Loading
Rockwell Automation Home
  • Industries
    • Industries Chevron RightChevron Right
      • Aerospace
      • Automotive & Tire
      • Cement
      • Chemical
      • Entertainment
      • Fibers & Textiles
      • Food & Beverage
      • Household & Personal Care
      • Infrastructure
      • Life Sciences
      • Marine
      • Metals
      • Mining
      • Oil & Gas
      • Power Generation
      • Print & Publishing
      • Pulp & Paper
      • Semiconductor
      • Water Wastewater
      • View All
    Industries
    Case StudyRockwell Automation's case studies Case Studies DistributorDistributor How to Buy EventEvent Events
  • Capabilities
    • Capabilities Chevron RightChevron Right
      • Academy of Advanced Manufacturing
      • The Connected Enterprise®
      • Consulting & Integration Services
      • Cybersecurity
      • Digital Transformation
      • EPC
      • Industrial Analytics
      • Industrial Automation & Control
      • Industrial Maintenance & Support
      • Industrial Networks
      • Lifecycle Services
      • Machine & Equipment Builders
      • MES Solutions
      • Process Solutions
      • Safety Solutions
      • View All
    Capabilities
    Blogs DistributorDistributor How to Buy EventEvent Events
  • Products
    • Hardware Chevron RightChevron Right
    • Software Chevron RightChevron Right
      • Circuit & Load Protection
      • Condition Monitoring
      • Connection Devices
      • Distributed Control Systems
      • Drives & Motors
      • Energy Monitoring
      • Human Machine Interface
      • Independent Cart Technology
      • Industrial Computers & Monitors
      • Input/Output Modules
      • Industrial Control Products
      • Lighting Control
      • Motion Control
      • Motor Control
      • Networks Security & Infrastructure
      • Packaged Solutions
      • Power Supplies
      • Programmable Controllers
      • Push Buttons & Signaling Devices
      • Relays & Timers
      • Safety Instrumented Systems
      • Safety Products
      • Sensors & Switches
      • Signal Interface
      • View All Hardware Products
    • DesignSuite
      • Dynamic Digital Twin Software
      • Studio 5000 Design Software
    • OperationSuite
      • FactoryTalk Edge Gateway
      • FactoryTalk Batch
      • FactoryTalk Historian
      • FactoryTalk View - HMI Software
      • FactoryTalk Metrics
      • Factory Talk Analytics Augmented Modeler
      • FactoryTalk Analytics LogixAI
    • MaintenanceSuite
      • FactoryTalk Analytics for Devices
      • FactoryTalk AssetCentre
      • FactoryTalk Emonitor
      • FactoryTalk Network Manager
      • FactoryTalk TeamONE
      • Fiix CMMS
    • InnovationSuite
      • Augmented Reality
      • FactoryTalk Analytics
      • MES
      • ThingWorx IIoT Platform
      • FactoryTalk Analytics Edge ML
    Products
    Find Products by Our Brands: Allen-Bradley FactoryTalk
  • Support
    • Product Support Chevron RightChevron Right
    • Documentation Chevron RightChevron Right
    • Knowledgebase Chevron RightChevron Right
    • Training Chevron RightChevron Right
    • Downloads
      • 2D & 3D Drawings
      • Activations
      • Add-on Profiles
      • Application Code Libraries
      • Compatibility & Downloads
      • Drivers & Firmware
      • Electronic Datasheets
      • EPLAN Macros
      • Sample Code Library
      • Software Patches
      • View All
    • Selection & Configuration
      • Integrated Architecture Builder
      • Control Systems Configuration Tools
      • Procurement Specifications
      • ProposalWorks Proposal Builder
      • Global Short-circuit Current Ratings Tool
      • View All
    • Compatibility & Migration
      • Migration & Modernization
      • Lifecycle Status
      • Product Replacement Lookup
      • View All
      • Technical Documentation Center
      • Technical Specifications
      • Product Certifications
      • Product Drawings
      • Release Notes
      • Literature Library
    • Support Center
      • Support Options
      • Search for Answers
      • Chat Online
      • Call Us
      • View All
    • Online Forum
      • My Inbox
      • My Favorites
      • My Subscriptions
      • View All
    • My TechConnect
      • Chat History
      • Service Ticket History
      • Manage Your Favorite Answers
      • Field Service Request
      • View All
      • E-Learning Courses
      • Instructor-led Courses
      • Training Workstations
      • View All
    Support
    Contact Us HelpHelp Get Support LaunchpadTools and applications View All Tools
  • Company
    • Events Chevron RightChevron Right
    • News Chevron RightChevron Right
    • Careers Chevron RightChevron Right
    • PartnerNetwork Chevron RightChevron Right
    • About Us Chevron RightChevron Right
    • Featured Events
      • Automation Fair
      • Process Solutions User Group
      • Rockwell Automation On The Move
      • Rockwell Automation TechEd
      • ROKLive
      • PACK EXPO CONNECTS
      • View All
    • Webinars
      • Live
      • On-Demand
      • View All
      • Blogs
      • Case Studies
      • The Journal
      • Podcasts
      • Press Releases
      • View All
      • View Jobs
      • Teams & People
      • Hackathon
      • Employee Video Spotlight
      • View All
      • Authorized Distributors
      • Digital Partners
