Manufacturing And Warehousing IT News For VARs — November 4, 2014
By Trisha Leon, contributing writer
In the news this week, articles and webinars provide information for you and your manufacturing IT clients on how to leverage mobile devices to automate and go paperless, what to consider when choosing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, the principles of supply chain segmentation, and things to consider when selecting cloud storage and services.
How Your Customers Can Leverage Mobile Devices To Automate, Go Paperless
Naaman Shibi, paperless inspection technology expert with Pervidi, writes in the Manufacturers’ Monthly article, “Automating Using Mobile Devices,” that technological devices can digitize inspections, servicing, and repairs. He says rather than manually entering data, operators can use tablets or iPads to input data. According to Shibi, the best paperless inspections systems “provide information that already exists on paper forms or Excel spreadsheets, and at the same time improve the technician’s ability to access and utilize the data,” but along with that, “they should be designed from the outset to collect information, display and manipulate information, and transfer information to and from a database seamlessly.” Shibi goes on to detail how to find the system that works best for each operation. VARs can provide solutions that use devices to digitize various data processes, saving their clients both time and money.
What To Consider When Choosing An ERP System
To keep up with today’s rapidly changing manufacturing market, many operations must transform their ERP systems. Ranga Bodla, industry lead for wholesale distribution, NetSuite, writes for Industrial Distribution, highlighting steps that should be taken before choosing a new ERP system or updating an existing one. Knowing industry standard practices, what different ERP systems are capable of, and, most importantly, mapping out clear business requirements, expectations, and goals will help manufacturers find a new system or reorganize their own in order to keep up with growing customer demand and a shifting market. According to Bodla, “By understanding how the business should be changed — how data should flow, what department should be communicating which data to other departments, and where information can be centralized and integrated, organizations can redraw their processes to be more efficient and, in doing so, create the optimal goals for an ERP project, along with a realistic budget, software requirements, and a timeline for completing it.”
Webinar Examines Supply Chain Segmentation
A webinar hosted by Industry Week and sponsored by JDA Software Group explains that “One Size Doesn’t Fit All” when it comes to supply chains. Manufacturers are faced with an ever-changing and increasingly diverse market. As a result, they must become far more agile in regard to how they approach their supply chain and its processes. In this webinar, industry leaders explain supply chain segmentation, how its principles have been applied across different industries — providing specific examples — and give a detailed example of the Altera Corporation, a high technology semiconductor company based in San Jose, CA, and its supply chain segmentation journey. This free webinar is now available on demand.
Tips To Help Your Manufacturing Customers Choose A Cloud Provider
A Cloud Tech article by Dave Paulding, “Hidden costs and locations: Solving the mystery of cloud solutions for businesses,” shares both the benefits and risks of the cloud, especially the hidden costs, and details how businesses can find the cloud service that best meets their specific needs. He debates public verses private cloud services and highlights the clouds potential as a tool for innovation. In addition, the cloud’s physical data holding center is important, according to Paulding, as customers around the world are subject to varying laws and regulations. Security is of utmost concern, considering recent major breeches, so Paulding explains the best practices in security for cloud providers. Choosing the right cloud provider can be intimidating, but with the right tools enterprises can make an informed decision.
Manufacturing And Warehousing IT Talking Points
According to Manufacturing.net, the U.S. economy grew at a rate of 3.5 percent in the third quarter of 2014. A gross domestic product report showed that “solid gains in business investment, export sales, and the biggest jump in military spending in five years” moved the economy forward July through September. Dan Greenhaus, an analyst with investment firm BTIG, states, “The economy does appear to be accelerating of late,” adding that the GDP report showed the economy was “on a sounder footing today than at any time over the last few years." Economists expect the overall growth for 2015 to fall somewhere around 3%, making it the highest preforming economic year since 2005, two years before the Great Recession.
For more news and insights, visit BSMinfo’s Manufacturing And Warehousing Tech Center.