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Vol 32 - No 01 - February 2006 Mobile Manufacturing Has the world gone mad or is it just me getting old? With everything now going mobile or going to the moon via Virgin, I wonder what will happen next. In today’s world with the demand for accurate real-time information, the need to increase inventory visibility throughout the supply chain and increase manufacturing intelligence/ efficiencies, the shop floor is driving the proliferation of mobile computing for manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, and quality control. Increased Mobility and Flexibility: Users may complete distribution, manufacturing and quality transactions from anywhere, inside or outside the plant. One mobile device can replace several desktop PCs. Mobile devices may be assigned to users - significantly reducing dependencies on bulky desktop PCs. Real-time inventory information: Mobile devices allow users to enter transactions and perform real-time queries at the point of use. Transaction validation takes place on-line, identifying invalid data immediately. Real-time inventory information improves the quality of supply chain collaboration, enables more accurate customer orders and optimises manufacturing and warehouse scheduling of activities and resources. The user has access to current, accurate information for the resolution of exceptions. Eliminate duplicate data entry: Entering transactions at the point of use also eliminates the duplication of data entry. With mobile devices, users record the transaction as they work. Gone are the days of filling out forms for shop floor transactions that are later entered into a desktop computer. Reduced data entry errors: Bar-code scanning instead of manual data entry improves data accuracy and reduces data entry time. Mobile devices increase productivity, reducing the disruption of warehouse activities. Increased process automation also increases throughput and decreases cycle-times. Improved inventory accuracy: Inventory accuracy is improved two-fold, reducing data entry errors and identifying inventory inaccuracies more quickly. Inventory accuracy techniques such as cycle counting are more efficient when performed with real-time information. The benefits of improved inventory accuracy include improved customer satisfaction through higher fill rates, guaranteed delivery, and improved supply chain planning to optimise production and distribution plans. Improved quality levels: Quality levels are improved and streamlined as the user is able to complete both their quality activities and material transactions in a single process. Active Alerts & Intelligent Messages: Active Alerts & Intelligent Messages give the appropriate people notice of any supply chain exceptions. Shortage Messages may be used to expedite delivery of required material to an area with a shortage. For example, the application checks made when a material is received identify whether the material is needed elsewhere in the organisation, sending a real-time alert to the person performing the receipt transaction. The receiver may view potential material shortages for this item and take the appropriate action based on priorities and business operations. Summary Many business processes are marked by significant supply chain costs, errors and delays at the point where goods are transferred between suppliers and/or internal organisations. These inefficiencies occur because of errors in communication, fulfilment and receiving materials as they cross the “process gates” between organisations. It is in these transitions where key information is lost, time latencies occur and mistake prevention controls are not present. Businesses need to trace, track and control the infrastructure to eliminate errors and reduce costs in high-volume supply chains. Controlling these provides a cost saving solution through the elimination of invoice disputes, increased material availability and the reduction of process inefficiencies. Malcolm Granger, FIOM Related Topics:
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