      • Licensed Developers
      • OEM Partners
      • Strategic Alliance Partners
      • System Integrator Partners
      • Technology Partners
      • PartnerNetwork Portal
      • View All
      • Our Brands
      • Our Community
      • Our History
      • Integrity & Sustainability
      • Investor Relations
      • View All
    Company
    ProductivityProductivity Investor Relations
  • Sales
  • Sales
  • View All Industries
  • View All
  • View All
  • View All
  • View All
  • Aerospace
  • Automotive & Tire
  • Cement
  • Chemical
  • Entertainment
  • Fibers & Textiles
  • Food & Beverage
  • Household & Personal Care
  • Infrastructure
  • Life Sciences
  • Marine
  • Metals
  • Mining
  • Oil & Gas
  • Power Generation
  • Print & Publishing
  • Pulp & Paper
  • Semiconductor
  • Water Wastewater
  • View All
  • Academy of Advanced Manufacturing
  • The Connected Enterprise®
  • Consulting & Integration Services
  • Cybersecurity
  • Digital Transformation
  • EPC
  • Industrial Analytics
  • Industrial Automation & Control
  • Industrial Maintenance & Support
  • Industrial Networks
  • Lifecycle Services
  • Machine & Equipment Builders
  • MES Solutions
  • Process Solutions
  • Safety Solutions
  • View All
  • Circuit & Load Protection
  • Condition Monitoring
  • Connection Devices
  • Distributed Control Systems
  • Drives & Motors
  • Energy Monitoring
  • Human Machine Interface
  • Industrial Computers & Monitors
  • Input/Output Modules
  • Industrial Control Products
  • Lighting Control
  • Motion Control
  • Motor Control
  • Networks Security & Infrastructure
  • Packaged Solutions
  • Power Supplies
  • Programmable Controllers
  • Push Buttons & Signaling Devices
  • Relays & Timers
  • Safety Instrumented Systems
  • Safety Products
  • Sensors & Switches
  • Signal Interface
  • View All Hardware Products
  • View All
  • View All
  • Technical Documentation Center
  • Technical Specifications
  • Product Certifications
  • Product Drawings
  • Release Notes
  • Literature Library
  • View All
  • E-Learning Courses
  • Instructor-led Courses
  • Training Workstations
  • View All
  • View All
  • Blogs
  • Case Studies
  • The Journal
  • Press Releases
  • View All
  • View Jobs
  • Hackathon
  • Employee Video Spotlight
  • View All
  • Authorized Distributors
  • Digital Partners
  • Licensed Developers
  • OEM Partners
  • System Integrator Partners
  • Technology Partners
  • PartnerNetwork Portal
  • View All
  • Our Brands
  • Our History
  • Investor Relations
  • View All
  • iTRAK Intelligent Track Systems
  • MagneMover Lite Intelligent Conveyor System
  • QuickStick Intelligent Conveyor System
  • View All
  • Dynamic Digital Twin Software
  • Studio 5000 Design Software
  • FactoryTalk Edge Gateway
  • FactoryTalk Batch
  • FactoryTalk Historian
  • FactoryTalk View - HMI Software
  • FactoryTalk Metrics
  • Factory Talk Analytics Augmented Modeler
  • FactoryTalk Analytics LogixAI
  • FactoryTalk Analytics for Devices
  • FactoryTalk AssetCentre
  • FactoryTalk Emonitor
  • FactoryTalk Network Manager
  • FactoryTalk TeamONE
  • Fiix CMMS
  • Augmented Reality
  • FactoryTalk Analytics
  • MES
  • ThingWorx IIoT Platform
  • FactoryTalk Analytics Edge ML
  • 2D & 3D Drawings
  • Activations
  • Add-on Profiles
  • Application Code Libraries
  • Compatibility & Downloads
  • Drivers & Firmware
  • Electronic Datasheets
  • EPLAN Macros
  • Sample Code Library
  • Software Patches
  • View All
  • Integrated Architecture Builder
  • Control Systems Configuration Tools
  • Procurement Specifications
  • ProposalWorks Proposal Builder
  • Global Short-circuit Current Ratings Tool
  • View All
  • Migration & Modernization
  • Lifecycle Status
  • Product Replacement Lookup
  • View All
  • Support Options
  • Search for Answers
  • Chat Online
  • Call Us
  • View All
  • My Inbox
  • My Favorites
  • My Subscriptions
  • View All
  • Chat History
  • Service Ticket History
  • Manage Your Favorite Answers
  • Field Service Request
  • View All
  • Automation Fair
  • Process Solutions User Group
  • Rockwell Automation On The Move
  • Rockwell Automation TechEd
  • ROKLive
  • PACK EXPO CONNECTS
  • View All
  • Live
  • On-Demand
  • View All
  • #ROKLive Podcast Series
  • ROK Talk on Safety, Sensing Connectivity Podcast Series
  • ROK Talk on Industrial Components Podcast Series
  • ROK Talk on Drives Podcast Series
  • View All
  • Students & New Grads
  • View All
  • Cisco Partnership
  • Endress+Hauser
  • FANUC
  • Microsoft
  • Panduit
  • View All
  • Our Focused Giving
  • STEM Education
  • Lifelong Learning
  • View All
  • Sustainability Report
  • Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Environmental, Health, & Safety
  • Ethics & Compliance
  • Global Supply Chain & Sourcing
  • Product Environmental Compliance
  • Quality Management Systems
  • Trust & Security
  • Workforce of Tomorrow
  • View All
Case StudyRockwell Automation's case studies Case Studies DistributorDistributor How to Buy EventEvent Events
Blogs DistributorDistributor How to Buy EventEvent Events
Find Products by Our Brands:
Allen-Bradley FactoryTalk
Contact Us HelpHelp Get Support LaunchpadTools and applications View All Tools
ProductivityProductivity Investor Relations
  • Literature LibraryLiterature Library
    Literature Library

