Manufacturer’s most common goal for their product digital thread is to drive product quality—but also efficiency across their span of operations, including those downstream in traceability and service. (Graphic courtesy Tech-Clarity, Inc.)
But most of them still don’t have fully integrated ERP, PLM, or supply chain systems, according to the report.
STOW, Ohio—A newly released report about the state of global manufacturers’ use of digital resources to achieve their business objectives is reported to reveal a gap between understanding the need to implement the right tools to optimize productivity—and integrating those tools successfully.
The report, Integrating Data and Processes Across the Product Digital Thread, gathered and analyzed responses from 138 global companies that manufacture products or provide engineering services, according to a release from Razorleaf Corporation, a consulting and systems integrator that commissioned the study.
Survey results found manufacturers worldwide are increasingly using digitally-based systems for product design and production. With this shift comes further emphasis on better data integration for programs run internally and across supply chains.
“The current challenge is that most manufacturers don’t have fully integrated ERP, PLM, or supply chain systems, let alone integration across these and other domains that carry crucial product information,” said Tech-Clarity Founder and President Jim Brown, in the release. Tech-Clarity is an independent research firm that published the report. “Yet why have companies taken up the digital thread? Because achieving quality, efficiency, and better decision-making depend on it. Over two-thirds of the participants in the study report that integrating data and applications across the product digital thread is important or critical to meeting their business goals.”
“The next frontier in productivity is optimizing the digital enterprise,” said Eric Doubell, CEO of Razorleaf, in the release. “Companies have the data already in existing CAD, PDM, ERP, and MES systems. Now they need to make the data readily available and seamlessly useable across domains, then apply this information in flexible, targeted ways to their specific product and business needs. Systems-agnostic integrators can help automate the interconnection of custom, native, and best-in-class tools, making it easier for departments and suppliers to communicate and make accurate and faster decisions.”
The full Tech-Clarity report, “Integrating Data and Processes Across the Product Digital Thread,” can be downloaded for free at http://www.razorleaf.com. A recent webinar on the survey, conducted with Tech-Clarity and Razorleaf spokespersons, is available at https://www.razorleaf.com/resources/webinars/.
Tech-Clarity analyzes how companies improve innovation, product development, design, engineering, manufacturing, and service performance through the use of digital transformation, best practices, software technology, industrial automation, and IT services. “Our mission is to help manufacturers learn how to improve business results through the use of PLM, portfolio management, CAD, simulation, MES / MOM, IoT, quality, service, analytics, and other solutions,” the company stated in the release.
As a consulting and systems integrator, Razorleaf has specialized expertise in PLM, MES, integration, migration, design automation, and test automation. The company said in the release that it is “focused on helping manufacturing organizations connect products and processes across the digital enterprise to drive more value from the innovation process.”