Manufacturing And Warehousing News For VARs — May 6, 2014
By Trisha Leon, contributing writer
In the news, a report shows VARs how DSD solutions can result in big ROI for their clients, and additional articles list the benefits to your manufacturing customers from Big Data and wireless remote monitoring.
Direct Store Delivery Solutions Can Mean Big ROI For Your Manufacturing Customers
A report from Honeywell has found that millions of dollars can be saved by evaluating and improving direct store delivery (DSD) operations. “The report shows clearly that re-engineering DSD processes provides an opportunity for business transformation and competitive advantage,” said Brian Schulte, industry director for direct store delivery for Honeywell. VARs can assist their clients to capitalize on these savings by providing solutions in the top areas survey respondents identified for cost improvement: fuel and petrol costs, merchandising, delivery receiving/check-in, delivery, and payment procedures. As manufacturers face growing challenges in today’s market, there are significant savings to be found in revamping DSD processes.
Big Data Equals Value For Your Clients
The wealth of information contained in Big Data holds big potential for manufacturers. “With the right methods for collecting, analyzing, and acting on all of this data, you can transform everyday information into a new competitive advantage,” Kylene Zenk-Batsford, senior manager of the manufacturing practice group, Kronos, says in Industry Week . She adds, “If you consider the formula Data + Analysis + Action = Gold, you can capitalize on all that Big Data has to offer.” VARs can supply solutions to clients that integrate important financial and operational information with their existing labor data, helping them turn seemingly innocuous data into significant business value.
Wireless Remote Monitoring Gives A “Leg-Up” In Data Collection
Maintenance personnel often find data collection tedious, even boring. Sometimes it can be downright dangerous. But in order to comply with industry standards and head off potential incidents, data must be collected. A new advancement in technology, wireless remote monitoring, though, is a game-changer that allows for the collection of data while reducing maintenance costs, capital expenditures, labor, unplanned downtime, and improving safety. According to an article in Industry Week written by Burt Hurlock, CEO and a member of the Azima DLI Board, “The industrial world's first movers will lift market share from right beneath the noses of long-standing incumbents who ignore how data and connectivity have changed the consumer world, and will soon be changing industry.” VARs can encourage their clients to use wireless remote monitoring to collect, monitor, and leverage valuable data.
U.S. Surprisingly Competitive In Manufacturing
According to a report by Boston Consulting Group cited in Bloomberg Businessweek, the U.S. has shot up the ranks of competitiveness in manufacturing. The 10 biggest exporters account for about 70 percent of global manufactured exports–and are therefore destinations of choice for most companies locating new plants. China is still No. 1, though its lead has narrowed, but the U.S. has moved into the No. 2 spot. According to Justin Rose, a co-author of the report and partner at BCG, the superior ranking of the U.S. could be a preview of things to come.
FDM Technology Will Propel Manufacturers Into The Future
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) systems can streamline the manufacturing process. Matt Hlavin, president of Thogus Products, attests to significant growth in his company in “Case Study: Company Reinvents Itself With FDM,” an article in Manufacturing Business Technology. He credits much of this growth to FDM technology. He says, “We are using FDM Technology to accomplish things we never could before. We save in excess of $150,000 per year for factory automation, fixturing, advanced prototyping, product verification prior to tooling, and more.” FDM has the potential to revolutionize the manufacturing industry by bringing products to market faster and compressing production development cycles.