Increasing growth and profitability in competitive markets requires solid execution of plans and strategies. That execution, however, is often hindered by inefficient manual processes, fragmented information management, and limited ability to enforce quality and compliance controls.
To achieve operational excellence, manufacturers need to establish a digital backbone spanning across departments, systems and processes. Having transparency and control over data allows for the systematic improvement of processes, leading to better flow and reduced response times, errors and risks. This challenge can be addressed with a comprehensive knowledge work automation (KWA) platform that helps knowledge workers improve their efficiency.
Knowledge workers in the manufacturing sector primarily deal with information, data and intellectual tasks rather than manual labour. Examples include engineers, data analysts, quality control specialists and supply chain managers. KWA refers to the automation of manual tasks that allows these workers to focus on value-adding activities, leveraging technology to automate processes and improve the efficiency and quality of work.
M-Files is a KWA platform that offers document management, automated workflows and robust permission management. It integrates business objects and connects with enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management systems, eliminating information chaos and enhancing process accuracy. By unifying enterprise data and providing personalised views, M-Files streamlines information management, reduces errors and boosts operational efficiency, making it a powerful tool for modern manufacturing organisations.
Generative AI is revolutionising the manufacturing industry by addressing key challenges and driving efficiency. With labour shortages, rising costs and changing customer demands, AI-driven, near-autonomous systems have become essential. AI agents, both virtual and embodied, play crucial roles in enhancing operational efficiency and flexibility. Adopting a value-driven approach to technology is vital, supported by strong organisational foundations. Embracing frontier technologies like M-Files Aino ensures manufacturers secure a competitive advantage in the future. M-Files Aino uses AI to automate tasks, improves process efficiency and ensures data security, while M-Files Hubshare provides customisable workspaces for seamless collaboration and centralised information access, which boosts productivity and innovation.
In today’s competitive market, growth and profitability hinge on flawless execution. However, many manufacturers face significant challenges, the first of which is information fragmentation. Information scattered across various systems and departments leads to inefficiencies. Employees struggle to find the right information, are hindered by access control issues and face confusion due to duplicates and inconsistent folder structures.
The best way to eliminate information chaos is with enterprise search and automation. By unifying visibility to enterprise data, automating document management and providing personalised views, you can streamline information management processes.
Reliance on manual processes can also present a challenge for manufacturers, as they may be slow and error prone. Automated workflows offer significant improvements in efficiency and accuracy, ensuring timely task completion, increasing information accuracy and integrating external collaboration seamlessly.
Another common obstacle is the manual application of document access and sharing rules, which can lead to breakdowns in audit trails. Manufacturers can reduce business risk with automated controls and audit trails. These allow for organisations to automate permissions based on document type or process phase, include quality and compliance controls in daily workflows, and establish a single source of truth.
The manufacturing sector is also impacted by several potentially challenging trends, including supply chain disruptions, the rise of smart factories, a growing emphasis on sustainability, and talent obstacles.
Supply chain disruptions can be particularly significant in times of global upheaval, and prolonged lead times for critical production materials necessitate robust solutions for operational continuity. M-Files helps to ensure operational continuity by centralising critical documents and data, enabling quick responses to disruptions with automated workflows and facilitating real-time data visibility.
Embracing digital transformation to create smart factories has also become increasingly essential for competitive, efficient and agile production processes. M-Files supports digital transformation by integrating intelligent information management into workflows, optimising logistics and streamlining tasks for greater efficiency and agility.
Today’s manufacturers are also driven to reduce their environmental impact while maintaining profitability, requiring meticulous documentation and compliance. M-Files promotes sustainability through paperless operations and meticulous documentation, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and reducing the environmental footprint.
In order to stay at the forefront of these advances, it’s crucial for manufacturers to attract and retain skilled workers. By automating manual processes, M-Files enhances the work environment, helping to improve productivity and provide robust training and onboarding capabilities to attract talented workers.
In the quest for manufacturing excellence, leveraging KWA and AI is crucial. M-Files stands out as a comprehensive solution, addressing key challenges such as information fragmentation, manual processes and compliance issues.
As manufacturers navigate supply chain disruptions, the rise of smart factories and the growing emphasis on sustainability, M-Files provides the digital backbone needed to achieve operational excellence and drive growth and profitability in competitive markets.
Samppa Lahtinen is senior industry solutions manager at M-Files
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