    Access technical and commercial publications for hardware and software products, applications, services and solutions.

    PCDCProduct Compatibility and Download Center
    Compatibility & Downloads

    Find downloads including firmware, release notes, associated software, drivers, tools and utilities.

    KnowledgebaseKnowledgebase Support Center
    Knowledgebase

    Browse the database of questions and answers on a variety of products and technologies.

    Product ConfiguratorProduct Configurator
    Product Configurator

    Configure and select products rapidly.

    Software SubscriptionsSoftware Subscriptions
    Software Subscriptions

    One stop shopping for software and subscription services.

    2D & 3D Drawings Bill of Materials CrossWorks Electronic Datasheets Motion Analyzer My Equipment My Training E-Learning Portal Product Lifecycle Status Product Registration Product Selection Toolbox Repairs Sample Code Library Software Activations View All
    Tools
    UserUser Sign In/Create an Account
  • User Account User
Tools
Literature LibraryLiterature Library
Literature Library
PCDCProduct Compatibility and Download Center
Compatibility & Downloads
KnowledgebaseKnowledgebase Support Center
Knowledgebase
Product ConfiguratorProduct Configurator
Product Configurator
Software SubscriptionsSoftware Subscriptions
Software Subscriptions
2D & 3D Drawings Bill of Materials CrossWorks Electronic Datasheets Motion Analyzer My Equipment My Training E-Learning Portal Product Lifecycle Status Product Registration Product Selection Toolbox Repairs Sample Code Library Software Activations View All
Blog | Management Perspectives
Recent ActivityRecent Activity

Getting Your People Onboard with Flexible Manufacturing

Share This:

LinkedInLinkedIn
TwitterTwitter
FacebookFacebook
PrintPrint
EmailEmail
Main Image

Never have we seen the world change so quickly. With the onset of COVID-19, more and more organisations are looking to flexible manufacturing. If it’s something you’ve already been considering, you might now feel more motivated to make a change than ever before.

