The economic uncertainty it is significantly affecting the industry, which needs to carry out effective actions to overcome the conditioning factors that companies will have to face.
Sisteplant, a Spanish company specializing in the development of solutions and services for the Smart Industry, has been helping companies to undertake transformation plans for nearly 40 years that allow them to substantially improve their competitiveness. Recently, and based on his experience, he has established a decalogue of measures that can help companies to be better prepared to face the crisis:
1.- Carry out an in-depth analysis of the current model
Study the processes from start to finish with a holistic view: consumption and efficient use of all resources, procurement and purchasing strategy, level of digitization, roles and functions of our teams, reactivity of the supply chain and synchronization of activities, in order to detect inefficiencies, strengthen the process and, above all, all to gain agility and reactivity in the face of current changes in our environment.
2.-Redefine the model, based on innovation and sustainability
Once the results of the analysis are known, it is time to rethink the industrial model, guided by innovation, the ability to industrialize new products and driven by sustainability. Examples like the remanufacturing to introduce the circular economy in the industry, or payment for use are new models with a great future and that combine innovation and sustainability.
3.- Place flexibility as a maximum
The uncertainty experienced in recent years has shown that industries with the ability to adapt to different situations face difficulties better. When defining the industrial model, flexibility is key. The solution is to evolve towards smart manufacturing models, which allow establishing absolute control of the production process and adapting the activity to demand or available resources in an agile way.
4.- Aspire to the predictive factory
It is the maximum exponent of the intelligent factory. Thanks to technologies of machine learningthe systems make it possible to predict failures, fluctuations in demand, reduce energy consumption to promote its sustainability and optimize production parameters, guaranteeing that production is robust and with Zero Defect quality.
5.- Adapt the organization to the new model
An intelligent industrial model requires a new structure and organization with almost flat hierarchies, with project-oriented templates, instead of objectives, and where demonstrated skills are valued above qualifications. In addition, knowledge transfer systems are established.
6.- Define the role that people should play and create more humane factories
People are essential in the smart industry model, but it is necessary to provide them with new skills so that they can evolve and take advantage of the tools offered by the smart factory to make better decisions. We must take care of well-being of people who work in the plants and provide them with spaces for creativity and innovation, motivate them so that they want to continue growing and take care of their physical and mental health.
7.- Digitize with intelligence
Digitization is key in the industrial transformation process, but it must be aligned with the model to be achieved. Digitization is one of the means that will allow us to achieve the goal, not an end in itself.
8.- Do not lose sight of the long term
The fear of a crisis can lead some companies to think in the short term and adopt only measures aimed at reducing costs, a strategy that can jeopardize the future of the company. Quite the contrary, it is time to invest thinking about the advantages that this investment will have in the short and long term.
9.- Collaborate with other companies
It is one of the great business trends. Identify companies that manufacture complementary products or that it is not profitable for us to manufacture and establish alliances to achieve greater integration of the supply chain.
10.- Stay optimistic
All crises bring with them opportunities. This will end up passing, just like the previous ones, and it can represent an ideal opportunity to come out stronger. You just have to take the right steps.
