Harnessing the power of smart factories for future growth
In previous posts, we’ve outlined brand and speed as differentiators that can help FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) companies gain momentum and generate revenue growth. In this, the third installment, the key differentiator revolves around creating a better, more efficient supply chain through smart factories.
Build better processes with smart factory concepts
Big FMCG players have established production and supply-chain networks. The highest levels of productivity, global reach, consistent quality, and fast, accurate delivery will remain important post-COVID. To stay competitive, FMCG companies must identify the next level of productivity gains and reduce the costs of production, supply chain and back-office processes.
The smart factory concept addresses this by combining technologies like IoT, AI, software automation, robotics, advanced analytics and big data to deliver an understanding of the true status and performance level in their operations at any point in time.
However, a smart factory is not a one-size-fits-all or an off-the-shelf solution. A smart factory is created by a unique set of investments in the most appropriate set of enabling technologies for a company’s specific situation, performance challenges and business objectives.
Boundless possibilities
A smart factory predicts events with greater accuracy (market demand, equipment failures, inbound delivery times, etc.) and helps drive improvements in productivity, quality, inventory and operating costs.
It tracks production status and downtime events in real time, enabling operating teams to adapt and optimize production schedules to maximize efficiency and prioritize maintenance activities.
Reduce downtime
A smart factory can accurately measure and track energy consumption using sensor technology – use findings to adapt production schedules, working practices and maintenance/asset replacement as levers to cut energy costs sustainably.
Track and trace
It can trace inbound supply chain shipments in real time and analyze historical performance to build predictive models that enable inventory levels to be reduced with confidence.
It can use AI-enabled natural language processing to identify patterns in non-conformance events to accelerate root-cause analysis and reduce defect rate and investigation costs.
A smart factory reduces downtime by 20%-50%1 with predictive maintenance while reducing costs by 5%-10%. It uses additive manufacturing (3D printing) of critical spare parts as a major advantage2.
It uses data analytics to measure and track material usage and consumption to accurately identify sources of loss — which enables corrective action to be taken to reduce waste and material loss.
Some smart factories use AI-enabled image recognition technology to conduct fast and accurate visual inspections and measurement activities in confined spaces or hazardous areas.
Innovative
The most visible element of a smart factory probably is the digital workplace on the shop floor. It integrates data into mobile devices from systems that previously operated in isolation, like ERP, PLM and MES. The right data, delivered to the right people at the right time to inform better decisions, enables collaboration and remote work — and saves cost by simplifying processes.
Supervisors can record incidents on a mobile device as they occur, enabling automatic workflows, populating performance dashboards and enabling trend analysis to identify systematic problems. Artificial intelligence algorithms can even recommend a course of action.
A smart factory is created by a unique set of investments in the most appropriate set of enabling technologies for a company’s specific situation, performance challenges and business objectives.
Other considerations
When building out new technologies to help your factories compete in a virtual world, there are pitfalls to avoid:
- Thinking it’s all about the technology
- Over-analyzing and designing, rather than moving quickly into pilots, trials and experiments to test new ideas and get feedback
- Expecting technology investments to deliver overnight success
- Failing to involve your people adequately in defining challenges and shaping/evaluating solutions
We recommend using a solid framework for technologies, processes and roles that allows for a flexible, stepwise and parallel — yet purposeful — approach.
For a more in-depth review of the potential growth prospects for the FMCG industry in today’s dynamic business environment, please read the Atos white paper, “How FMCG can win in a virtual world: Grappling with the new retail reality.”
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925527318303785
By, Dr Matthias j Förster, Manufacturing Market, Global Consulting Industry Leader
By, Lee Fosbrook, Consulting Partner, Regional Leader - Northern Europe
Posted on
January 04
Share this blog article