In this article, Matt Graves of Kalypso, a Rockwell Automation company, and Arup’s Rachel Wilson explain the benefits of flexible manufacturing, and how you can get your people onboard with the associated changes to get more from your technology investments.

Why Flexible Manufacturing?

Across the globe, there’s increasing appetite for flexible manufacturing processes. Why? Because, while some organisations are struggling to keep up with demand, others are struggling to keep the lights on. And others have changed production to support the pandemic efforts. For instance, you might be one of the many manufacturers that has switched to producing PPE and ventilators.

Pivot Production with Flexible Manufacturing
Main Image
Blog
Pivot Production with Flexible Manufacturing

Read now

Next, there’s the growing focus on responsible production. Flexible processes allow you to minimise waste by only producing what’s needed.

What’s more, today’s consumers are more demanding than ever – and it’s important that manufacturers can adapt to today’s ‘want it now’ culture. Consumers are demanding faster lead times and more customised products, all with less impact on the environment.

The marketplace is changing too. Some companies have managed to create fresh operating models based on new manufacturing technologies – Uber and Amazon spring to mind most notably. At Kalypso, we believe we’ll see this kind of disruption occurring more frequently in the near future. However, if you’re not looking for something quite as radical, flexible manufacturing can help you stay proactive and relevant.

What Does it Mean to be a Flexible Manufacturer?

Flexibility is about speed to adapt. It’s about creating a seamless flow from need to delivery. True flexibility empowers manufacturers to stay in tune with their market, by replacing rigid and static operating models with levels of control and responsiveness never previously thought possible.

 
Meet Changing Demands with Flexible Manufacturing
Main Image
Webinar
Meet Changing Demands with Flexible Manufacturing

Watch now

Think about the traditional customer to product lifecycle. It’s a linear model that takes you from market need, to product development, to prototyping with customer feedback, to production then sales. With flexible manufacturing, however, you can be much closer to your customer. Much closer. For instance, a consumer might drive a car that feeds performance data back to the manufacturer via an embedded SIM. Or they might wear running shoes that transmit data straight back to the brand.

By tying sales, marketing, and customer feedback efforts more directly with production, you can understand who the customer is, what they want, and how they want it delivered, at any given time. Meaning you can adapt production as you go along.  

Where do People Come into it?

So, flexible manufacturing can help organisations make much-needed changes. But having the right technology in place is only one side of the story. To make positive changes in your organisation – for today and tomorrow – you need to have the right culture and mindset as well.

Flexible Manufacturing – Adapting Quickly to Changing Markets and Events
Main Image
Blog
Flexible Manufacturing – Adapting Quickly to Changing Markets and Events

Read now

When it comes to embracing Industry 4.0, integration between departments is key. While new technology can bring data and systems together, getting your people to communicate/collaborate is just as important – and absolutely essential if you want to gain the maximum return on investment. To do so, it’s best to consider the four pillars of collaborative working.

1. People. Winning hearts and minds is the first step to ensuring collaborative behaviour.

2. Processes. Next, you need to strip back and re-build all the associated processes, by keeping the good, binning the bad, and adding the best.

3. Facilities. Then, you need to assess how well your factory/workplace environments enable people to work together.

4. Technology. Finally, you need to consider how you can harness digital, every step of the way. Think dashboards, performance measurements, and turning data from boring to brilliant.

How Can You Engage Your Workforce?

To successfully adopt new technology, you need to cultivate a new way of doing things. A new culture. And a new mindset. For example, consider this – a new piece of supply chain software that improves the ordering process. While back-office staff might already have the right mindset to dealing with changing technologies, it can be a challenge to get the wider workforce to adapt. People become used to – and almost fond of – particular types of software and ways of doing things, after all.

