Technology has grown in leaps and bounds in the automation niche, and companies of all kinds can benefit from the use of these tools to further their business goals and plans.
However, many businesses are still unaware of what smart automation technologies are, or how they can be added to business processes to improve workflows and save money and time.
If you have been considering ways to improve your internal workflows and better meet demand, you need to enhance your supply chain with smart automation technology.
Fanuc products can help you get access to the right technologies and tools to make this improvement process simple, streamlined, and successful.
What are Smart Automation Technologies?
Intelligent automation can come in various forms. You might want to leverage AI technologies to improve and upgrade your business, or you can use various other cognitive technologies to improve the performance of your business on a daily basis.
Connecting devices to one network, leveraging data collection, and eliminating hands-on tasks to free up employees or other work are all ways that you can protect your supply chain and improve your daily operations.
Robotic processes and AI are at the forefront of this technological revolution, and these benefits keep coming down in price every year. This means that businesses of nearly any size can now access the perks of smart automation solutions.
If you want to improve your daily operations and ensure that your supply chain is well-protected, these technology solutions are perfect for your needs.
Smart Automation Technologies That Can Enhance Supply Chain Resilience
1. AI and Machine Learning
These two linked technologies are probably the most talked-about solutions to improve your supply chain at the moment. AI and machine learning can help you collect data that will tell you what improvements you can make to save time and money and improve the way that you create products every day.
AI can also make predictions about the future growth of your business, and it can help you see how certain key changes will impact business success over time.
Being able to make intelligent and informed decisions that are based on the power of real data is hugely important when it comes to enhancing supply chain resilience. Imagine having a crystal ball that tells you what the future will look like. This is what AI can do for your business.
2. Augmented Intelligence
Related to AI, this technology is a design model that allows humans and AI to improve cognitive performance. Augmented intelligence helps with decision-making in many industries today, and it helps to provide a bond between AI use and daily users who are working on your supply chain.
Most people are familiar with augmented intelligence due to the way that it is used to help influence the advertising and items that you are shown while on social media. However, it can also help to identify patterns of behavior in a factory setting that lead to accidents or which might slow down operations.
These kinds of smart technology solutions can also track and call out safety issues that could be happening without anyone noticing.
3. Inventory-Tracking Solutions
There are various smart technology solutions on the market that track inventory in real-time, which can help to ensure that your business meets consumer demand without running out of product. This can be a key addition to your assembly line and supply chain processes since a lack of stock can mean orders that are not fulfilled and disappointed customers.
Being sure about just how much inventory you have and the locations of the inventory that need to be sent out can help you to meet deadlines, save money, and create a business reputation that will help your company to thrive.
4. Machine Health and Diagnosis
There are various solutions in the smart technology category today that can be used to diagnose problems with machinery and devices before a failure takes place. If you are worried about the health of your equipment and you want to prevent slowdowns due to items breaking or needing to be replaced, this smart technology solution is perfect for your business.
There are various ways to access this kind of perk for your business, and you can start small and grow this kind of troubleshooting and data collection over time.
While very small businesses or those that are just starting out might not be able to access this technology early on, it is a worthwhile investment as your business grows to make sure that supply chain and production issues don’t slow down your company’s growth.
5. Robotic Process Automation
One of the most accessible and effective smart technology solutions for those with supply chain-based businesses is robotic automation. These technology solutions offer you the chance to eliminate the need for a person to handle some of the most repetitive and predictable tasks in your daily workflow.
This not only saves time but also improves safety, and it can help you save money because you can move the workers doing these tasks to other jobs.
Robotic process automation is one of the top ways that you can improve your business’ performance while also saving time and money and protecting your supply chain dynamics on a daily basis.
A Resilient Supply Chain is Easy to Achieve With Smart Technologies
Keeping up with the times is key, no matter what kind of business you run or own. You will want to be sure that you are not missing out on technological solutions that could help your business to thrive and grow just because you were not aware of the possibilities that are out there.
No matter what kind of smart technology you add to your daily workflows, you will need to be sure to have a skilled and experienced supply chain expert working with you to supply parts, components, and more.
You can count on MRO Electric and Supply Company to offer you access to quality parts, components, and technological solutions that you can trust.
Article and permission to publish here provided by Gabe Nelson. Originally written for Supply Chain Game Changer and published on June 14, 2024.
Cover image provided by pexels.com.