After a rollercoaster ride over the last few years, Australia\u2019s manufacturing and construction industries are finding their feet.<\/p>\n
Activity is increasing, and the outlook for both sectors is promising (1<\/a>, 2<\/a>), meaning there\u2019s plenty of work<\/a> coming down the pipeline.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s also more competition as businesses restart and pivot.<\/p>\n To stay competitive and thrive in the next 12-24 months, manufacturers and cabinetmakers need to:<\/p>\n It sounds like a colossal (and expensive) task \u2013 but it\u2019s not.<\/p>\n Keep reading to discover how the right manufacturing ERP enables continuous improvement<\/a> for sustainable business growth.<\/p>\n 1. Remote and hybrid work<\/strong><\/p>\n Remote and hybrid working models are inherently more challenging in the manufacturing industry.<\/p>\n But flexibility isn\u2019t impossible.<\/p>\n There are many tasks, even on the workshop floor, that can be performed from elsewhere with a fit-for-purpose manufacturing ERP:<\/p>\n Looking further into the future, remote service technology is also making waves in the manufacturing industry.<\/p>\n Engineers and service specialists use video conferencing technology or augmented reality systems to direct the action from afar, reducing the time between service calls and improving efficiency.<\/p>\n 2. Monitoring machine health with sensors<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019re unfamiliar with the concept of the \u201cautomation pyramid\u201d, spend 5 minutes catching up on our previous post<\/a>.<\/p>\n Embedding smart sensors, motors, gauges and alarms into manufacturing equipment is not new. What\u2019s changing is the way service teams and machine operators interact with those sensors.<\/p>\n Feeding real-time updates to a centralised ERP platform enables manufacturers to identify bottlenecks and catch issues early.<\/p>\n For example, if a machine is failing at irregular intervals, the operator might not think to report the issue.<\/p>\n Or, if a slight delay upstream causes more problems further down the production line, a manufacturing ERP can help highlight the area of concern and action a solution.<\/p>\n 3. Using automation to increase productivity<\/strong><\/p>\n Most manufacturers use automation in some form already.<\/p>\n But the manufacturers and cabinetmakers automating administrative processes are the ones who will win more business in the future.<\/p>\n ERP software automates several time-consuming tasks<\/a>:<\/p>\n Even simple automations like processing timesheets or tracking overtime free up several hours over the course of weeks and months.<\/p>\n 4. Predicting peaks and valleys in demand<\/strong><\/p>\n As consumer tastes evolve, customisation at scale is expected to graduate from \u201cemerging trend\u201d to \u201cmainstay\u201d.<\/p>\n Manufacturers can use historical data and intelligent forecasting tools to predict what\u2019s coming with greater accuracy<\/a>, giving them more time to prepare.<\/p>\n ERP software reduces the risks of investing in new equipment or retraining staff:<\/p>\n With a little training from our resident ERP experts, you can learn to use Jobman to pursue opportunities your competition hasn\u2019t even heard about.<\/p>\n 5. Supply chain transparency<\/strong><\/p>\n Global supply chain disruptions rattled Australia\u2019s manufacturing industry in the last few years.<\/p>\n Small businesses and sole traders were hit especially hard as international suppliers folded and stock was stuck waiting for space in a shipping container.<\/p>\n Manufacturing ERPs provide end-to-end transparency, including traceability through the supply chain.<\/p>\n By accessing, analysing and actioning ERP data, sole traders and big manufacturers alike can gradually build more resilience into the supply chain<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
5 technology-driven trends in manufacturing for 2022<\/h2>\n
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