Global lockdowns, supply chain breakdowns, and low employment levels have all combined to move the manufacturing industry into its current phase. With an emphasis on resiliency, sustainability, agility, and above all, employee health and safety, manufacturers must adopt new procedures and strategies, or risk being displaced by more agile competitors. 

Fortunately, one factor can help optimize and support all of these goals — accessible communication on the manufacturing floor that is both reliable and accessible. In fact, in one survey, 86% of those responding believed that ineffective communication was directly responsible for failures in the workplace. 

Poor communication is often the reason for production holdups and missed deadlines, a factor that not only impacts manufacturing revenue, but can also interfere with customer satisfaction and affect reviews and brand trustworthiness. Fortunately, having a strong Managed IT partner can help manufacturers alleviate their communication issues and optimize production for greater revenues and a better competitive posture. 

Problems on the Manufacturing Floor? Managed IT Can Help 

In any industry a breakdown in communication can quickly impact productivity and even safety. In the world of manufacturing, this problem can be even more pervasive if not faced head-on:

Problem: Disconnect Between Management and Production Staff

The nature of a manufacturing operation means that management and production staff are often separated by a physical barrier. Front line staff are on the production floor, while management typically occupies office space elsewhere. These disparate quarters can result in employee disengagement which not only affect retention but can also impact production numbers and quality over time. 

Problem: Irregular Communication

To make real changes in your corporate culture, an effective communications policy must begin at the top and flow down. Senior management must be willing to engage with supervisors on the factory floor each and every time a key performance indicator is lagging. In turn, these supervisors should be encouraged to share information with production line workers who should have means to communicate effective solutions where they see issues arise. 

Problem: One-Way Communication

Communication should be a two-way street where the emphasis is on connecting rather than correcting. Regular communication among colleagues and between various members of a team — from C-Suite through mid-management, supervisors, and employees provides a voice for everyone. When employees at all levels know that their voices are being heard, it stimulates a more positive corporate culture that supports problem-solving.

How Managed IT Can Assist 

All these problems are easily solvable with the right communications system — one that is supported by leading edge IT. While one size does not fit all, there are a few solutions that work well in the manufacturing world.

The right IT environment can provide all the essential elements to foster company-wide communication with a low cost to implement. For example, providing all employees access to real-time company or factory floor updates can help keep teams apprised of issues or changes all at the same time. If you add collaboration software to the mix, you can keep better track of production and identify — and alleviate — bottlenecks.

For two-way communication, consider implementing instant messaging services where employees can respond from their mobile phone rather than having to access a central PC on the factory floor. And of course, security and equipment uptime is essential — two things that are easily managed with the help of a third party service provider with clear knowledge managing a complex IT environment. 

Blue Technologies — For All Your Managed IT Needs

Managing your IT environment can be an extremely complex and hard to navigate task — particularly if you have a small or overburdened IT department. At Blue Technologies, our team of IT experts has knowledge that spans every aspect of IT management — from cloud-based unified communications to leading-edge applications and software. Additionally, we offer smart, cost-effective ways to optimize your IT environment, including highly trained staff that can keep your important systems up and running with routine maintenance, monitoring, and troubleshooting and repair. 

Partnering with us can help you connect your staff — those that are in-house, on the factory floor, and even those that a geographically diverse. With a comprehensive, optimized IT environment you can respond quicker to customers, business partners, and situations arising in production for better performance, quality, productivity — and a healthier bottom line. 

Connect your team efficiently with the right Managed IT solution. Contact a Blue Technologies consultant to learn more about our wide range of services and technologies.