Helping a Manufacturer Reach Industry 4.0 Goals and Objectives

Elliott Davis was asked: “What are the risks with our planned IT investment, and will it help meet our strategic business objectives?”

Context

• Full-service Chemical company supporting custom development and manufacturing services as well as delivery of internal product lines
• Processes were extremely manual, without standardized workflows managed by chemical ‘recipes’ stored in paper binder
• IT outsourced with limited alignment to corporate and business objectives
• Based on interviews, Elliott Davis engaged to support these project tracks:
  1. Identify how IT can effectively improve manufacturing processes, including delivery times and earnings
  2. Evaluate IT operations to identify areas of potential improvement
  3. Provide project management

Our Approach

Track 1: IT Investment Evaluation

• Assessed solution costs, labor, hardware, and software
• Performed viability analysis of provider and its competitors
• Provided return on investment analysis and input into solution implementation plan

Track 2: Assessing IT Performance

• Evaluated current state IT including strategy, people, processes, and technology
• Performed benchmark of IT spend
• Assessed environment cybersecurity and compliance gaps

Track 3: Project Management

• Integration of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and data historian database
• Installation of new server and Wi-Fi infrastructure
• Managed and coordinated pace and costs associated with three different software/ hardware solutions

Customer Impact

Track 1: Moved from paper binders to tablet with real-time feed to ERP system

• Immediate improvement in quality assurance testing- delivery, speed, and results
• Improved on-time delivery and real-time inventory management
• Reduced rush delivery costs
• Realized ability to grow without limited headcount investment
• Ability to identify cycle time issues immediately, vs. in 4 to 6 weeks

Track 2: Scorecard of results delivered, including detailed analysis and recommendations

• Identified areas of highest risk in IT operations and delivery
• Developed series of short-term and long-term recommendations and focus areas based on planned IT investment

Track 3: Project Management

• Project completed on time and within budget!

We Can Help

For more information on how Elliott Davis can assist you and your business, contact a member of our team.

The information provided in this communication is of a general nature and should not be considered professional advice. You should not act upon the information provided without obtaining specific professional advice. The information above is subject to change.