10 Solutions to improve productivity in the industry
Productivity in the industry is one of the essential variables for a manufacturer to be competitive and profitable.
With the technologies and solutions available today, it is essential to have the right tools to measure productivity.
As you know, what is not measured cannot be improved, and in most industries (machine-tool, water industry…) it can be lethal if you walk blindly.
Although most industries have software tools, there is not always adequate process integration, so productivity control must always be viewed from a global perspective.
Below we will explore 10 types of solutions that are crucial for improving productivity in the industry.
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Solutions to Improve Productivity in the Industry
There are different types of software solutions that, in one way or another, allow for improved productivity in various areas.
Some provide a more global approach than others, which can be more specific.
The key, we insist, is to facilitate process integration and centralize data, as the more interconnected a company is, the better its ability to collect accurate data, gain knowledge about its processes, and improve decision-making.
1. ERP
The ERP is the backbone of any business, and it is also the backbone of the industry. We are talking about solutions like Oracle, Sage, Odoo, and similar ones.
The Enterprise Resource Planning, or ERP, is the software tool that allows integrating all the processes of the different departments of the company, from sales to the purchase of raw materials, accounting management, and business analysis.
Every industry needs a good ERP to be productive, but it is about having a flexible solution that provides maximum value, as each industry has its particularities and may require specific modules.
Having a useful and customizable solution at hand will help you automate numerous administrative processes and improve your team's productivity.
2. Human Resources Management
It is the basic software to optimize productivity in the industry that many large, medium, and small companies use.
Through this type of tool, such as Factorial HR or Personio, you can have the records of each staff member, their evolution over time, organize vacations, easily manage entries and exits, work reports, and all data related to staff training.
Today, factories are highly automated, and in many industries, traditional manufacturing processes are no longer followed, so it is not possible to directly analyze the number of units produced per hour by each worker.
However, there are numerous supervision and execution tasks that influence the final production results and can be analyzed to try to improve process productivity.
3. MES (Manufacturing Execution System)
A MES software to improve production is another tool that can help you check the productivity of your factory globally.
Logically, industries today no longer rely solely on human operators; there are a whole series of technologies (machinery, industrial robotics with AI, etc.) whose performance must be measured and improved.
A Production Manager can use this type of tool to review production KPIs in each factory, evaluate the performance of each phase of the production process, each machine or automation system, and each operator.
We are talking about solutions like Opera MES or Mapex, which can be key to planning and controlling manufacturing in your industry.
In the end, productivity in the industry depends on a set of variables that impact the business success of factories.
4. CRM
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is the software that will allow you to manage customer relationships.
These types of tools, such as Hubspot or Zendesk, usually include functionalities to measure the statistics and productivity of your sales team.
So it is a specific solution that helps you understand the relationship between your investment in the Sales Department and the performance level of sales professionals.
5. CMMS
Maintenance management software (CMMS) is a system that allows you to control maintenance tasks, an essential part of industry safety, as breakdowns can cause production delays.
You can see some examples of these tools in solutions like Ízaro MMS or MyGestion.
6. Task Management
Task and shift management programs also play a very important role in industry productivity.
Often, they are integrated modules in Human Resources management software, but there are also standalone solutions like Teamwork or Asana.
It is key to have tools that allow you to control the presence and absence of workers in the industry, plan vacations or sick leaves, and everything that can affect production processes.
7. Warehouse Management
WMS (Warehouse Management Software) also plays a key role in improving industry productivity. We are talking about solutions like SGA One or Sortly.
The management of goods through its various processes (entry and exit, inventory management, location, picking and packing, palletization and depalletization, movements…) is key to ensuring good performance in the industry.
8. Training Solutions with Augmented Reality
Training is another element that plays a key role in the industry, as many processes can be enormously complex for operators.
It is necessary to keep the team updated on technical knowledge, industrial safety, or scheduled maintenance tasks.
This is the case of the AI virtual assistant from Uktena.
To improve productivity in training tasks, Mixed and Augmented Reality solutions allow teams to work through a real and virtual experience, which in turn allows them to receive real-time supervision and advice, as well as step-by-step task visualization.
9. Videoconferencing
Although they are not programs aimed at measuring productivity, virtual meeting or videoconferencing software like Zoom is intended to improve internal communications.
And thus, remote work can be facilitated, and personnel training processes can be optimized through video calls that allow the team to avoid travel and focus on more productive tasks.
Avoiding long meetings helps optimize other processes in companies.
10. Project Management
Project management solutions or collaborative tools like Slack or Trello are designed for teams to have a complete view of all resources, tools, and people involved in the development of a project.
These types of tools improve coordination and collaboration, as well as facilitate AGILE working methodologies that help prevent projects from dragging on, reducing risks in meeting deadlines, and decreasing the complexity of team tasks.
The Solution to Improve Productivity in Your Industry
Finally, we want to recommend Uktena, which besides being a key tool to overcome the learning curve of workers, can help you improve productivity in various ways.
For example, through the centralization and digitization of your company's acquired knowledge, facilitating collaboration among staff, and being a key tool for real-time data visualization and productive and efficient execution of industrial maintenance tasks.
If you want to learn more about Uktena, request our demo.
Which of these tools are you using? We hope these solutions are part of your processes, according to the specific needs of your industry!
