What’s your strategy for automation in 2025 and beyond?
by Shawn Furman
AMT Strategy Manager
ERP, Robots, and AI, oh my! These are just a sample set of manufacturing technology we hear about weekly, if not daily, that fall under the Smart Manufacturing or Industry 4.0 umbrellas. They are the missing pieces that your business needs to improve, but implementing any automation can be a daunting task with plenty of obstacles to overcome along the way.
What can we learn from the 1939 classic film “The Wizard of Oz” that applies to automation in manufacturing? And how can it help you prioritize your automation plans for 2025? Let’s take a look!
The Lion
Find the courage to invest in automation. Most manufacturers, rightfully so, are concerned about the lack of available workers to support staffing needs and aren’t sure how to solve or quell those concerns. Take steps to identify bottlenecks and repetitive tasks in your operation and explore technology that can improve efficiency and compliment coworkers. Don’t shy away from the project that is low risk and has medium to high return on investment (ROI).
The Scarecrow
Use your brains to develop a thoughtful strategy for your short- and long-term automation objectives. Analyze data – find the right opportunities where automation can provide the best ROI with the least risk. Set goals – define what success looks like up front and strive to achieve those goals. Choose the right tools – some tools work better than others, rely on trusted partners to help guide you through your options (I know a guy…)
The Tin Man
Have a heart! Automation is often perceived as cold-blooded job thief. It’s not. Keep your coworkers involved in all automation projects; hopefully you are relying on their feedback to discover opportunities to automate. The workforce is changing, and newer generations are attracted to technology. Investing in automation is a great way to improve coworker job satisfaction by making work less monotonous, more engaging, and maybe even fun.
Dorothy
Collect a team that can help you to help you on your journey, it’s not easy, nor advised, to go it alone when investing in automation. Form a team of frontline operators, supervisors, and technical gurus to when ideating solutions. Multiple points of view will lead to sustainable solutions that the team wants and will own!
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
Once you’ve created your automation strategic plan, follow it and course correct when necessary. Stick to the process of identifying areas of improvement, prioritizing those opportunities, then starting with a small project to build momentum and confidence. Once that first project is done, keep reiterating the process.
The Wicked Witch
You’ll encounter plenty of challenges along the way from naysayers to technical issues. Face them head on with the right attitude and persistence and keep yourself on your yellow brick road to success.
Celebrate your Emerald City
Once you’ve successfully implemented an automation project, take time to celebrate the success. Measure the impact on productivity, cost savings, and employee satisfaction and share those wins with the entire team. Just like all of the characters, you’ll discover that the keys to success were always within your reach.
Conclusion
As you plan your automation strategy for the new year, remember the lessons from the Land of Oz: courage, brains, heart, collaboration, and a clear roadmap will guide you to success. By following your yellow brick road, you can unlock new levels of efficiency, innovation, and growth for your organization. So put on your ruby slippers (or work boots) and get ready to take that first step into an automated future!
Shawn Furman
About the Author
For questions or a free consultation, you may contact Shawn Furman, Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy Manager at (610) 737-2529 or email him at shawn.furman@mrcpa.org