Doing the Right Things is Strategic
So many companies I’ve spoken to have an interest in electronic device history records (e-DHR), but few seem to realize how much more a manufacturing execution system or manufacturing operations management (MES/MOM) can do. The eDHR justification is tactical, about gaining efficiency (doing things right), but MES/MOM can deliver strategic improvements in effectiveness (doing the right things).
My point is: it’s no good doing things right if you are not pursuing the right things.
Doing the right things actually encompasses the entire manufacturing operation, and also how it works with other departments. Think about justifying a purchase based on these factors as well:
- Within manufacturing, MES/MOM spans all production areas, so it can help ensure that you are not achieving one target that sabotages overall performance. Some companies use overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) as a metric because it includes availability, performance, and quality in a single measure. Research I led recently shows that medical device companies using MES/MOM were more than twice as likely to improve OEE by 10% or more.
- Within the plant MES/MOM allows manufacturing and maintenance to work together better. Manufacturing can spot issues, and maintenance can examine the data to prioritize and respond. All of this adds up to manufacturing and maintenance working together more effectively to reduce mean time between failures (MTBF).
- With sales and marketing MES/MOM makes it easier for manufacturing to accommodate a high mix of products better. MES/MOM makes standard operating procedures (SOPs) easy to access, enforces processes, and enhances predictability. So you can sell to new markets without forcing production costs sky high.
- With R&D manufacturing can leverage accurate production data to better keep the innovation strategy moving. Those with MES/MOM are twice as likely to have improved time to ramp a new product to full volume and quality by 10% or more.
Results: Doing all of the right things in manufacturing and across the company improves business results, too. More companies using MES/MOM improved on key metrics such as cost of quality and cash-to-cash cycle time. Business benefits flow naturally from and being sure you are doing the right things – and then doing things right. So do the right thing and invest in MES/MOM for all of the strategic and tactical benefits you can gain.
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Related Resources:
Redefining Performance Goals to Unlock Business Improvements - A New Focus for Medical Device Manufacturers