Cravetiger/Getty Images
- In today's rapidly shifting climate, manufacturers need to be agile to effectively manage their supply chains.
- Deploying the right cloud technologies can help business leaders unlock the secrets to smart manufacturing success.
- Snowflake is hosting a virtual event in collaboration with Amazon Web Services focused on helping manufacturers leverage and build a data foundation.
Today's manufacturers face unprecedented challenges in managing their supply chains. Tariffs and geopolitical pressures have forced many to change suppliers, and new dangers threaten longstanding delivery routes. Meanwhile, business leaders are feeling the pressure from customers, partners, and competitors to hasten their deployment of advanced technologies like machine learning, robotics, and AI.
To solve these challenges, manufacturers must be able to turn on a dime, understanding how changing one variable — whether it's a new route, a new supplier, or a new technology — will impact their workers, partners, and customers. Unless this information is readily available, innovation can quickly backfire.
Achieving the agility necessary to meet today's manufacturing challenges is difficult, if not impossible, to do with legacy systems. But by deploying the right cloud technologies, manufacturers can build a connected ecosystem that delivers the insights necessary to transition to a smarter future.
Moving to the cloud
Cloud migration is the first step toward attaining flexibility at scale — and it can also save manufacturers money. That's because cloud hyperscalers allow users to separate the compute and storage functions, paying as you go to match your needs instead of being billed for capacity you may not use. Users can quickly scale operations up or down to match market conditions, while creating and running new microservices without paying for servers.
Moving to the cloud also helps manufacturers respond to disruptions before problems have the chance to compound. Instead of trying to assemble a coherent picture of events from multiple physical assets and siloed legacy systems, manufacturers can collect, process, and store information on one platform that serves as a single source of truth.
Reaping the benefits of centralized data management
With a secure, scalable, and flexible data cloud platform, manufacturers can obtain near-real-time visibility and control across the entire operational spectrum, from machinery on the factory floor to partner and supplier activities.
Unifying information technology and operational technology data on a modern data cloud platform not only helps leaders grasp the big picture, but it also allows managers, partners, and suppliers to securely share information. Collaborating closely, they can work through disruptions, improve product quality, and shorten delivery times. As a result, the organization's resilience in the face of internal and external problems improves.
Building smart factories
By connecting systems and equipment across plants, manufacturers position themselves to deploy the latest cutting-edge technologies, including AI, advanced automation and robotics, and digital twins. They can monitor machines and anticipate problems arranging for fixes outside of operating hours to avoid costly shutdowns. Up-to-date analytics enable users to tweak machinery to optimize performance, improve energy use and yield, reduce waste, and extend the life of their valuable assets.
And benefits compound over time. According to McKinsey & Company, smart manufacturing capabilities can improve productivity by 15% to 30%, reduce machine downtime by 30% to 50%, and improve forecasting accuracy by 85%.
In just a few short steps, an agile connected data platform can move manufacturing plants from the dark ages of legacy systems to the forefront of smart factory innovation.
Accelerate your transformation
On April 18 at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET, Snowflake will host "Accelerate Manufacturing," a virtual event in collaboration with Amazon Web Services where industry leaders will share their expertise and demonstrate how connecting data can power a host of transformation initiatives.
This post was created by Insider Studios with Snowflake.