4 Necessary Steps to Build a Digital Factory

Necessary Steps to Build a Digital Factory –

In order to build a digital factory and make the best in digital construction, the following steps must be followed:

1. Planning and Design of Information Systems

Many factories will purchase many independent information systems, such as CRM (Customer Relationship Management), PLM (Product Life Management), ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), HR (Human Resources),

QMS (Quality Management System), OA (Office Automation), etc. However, due to the lack of plan and design, the integration of the system is poor and the selection of software is not scientific, it resulting in a great waste of capital, time, and human resources. Enterprises should combine their own situation, choose the appropriate management system and scientific management to avoid those unnecessary waste.

In order to construct a digital factory, the digitization needs to be well planned. The following needs to be included:

• The overall direction and goals of the information system in the next 3-5 years (matching with the company’s strategy).
• The overall design of the hardware system, including the overall design of the network security and storage system.
• The overall design of the software system includes the requirements of the subsystem suppliers

2. Take Advantage of the ERP Data Platform

ERP is used to achieve business-finance integration. It is also the only alternative to standard costs, actual costs, accounts receivable/payable, inventory accounting, and general ledger, and is an information system that cannot be circumvented. Therefore, ERP is the foundation of all information systems, it is inevitable.

3. Professional MES System

The professional MES system is the key. MES has obvious industrial characteristics Different industries require different MES solutions.

4. APS

APS is also a necessary step to build a digital factory. The current MES software generally does not contain two core functions of MES: detailed scheduling and process order assignment. However, these two functions are the key to the operation of the factory: to determine the optimal delivery of process orders, to achieve customer delivery time and internal effective output and resource efficiency maximization. The functions of “Detailed Scheduling” and “Process Order Assignment” are only provided in professional APS plan and software. Therefore, if only ERP and MES  launched is not enough. In a high complexity scenario, APS advanced planning and scheduling must be implemented and it will help ERP and MES play an effective role.