Manufacturing Today Issue 212 - May 2023 | Page 35

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Supply chain
To fix disjointed supply chain processes , organizations need end-to-end visibility across the whole supply network , from supply planning and sourcing to manufacturing through logistics and final delivery to the end customer . Additionally , they need transparency to finance , sales and customer support processes to increase agility in understanding cost / pricing implications on customer experience realities . Technology can provide visibility into products and assets across the extended supply network , allowing manufacturers to immediately act on disruptions , such as letting the customer know a delay is likely to arise for a more interactive collaboration .
However , establishing visibility is just the first step ; once in place , software integration platforms can act as the connective tissue that bridges data silos between sales channels and back-office applications across the diverse supply network . Bridging silos and making endto-end data chains accessible , with a digital experience per user where needed across a company , leads to more effective and agile engagement across the entire supply chain process . By having full transparency of the data , with fully automated processes , businesses can see the full impact of the delay , how the late arrival will affect all the links in their network and finally , their customer , meaning manufacturers can implement purchasing strategies , alternative sourcing options , cost implications and measures to improve decision-making , planning and forecasting .
How can organizations use visibility to help them through this crisis ?
The process involves unifying incongruent legacy and core systems that deliver value , transforming manual processes into automated workflows , enabling rich and engaging user experiences and aggregating data . One of these solutions is an all-in-one low-code application development platform , to help connect with disparate systems via Data Integration , empower domain experts to visually build applications , automating processes with workflows , and derive actionable insights in multi-experience ways within organizational processes and across ecosystems of suppliers and their network .
Once disconnected processes are connected using intelligent process automation and valuable insights are delivered when and where needed in multi-experience ways , businesses will start realizing the efficiency of supply chain processes ( supplier segmentation , capacity planning , network & risk management , demand planning , procurement , schedules ). Full transparency and visibility are the first steps ; from there , organizations need to use insights to drive next-gen systems strategies , manage disruptions and implement the systems to drive comprehensive supply chain management strategies – that enrich core processes with advanced AI / ML models . ■
For a list of the sources used in this article , please contact the editor .
Subba Rao www . mendix . com
Subba Rao is Director , Industrial Manufacturing Cloud at Mendix , a Siemens Business . Mendix , the low-code engine of the Siemens Xcelerator platform , is quickly becoming the application development platform of choice to drive the enterprise digital landscape . Mendix ’ s industry-leading lowcode platform , dedicated partner network , and extensive marketplace support advanced technology solutions that boost engagement , streamline operations , and relieve IT logjams .
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