How to take advantage of the downturn for the upturn

I received this article a few weeks before COVID-19 became a global pandemic. Looking through my emails it caught my attention and I knew it would be a good time to offer up these insights on how in slower times it is wise to look toward your digital transformation.

We are still open for business and here to report on the developments in medical device and equipment manufacturing. So, how you are faring during the pandemic? Drop me a line and let me know what new projects you have going, how the stay at home order crossing the world is impacting/not impacting your business, or what are your general thoughts on manufacturing today. Stay healthy,  stay socially distant!

How to take advantage of the downturn for the upturn

Anticyclical behavior is a subject already discussed in economics classes at high school. The students are taught that saving in good times is useful to be prepared for bad times. Spending in bad times on the other hand helps to boost the economy. A similar approach can be applied for manufacturing companies.

"If you invest in the infrastructure of your production during a lull, then you are ready to start before the next economic recovery," says Jürgen Petzel, vice president sales at MPDV. "A manufacturing execution system (MES) like HYDRA helps detecting waste in production and reveals unexpected efficiency potentials." 

Wisely using free resources
In times of low order volumes, the existing resources – be it machines or human resources – cannot always be utilized to capacity. A sensible solution therefore is to use any vacant times for other purposes. You could introduce an MES or extend the system in use.

"Take advantage of the opportunity and connect idle machines to the MES more quickly. Also test new functions in parallel with production. Such times are also perfect to train your production staff and to bridge longer unproductive periods," Petzel explains. "At the same time, you might be able to secure jobs."

When preparing the implementation or extension of an MES, the organizational processes can be optimized and streamlined, if required. Experienced MPDV consultants analyze current processes and suggest optimizations before digitizing unnecessary complex structures. If the usual time pressure is removed, you can tackle the MES implementation with all eyes set on the job.

Petzel reports: "Especially when production is not running at full capacity, we can use the time to standardize the MES project as far as possible – just like in a greenfield project. The advantage is obvious: If we can integrate most of your requirements in the standard, the costs are much lower, both the initial investment and the costs over time."

Another benefit is that the operation and maintenance of IT systems close to the standard are undemanding as no custom-built features must be observed.

Before you invest, get informed
If things get tight due to the economic situation, you can use a downturn period to inform yourself about the possibilities of an MES. This takes time – and time is what you have. To this end, MPDV offers a wide range of information events. The workshop MES and Industry 4.0 provides for interested specialists and executives an overview of the scope and possible benefit of an MES and the first steps needed to reach the Smart Factory. As part of the workshop, a HYDRA user reports about their experiences with the system.

In the course of the Workshop Best Practice MES, a manufacturing company outlines how they use HYDRA in live operation and explains on site the functions and advantages of an MES. If business trips are not on the agenda, the webinar series is perfect to inform yourself about MES. In four webinars over the year, MPDV informs about application areas, functions and benefits of HYDRA and introduces interested participants to the world of Industry 4.0.

Petzel adds: "For most of our users, everything started with a visit to one of our information events. The high number of participants proves that the demand for information is still high. By attending these events, you are in pole position in the race for competitiveness in times of digitization and Industry 4.0. So don't hesitate and meet the challenges now.”