Manufacturers have spent decades automating physical production. Robots assemble components, sensors monitor equipment, and control systems coordinate increasingly complex operations.
Yet many of the processes surrounding production still depend on manual data entry and communication. Information generated on the factory floor may need to reach maintenance, procurement, finance, logistics, or customer service. These handoffs are often managed through spreadsheets, emails, and disconnected business applications.
The next stage of automation is not limited to installing more machinery. It involves connecting operational systems with the software used throughout the rest of the organisation. [Read more…] about Connecting the Factory Floor and Back Office: The Next Step in End-to-End Automation