Top-floor to Warehouse Shop Floor – 4 Benefits of Data Integration

Integrating data is critical in today’s manufacturing environment. Traditionally, getting manufacturing data from the warehouse shop floor to top executives was a slow process, subject to human error and interpretation. In today’s word, real-time visibility is key to achieve operational excellence and is one of the biggest benefits manufacturing, logistics or warehousing companies receive from integrating their data.

Data integration – and the resulting visibility into company’s operations translates into several benefits from the shop floor to the front office:

• Increase customer satisfaction: The ability to immediately access real-time data enables transparency between the business and its customers. Sharing the most up-to-date information will instill assurance of a well-run company.
• Process improvement capabilities: With access to data through worker inputs, managers can use the data to standardize processes and develop instructions on common workflows, enabling workers to more easily perform tasks and improving quality. Additionally, managers can also identify and resolve issues up and down the supply chain to increase efficiencies.
• Manager autonomy: Real-time shop floor data creates a uniform standard to enhance productivity, make better decisions and invoice more quickly.
• Accurate records of inventory quantity, shipping status, and much more.

Looking for a way gain these benefits? Start with ERP integration.

One of the best places to start is by integrating a manufacturing company’s ERP or WMS software. Turning to comprehensive ERP or WMS systems provides up-to-the-second details on inventory, order status, and more. With these systems in place, every step of the supply chain benefits from access to the same, up-to-date information as they make their way from the warehouse shop floor to the top floor. To keep efficiencies up and customers happy, manufacturers must keep their data solutions current—and integrated.

But, what if the company doesn’t use an ERP or WMS system?

The SMS Group’s data collection solutions can often interface with your business planning software, even if you use an unsupported ERP, WMS, or other system. Additionally, like The SMS Group who can come in convert the paper document or Excel file into a database or mobile application, thus enabling real-time functionality to integrate to the front office. The programs can sync with just about anything on the shop floor, including barcodes, readers and scanners. From that point on, managers have data at their fingertips to improve processes, support customers, track inventory, and much more.

Let us help

Looking for a way to improve visibility, increase customer satisfaction, control costs, and keep more accurate records? The SMS Group is here for you. We have almost 30 years’ experience helping manufacturing companies find the best solutions to streamline and improve their operations. To learn more, give us a call at 937-498-2700 or fill a contact form and we will be in touch.