_______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Innovation
Whether your company wants to pull the trigger on a new e-commerce platform , a shiny , all-inclusive ERP , or discuss grand ideas like Industry 4.0 , too many industrial manufacturers are falling prey to the temptation to swing for the innovation fences .
However , swinging and missing on these big innovation projects can create chaos and be overwhelming and expensive to implement . That ’ s why digital transformation should be a slow , intentional process of incremental innovations that lead to a series of small wins to accomplish the desired big results .
Advanced digital solutions provide manufacturers with the edge to transform and achieve better inventory control , for instance . The 4th Industrial Revolution has inspired the manufacturing industry to search for new ways to improve supply chains and automate inventory management . Beginning with system design and graduating to physical warehouse processes , smart manufacturers can use digital technology to take better control of stock and manage inventory more efficiently and more accurately . To set the stage for digital transformation it ’ s important to take a practical approach to innovation .
Innovation begins with a simple , practical approach to time management
Technology can be cool , and it ’ s easy for manufacturers to get distracted by bright , shiny bells and whistles and features that may not be easy to deploy in real-world scenarios . Innovation doesn ’ t always mean implementing complicated technology . In fact , a simple definition of innovation is any advancement that saves the manufacturing organism time , yet still produces the same quality and quantity of product while generating more profit dollars .
Lots of small incremental wins can equal big success , but this approach requires patience . And it begins with providing a collaborative space for thoughtful ideas .
Once a company makes the decision to innovate , the first small focus is finding a way to create time . If your people are constantly drowning in small tasks and busy work , there is no time for innovation or a focus on the big picture . Early innovation projects should include a survey of the costs of freeing time and making innovation a priority . The time investment becomes more important than the monetary investment . Once the measure of time is banked with a team approach to innovation , companies begin to see that
Before
After
▲ A digital VMI platform can streamline inventory , keeping it lean and without the possibility of stockouts
◀ Mobile apps make crucial consumption data accessible to users anywhere
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