Finding the Right Automation Solution for Your Business
If you’ve researched the possibility of deploying an automation solution for your manufacturing facility, you may have encountered so many options that you aren’t sure where or how to begin. That’s understandable as Industry 4.0 developments and the Internet of Things revolution have made the possibilities of automation for manufacturing industries virtually limitless. Instead of being overwhelmed by the possibilities, however, you just need to find an ideal automation partner to help you navigate the opportunities and leverage an ideal solution for your needs. As you begin developing an automation platform, here are three key factors to consider if you want to ensure that your new solution aligns with your short and long-term goals.
Scope of Automation
Before deciding on an automation platform, you first need to outline your overall organizational objectives. Which processes are ripe for automation? Do you want an integrated industrial solution that automates your entire facility, or would you prefer to just automate a few repetitive tasks? Once you’ve nailed down your growth priorities, you can more easily assess whether an automation solution matches your needs.
If you’re looking to integrate existing equipment and systems into your automation platform, the possibility of compatibility needs to be clarified early on. By nailing down the answers to these questions early on, you can reduce the risk of roadblocks that lead to delayed timelines and even project failure.
Scalability
One of the most common reasons businesses decide to deploy an automation platform is as a catalyst for growth. If your organization is looking towards automation to propel growth, you need an automation platform that’s prepared to match your growth goals. Simply put, as your business grows, you need an automation solution that’s prepared to grow with you. At the same time, you need a platform that’s within budget while balancing cost with benefits.
Ease of Use
If your automation interfaces aren’t straightforward and intuitive, your team will never be able to maximize their potential. And if the platform isn’t easy to use, your team won’t even want to use it in the first place. On top of that, complicated software makes training new employees an unnecessary burden that slows your organization down. All of these potential issues can be addressed by ensuring that your automation solution is easy to use, so your team is excited about the digital transformation.
Support and Service
Even if the platform is easy to use, your team is inevitably going to have questions, and problems may arise. Make sure your automation partner offers ongoing support and predictive maintenance, so you’re never left scrambling to find answers to basic questions or issues. When you find the right partner, you always know exactly who to call for all of your automation needs, both today and tomorrow.
Customization
Chances are, your business requires more than an off-the-shelf automation solution. Automation systems are frequently specific to individual facilities, and you need a platform that synchronized to your needs. If your team has to limit operation to accommodate your automation platform, you’re going to run into problems later on. Instead, finding an ideal solution requires customization features that are built around your organization needs, instead of the other way around.
Your Automation Experts
Finding the ideal automation solution for your business starts with finding the right automation partner. At HEXA, we’ve already helped organizations of all sizes in just about every sector experience rapid growth by deploying the latest Industry 4.0 technology. Read a case study on a manufacturing execution system we designed and implemented to gain a deeper understanding of how we can elevate your operations to new levels of productivity.