Industry 4.0 Foundations: System Integration

As discussed in last week’s Industry 4.0 Foundations blog, the Internet of Things enables manufacturers to gain enhanced visibility into operations to further optimize performance. With data playing an integral role in these improvements, System Integration can help by providing more centralized, organized data for simpler, more effective decision-making.

ACHIEVE IMPROVED BUSINESS TRANSPARENCY WITH SYSTEM INTEGRATION
Gathering and analyzing data is easier than ever before. With System Integration, manufacturers can utilize business management software like Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to collect, store, manage and understand data from a variety of areas. This essentially provides one centralized location for all data gathered throughout the organization, making for simpler and more efficient data management and increased transparency into business operations overall. System Integration delivers information to those who need it, where they need it and when they need it.

EFFECTIVELY GATHER & INTERPRET BUSINESS DATA
Is your business: Unsure of how well the organization is performing? Lacking the tools needed to gather and interpret data? Hoping to improve productivity and quality, but not sure where to start?

System Integration can help by:

• Providing one centralized location for data collection. Many manufacturers either don’t collect data at all, or have data but are unsure of how to use it, rendering it useless. System Integration works to solve these issues by providing a unified source of data to manufacturers, enabling them to see all collected data in one place. From there, data can more easily be compared and analyzed to inform strategic decision-making down the line.
• Improving visibility into the company’s planning, scheduling and performance. Most of the time, data collection and broader company strategy are forgotten in a day-to-day environment. With System Integration, manufacturers can quickly receive information from all levels of business operations to maintain a proper balance between daily management and driving future initiatives. With company-wide data automatically gathered and presented by the software, manufacturers are empowered to identify areas in need of improvement and can set realistic goals for performance in the future.

Let data guide your company to success with System Integration. To learn more about how System Integration can be used to improve your data collection and analysis, contact us at inquiry@the-center.org and stay tuned for next week’s blog where we will explore Cloud Computing.

GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR INVESTMENTS WITH HELP FROM THE CENTER
Whether your company is well into its Industry 4.0 journey or just getting started, The Center’s experts can help ensure you achieve the maximum return on all investments. To assist Michigan’s manufacturers with understanding and adopting Industry 4.0 technologies, The Center has partnered with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Automation Alley to drive awareness of the many uses and benefits of these innovations. From conducting an initial Technology Opportunity Assessment to identifying and applying relevant technologies, The Center guides manufacturers through technological implementations in a way that makes sense for their businesses.

Learn more about how The Center can support your company’s Industry 4.0 journey by contacting inquiry@the-center.org or visit the-center.org.

Since 1991, the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center has assisted Michigan’s small and medium-sized businesses to successfully compete and grow. Through personalized services designed to meet the needs of clients, we develop more effective business leaders, drive product and process innovation, promote company-wide operational excellence and foster creative strategies for business growth and greater profitability. Find us at www.the-center.org.