AUTOMATION/SMART FACTORY SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC
Real-world manufacturing knowledge is essential for digital transformation projects
Chris Collins, the president of Schneider Electric Ireland, explains the crucial role the digital consultant plays in helping companies to meet new energy demands, improve
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anufacturing businesses know that embracing sustainability and digital transformation is critical for
continued growth. Digitalisation is integral to modernising
manufacturing facilities. The aim of digital transformation programmes and initiatives is to bring plants still running older electrical systems up to modern standards and optimising them for future growth. This allows companies to extend the lifecycle of new and existing assets through circularity and repairability, driven by data produced by sensors that can be attached to even the oldest piece of equipment. The business case for sustainable industrial practices of this type is undeniable. save you money and improve productivity, while ensuring business continuity. A more sustainable approach also enhances regulatory compliance and risk management, helping you to stay ahead of environmental legislation. Critically, sustainable industrial practices
can improve Return on Investment (ROI) by improving overall performance and adding greater resilience to production and manufacturing facilities. Previously, sustainable initiatives might have delivered a two-year ROI, but today if done correctly, these types of infrastructure projects can deliver ROI that spans up to seven years.
investments, companies used to budget for a return of over 12 years, but they’re now recouping costs within two and a half years. This is possible by digitalising your systems and gathering data to help unlock the power and extra capacity within your asset base.
CONSIDERING THE PRACTICAL REALITIES But this must be an ongoing process. Industrial equipment can have a very long lifespan and embodied carbon, to replace technology that still works. And while you might be eager to start
16 June 2024 Irish Manufacturing
integrating new software and systems and begin working with a consultancy that can help you fast track, it’s worth taking a step back to consider what type of consultancy you need. Poor management of digital transformation projects leaves companies A recent McKinsey report shows that many
large-scale projects fail about 70% of the time. easy. It’s a complex process that needs a proven methodology to be successful, but it also needs a real-world understanding of how things work in an industrial setting. That’s why it’s important to work with a specialist digital consultant with extensive manufacturing experience rather than general consulting experience. This is why it makes sense to bring in a digital consultant that is also a manufacturing company itself, one that owns factories, manages supply chains, and understands the practical challenges faced by manufacturers.
A successful transformation must be tailored down into smaller steps that achieve tangible business outcomes while preserving as many existing assets as possible and connecting them in practical and affordable ways to serve the larger project goals.
THE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION Crucially, digitalisation is the only way for Irish sustainability targets to be met effectively. It helps to streamline operations and reduce costs, but it also plays a critical role in diminishing environmental impacts and fostering the responsible use of resources. However, for companies that haven’t begun their sustainability journey, the ROI can be rapid. With a strategic approach to investment in digitally-driven, sustainable best practices, companies can set themselves on a sustainability-focused, continuous improvement trajectory, using the initial ROI to fund the next round of initiatives.
A recent McKinsey report shows that many large-scale projects fail about 70% transformation is not easy. It’s a complex process that needs a proven methodology to be successful, but it also needs a real-world understanding of how things work in an industrial setting.
Consultants must help companies maximise the value of yesterday’s technology for today while strategically addressing technical debt and laying the groundwork to thrive in the future. Emphasis must be placed on making the most of what already exists. A true consultant will consider the practical realities of an organisation’s infrastructure and demonstrate commercial outcomes that justify project costs and positively impact the bottom line.
Manufacturing is a complex and multifaceted challenge that cannot tolerate extended downtime. That’s why it’s important to choose a digital transformation consultancy team that offers a specialised, end-to-end service designed to accelerate successful digital transformation, strategic planning and implementation for industrial businesses; focusing on sustainability, industrial performance, digital operations and energy management.
www.irish-manufacturing.com
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