Digital Manufacturing Maturity Model

Efficient Digital Manufacturing Processes

Companies that use paper-based production record processes continue to encounter problems across production and quality operations even after they have invested in core system digitization, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP).

It is imperative for companies to start adopting manufacturing execution software and use it to automate and error-proof their production processes. Electronic production records can be automated to help personnel complete tasks more efficiently and to ensure they are complete.

Accurate Information and Data Integrity

Paper-based processes and documentation in a data-driven world lead to transcription errors and missing information. More importantly, they can lead to product recalls, warning letters, consent decrees, costly shipping delays, and, of course, poor customer satisfaction.

Fully connected manufacturing execution software provides a truly paperless system that automatically transcribes and tracks production data. A digital manufacturing system reduces the number of errors in the system, increases right-first-time metrics, and reduces the problems listed above.

Data Tracking and Analytics

Digital technologies provide huge advantages to manufacturers. Error-proof production records, available only in a digital format, serve to “clean” data, which forms the essential foundation for efficient integration with manufacturing equipment and emergent technologies, such as machine learning (ML). Truly intelligent manufacturing systems lie at the top of the digital manufacturing maturity model. They are characterized by real-time operational intelligence that supports augmented decisioning and real-time releases. 

Connected Systems on a Single Platform

One of the most common reasons for companies to digitize is the need to connect essential operations and equipment across the entire organization. Centralizing manufacturing data and operations by using purpose-built manufacturing execution software allows them to do just that.  

According to current research, companies that fail to complete this essential step struggle to streamline their processes, aren’t able access siloed manufacturing data, and cannot progress through the digital manufacturing maturity model towards intelligent manufacturing. Digitally mature manufacturers, on the other hand, benefit from dynamic planning and scheduling and self-optimizing equipment.

Inline Quality Control and Quality Assurance

Digital manufacturing maturity includes being able to embed quality processes within manufacturing operations. Because digital manufacturing solutions are connected and can even be integrated with other systems, every operator, every step, or every output is a chance to establish quality and compliance.

By eliminating the documentation burden and automating the labor-intensive last mile of the production process, manufacturing execution software enables plant line supervisors, operators, and managers to focus on improving the quality and throughput of their product. Quality managers can easily collaborate with manufacturing personnel in real time. Both functions are served equally well without delays and disruptions.