The Cloud Can Power Leaner Operations

While it's obvious that cloud computing represents a valuable resource for marketing firms, sales-driven operations and customer service departments, the technology has also found its way into the manufacturing industry. With manufacturing companies looking every day for new ways to stay competitive and increase efficiency, cloud computing can lead to leaner operations.

Better Resource Management

With cloud computing, manufacturing corporations can focus their resources, including personnel, time and supplies, right where they're needed. Thanks to automation, the cloud can produce reports once generated by employees, freeing up manpower and hours for value-added activities.

Access to Real-Time Data

Cloud computing gives a manufacturer the ability to view real numbers and obtain an overall view of the company's operations. Managers can keep track of raw materials inventory, set production goals and manage deadlines. By tracking workload levels from one minute to the next, a supervisor can direct employees to areas that need them most, increasing operational efficiency.

Improved Communication With Customers

Thanks to the cloud, a manufacturing organization can keep its customers informed, improving the client relationship and ensuring repeat business. Through cloud capabilities, a manufacturing company can generate quotes to a client or provide a delivery date, keeping the customer informed of order status throughout every production stage. Because of real-time inventory data, customers are never turned away or left disappointed because of low inventory levels or out-of-stock products.

Increased Interaction With Partners and Suppliers

Cloud computing improves the relationship between a manufacturing organization and its business partners and suppliers. Using the real-time data available on the cloud, a manufacturing company can check the inventory levels at a subsidiary's out-of-state location to determine whether enough product is available to fulfill a customer's order in a timely manner. Without as much as a single phone call, a manufacturing company can track when a much-needed part should arrive from a supplier across the country.

Elimination of IT Needs

With the enterprise resource planning software systems of the past, manufacturing corporations had to keep computer programmers and other IT employees on payroll to manage their systems. Now, a simple wireless connection and cloud computing software allows any manager to access the cloud.

Cost Savings

While many large manufacturing organizations have taken advantage of cloud computing technologies for years, the decrease in the cost of these systems has allowed small- and medium-size corporations to follow suit and use the cloud to streamline operations, increase efficiency and improve the bottom line.

With every advance in technology comes a new way for corporations to improve operations and increase their competitive advantage. Companies in the manufacturing industry are no exception. Cloud computing presents a way for these corporations to create leaner operations for improved efficiency and a more successful future.

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