value chains 
  • Recognizing and defining data ownership, including the various levels of access and rights inside your organization, and when data can and must be utilized. (Of course, when establishing data ownership, data security, integrity, and categorization are essential, especially for organizations dealing with higher safety regulations, like those in the aircraft sector.) 
  • Creating defined end-of-life plans for data and creating protocols for data preservation and destruction 

Using enterprise intelligence to advance data  

Harnessing enterprise intelligence to advance data becomes increasingly crucial as organizations change.   

The capacity of your organization to transform context-relevant data into useful insights that increase company value is known as enterprise intelligence (EI). By using increasingly sophisticated analytics and AI, you can grow data up the knowledge pyramid from data to wisdom.  

There are several essential steps to climbing this knowledge pyramid, even if every organization’s route is unique—both in terms of pace and legacy constraints:  

  • Implement simple reporting. 
  • Implement fundamental automation and straightforward logic to interact with your data. 
  • To blur the lines between the digital and physical worlds, use intelligent process automation or digital twins. 
  • Use cognitive computing to give machines the ability to sense and infer, including analytics, machine learning, and pattern recognition. 
  • Adopt artificial intelligence so processes can use technology like neural networks or genetic algorithms.

Organizational preparedness- key to becoming a data-driven manufacturing enterprise  

Effectively handling the human component of change is crucial; some might even say critically crucial.  

Adopting a data-first approach is essential to establishing credibility and guarantee a return on your data investment. Human change takes time. Therefore, one must be patient and persistently willing. Once you have a defined strategy and shared vision, clearly communicating that to all organization members is a key step to transforming into a data-driven manufacturing organization. Performing skill gap analyses for the entire organization and particular departments can assist in moving from the current situation to the desired future state.  

A transparent approach and change champions are also essential for successful transformation. Furthermore, you must accompany change by a dedicated leadership team that continuously evaluates and adjusts.  

Take away 

Data can lead the product roadmap. Businesses must first have a solid understanding of their data before developing data-driven goods. They also require the capacity to gather, purify, connect, and analyse data efficiently. A commitment to leveraging data is necessary for a manufacturing company to become data-driven manufacturing enterprise. Companies must take advantage of the data they acquire to enhance experiences throughout the organization. Although making this commitment can be challenging, it’s essential if companies want to remain competitive.  

Are you eager to start advancing with your data-driven transformation? We offer various services, such as InsightBox, an end-to-end managed BI service offering, and data analytics consulting services. You can check out our services at Saxon.ai and book a consultation.  

Get in Touch

Newsletter

Stay up-to-date with our latest news, updates, and promotions by subscribing to our newsletter.

Microsoft Solutions Partner - Infrastructure (Azure)
Microsoft Solutions Partner - Modern Work
Microsoft Solutions Partner - Data & AI (Azure)
Microsoft Solutions Partner - Business Applications
Microsoft Partner Azure Expert MSP

Copyright © 2008-2023 Saxon. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy

Address: 1320 Greenway Drive Suite # 660, Irving, TX 75038

WEBINAR

Navigating Security Risk
in the Copilot era

Joel Jolly

Joel JollyVice President, Technology

Saxon AI
Reza Palizban

Reza PalizbanPresident &
Co-Founder

Aegis Innovators
Archana Aila

Archana Aila

Position Here

With 2 years of hands-on experience in Power Platform, I’ve excelled in developing and implementing solutions for businesses, harnessing the power of Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, and Power Virtual Agents to streamline processes and enhance productivity. My proficiency extends to crafting custom applications, automating workflows, generating data insights, and creating chatbots to aid operational efficiency and data-driven decision-making.

With an intermediate knowledge in Azure cognitive services, incorporating them into Power Platform use cases to innovate and solve complex challenges. My expertise in client engagement and requirements gathering, coupled with effective team coordination, ensures on-time, high-quality project deliveries. These efforts have yielded significant accomplishments, solidifying my role as a valuable asset in this field.

Palak Intodia

Palak Intodia

Position Here

I am a tech graduate with a strong passion for technology and innovation. With three years of experience in the IT industry, I’ve been on a continuous journey of professional growth and skill development. My expertise lies in Power Apps and Automate, where I’ve had the privilege of contributing to multiple successful projects.

I’m dedicated to delivering results that not only meet expectations but also drive the success of the projects I’m involved in. I’m committed to my ongoing professional development and the pursuit of excellence.

Roshan

Roshan Jaiswal

Position Here

With nearly 2 years of dedicated experience in Power Platform technology, my expertise lies in crafting customized business solutions using Power Apps and Power Automate. I excel in identifying intricate business requirements and translating them into innovative, user-friendly applications. My daily tasks involve meticulously deploying applications across diverse environments and harnessing the full potential of the Microsoft ecosystem within business applications.

I have proven my adaptability by consistently meeting the demands of creating responsive and scalable applications. Also seamlessly integrating complex workflows and data sources, ultimately enhancing operational efficiency and driving sustainable business growth.

Sugandha

Sugandha Chawla

Position Here

Sugandha is a seasoned technocrat and a full stack developer, manager, and lead. Having 8 years of industry experience, she has been able to build excellent working relationships with all her customers, successfully establishing repeat business, from almost all of them. She has worked with renowned giants like Infosys, Ernst & Young, Mindtree and Tech Mahindra.

She has very diverse and enriching work experience, having worked extensively on Microsoft Power Platform, .NET, Angular, Azure, Office 365, SQL. Her distinctiveness lies in the profound domain knowledge, managerial skills, and process mastery, that she additionally holds, as a result of possessing a customer facing role, working with different sectors, and managing and driving numerous critical executions, single-handedly, end to end.

Vibhuti Dandhich

Vibhuti Dadhich

Position Here

Vibhuti, a Power Platform technology evangelist, has passionately embraced the transformative potential of low-code development. With a background that includes experience at EY and Wipro, she’s been a trusted advisor for clients seeking innovative solutions. Her expertise in unraveling complex business challenges and crafting tailored solutions has propelled organizations to new heights.

Vibhuti’s commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements and her forward-thinking approach have solidified her as an industry thought leader. Her mission is to empower businesses to thrive in the digital age, revolutionizing operations through the Power Platform.

Ruturaj Kulkarni

Ruturaj Kulkarni

Position Here

With 8 years of dedicated expertise in the IT realm, I am a seasoned professional specializing in .NET technologies and Microsoft Azure Cloud. My journey encompasses a profound understanding of software development using the .NET framework and a robust command over Azure’s cloud ecosystem. Throughout my career, I’ve demonstrated a knack for crafting scalable and efficient solutions, leveraging the power of cloud computing.

My passion lies in staying at the forefront of technological advancements, ensuring that my skills align seamlessly with the dynamic landscape of IT. Ready to tackle challenges and drive innovation, I bring a wealth of experience to any project or team.