So, when you do find yourself in this position, the questions you should be asking are: how can you get people onboard with new ways of working? How can you engage people, so they’re not only up to speed with using the new tech, but excited to do so? How will you get them to realise that this new technology will make their lives easier? Furthermore – with many of us suffering digital fatigue at the moment…

How Can You Engage People with Yet Another Form of Technology?

The answer is: with the right kind of coaching. People need to be onboarded with complex, exciting tech in a way that makes it easy to use and get behind. Because technology is only as valuable as the people using it. When coaching your workforce, you need to consider ‘skill’ and ‘will’. While ‘skill’ covers technical and professional competencies, ‘will’ covers behaviours, attitudes, culture, leadership, collaboration, and resilience.

If you want your workforce to buy into a new initiative, you need to lead from the front. This might require coaching leaders on how to deal with changes regarding flexible manufacturing. Once empowered with knowledge, they can cascade what they’ve learned down and throughout their teams. When your leaders know they’re supported by the likes of Kalypso or Arup, they can feel confident in the new technology and processes.

Communicating the employee and customer benefits is also key. If you’re asking your workforce to buy into something, they need to know that it’s going to make their lives easier or better – and the customer offering more relevant or cost-efficient. When you have everyone’s buy-in, your processes will run smoother, your employees will be happier with the changes you’ve put in place, and everyone will be using your technology to the best advantage.

What’s Next?

When you have the capabilities to rapidly adapt your offering and adjust your manufacturing operations, you can:

  • Shorten timeframes and increase proactivity.
  • Synchronise information across systems and across the product lifecycle.
  • Understand how customers are using products in real time (like when Nike put sensors in its trainers, and BMW embedded SIM cards in its cars).
  • Ensure better integration and collaboration between departments.
  • Be proactive and stay one step ahead of the competition.

But if you don’t have the culture and the mindset – if you’re unable to win hearts and minds across your organisation – your efforts to effect change could fall flat on their face.

To adapt to changing market conditions – both short-term shocks and longer-term trends – you need to identify where potential barriers and bottlenecks exist. This requires a comprehensive review of every area that contributes to how you meet your market’s needs. Such a review will not only help you resolve frictions, but better allocate resources for ongoing improvement.

Want to hear more thoughts on people and technology in manufacturing? Listen to our Management Perspectives podcast.

Published October 28, 2020


Rachel Wilson
Rachel Wilson
Associate Director, Arup
Connect:
EmailEmail
 
Matt Graves
Matt Graves
Director, Kalypso (a Rockwell Automation company)
Matt specialises in digital transformation and has more than a decade of experience working with manufacturing companies, achieving tangible improvements to operational business outcomes. Matt designed and implemented a global digital transformation programme for a major oil & gas multinational, which received several independent awards and was credited with production gains of around 5%.
Connect:
EmailEmail
 
Subscribe

Subscribe to Rockwell Automation and receive the latest news, thought leadership and information directly to your inbox.

Subscribe

Recommended For You

Loading
  • Technical Question
  • Chat Technical Support
  • Phone Support
  • Contact Sales
  • General Questions
  1. Chevron LeftChevron Left United States Chevron RightChevron Right
  2. Chevron LeftChevron Left Company Chevron RightChevron Right
  3. Chevron LeftChevron Left News Chevron RightChevron Right
  4. Chevron LeftChevron Left Blogs Chevron RightChevron Right
Discover
  • The Connected Enterprise®
  • Create Your Account
  • Case Studies
  • Events
Information for...
  • Distributors
  • OEM
  • System Integrators
  • Technology Partners
  • Investors
  • Career Seekers
  • Avoid Unauthorized Sources
Contact Us
  • General Questions
  • Technical Questions
  • How to Buy
  • Local Sales & Service
  • Pricing & Availability
  • Report Ethical Concerns
Site Information
  • Legal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Preferences
  • Terms of Use
  • Trademarks
Change Country Site SelectionChange RockwellAutomation.com site selection to a different country, region or language Change Country
United States/English

Keep Updated With Us

Sign up to receive our latest headlines for free.

Stay Informed Now
Follow Us
BlogRockwell Automation's Blog
Copyright ©2021 Rockwell Automation, Inc.
United States