Change is inevitable.
This absolute truth might sound scary, but it can also be an opportunity. If organizations take a proactive approach and prepare for the inevitable changes on the horizon, they can lead to incredible business benefits.
But how do you prepare for the unknown? How can you manage change when you don’t know what the change will be? One of the best ways is through automation.
Let’s explore why that is and how automation can help future-proof your organization.
Give me a reason
The arrival of a new federal administration raises a host of questions about what changes, if any, could be on the horizon.
While no one knows for sure, it’s important for packaging manufacturers to keep an eye out for:
- Potential increases in tariffs on incoming products.
Any of these can have a major impact on how organizations operate during the next few years.
In addition, rapid advances in technology continue to shape industries around the globe. Advances, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), 3D printing, artificial intelligence (AI), and others, have changed the way industries operate.
And, as in just about every sector, staffing remains a critical, and ever-changing, element of business operations. In fact:
- One study projects a shortage of 2.1 million skilled manufacturing workers by 2030.
- A new report estimates that manufacturers will need 3.8 million new workers by 2033, with roughly 1.9 million of those positions potentially going unfilled if current labor gaps remain unsolved.
Any changes in this area – either positive or negative – will be critical to note.
Time for automation
With no certainty about the changes on the horizon, how can packaging manufacturing leaders prepare their organizations? They can turn to automation.
Automation can have a transformative effect on packaging manufacturers and help them tackle potential changes as they arrive. With automation, packaging manufacturers can:
- Increase efficiency: Automation streamlines production processes, reducing the time required to complete tasks. Machines can operate continuously without breaks, leading to higher production rates and shorter lead times.
- Reduce costs: Automated systems reduce labor costs by performing repetitive and labor-intensive tasks. This also minimizes the risk of human error, leading to fewer mistakes and lower costs associated with rework.
- Improve quality: Automation ensures consistent quality by maintaining precise control over production parameters. Automated inspection systems can detect defects and inconsistencies more accurately than manual inspections.
- Enhance safety: Automation reduces the need for human workers to perform dangerous tasks, improving workplace safety. Automated systems can handle hazardous materials and operate in environments that are unsafe for humans.
- Provide flexibility and adaptability: Automated systems can be quickly reprogrammed to adapt to changes in production requirements. This allows manufacturers to respond swiftly to market demands and easily customize products. It can be the best tool for handling unforeseen changes.
Automation can drive innovation and competitiveness, and give organizations a robust, scalable tool to handle unforeseen changes.
The right solution
Get one packaging solution to automate it all
Packaging manufacturers have a multitude of options when it comes to automation. But, as with any software, not all solutions are the same. Leaders must look for solutions that feature:
- Automatic 24/7 scheduling to help minimize bottlenecks and manual entry by automatically updating corrugator and truck schedules based on product changes or delays. Plans are automatically updated and continuously produce the most cost-effective schedules.
- Optimized productivity and enterprise-wide visibility, helping organizations manage multiple plants in a single system. It should streamline and centralize key processes, including costing, estimating, customer service, and scheduling.
- Actionable data to drive improvements and product quality. It must provide valuable insights with robust reporting capabilities to help organizations make accurate and timely decisions for process improvements.
- Enhanced tracking for increased throughput and reduced waste. These capabilities provide superior work-in-process and finished goods inventory management, which can help minimize loading errors and increase billing accuracy.
Organizations should also look for a trusted provider with extensive experience who can also serve as a strategic partner. This partner should continually develop forward-thinking solutions (including APIs, dashboards, capacity reservation, and more) to help organizations scale as the business grows. Because even if you don’t know exactly what changes are on the horizon, being proactive, embracing much-needed automation, and choosing the right software and strategic partner can help you be ready for whatever may come.
And, by doing so, they just might discover some unforeseen benefits as well!