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BPM gaining prominence in manufacturing

Ben Farrell
December 19, 2012

Product manufacturers are facing a period in which market changes are happening at a rapid pace, and it is often difficult to make adjustments to production lines in time to keep up with shifting conditions. As a result, many organizations are looking for ways to improve workflows so they can make better strategic decisions pertaining to production cycles. A recent Manufacturing Business Technology report said that traditional management tools can no longer keep up with ongoing industry trends, creating an environment in which business process management solutions are gaining a solid place in the industry.

Using BPM to improve manufacturing operations

According to the news source, using BPM software to improve manufacturing workflow allows organizations to gain a better hold on their business processes. This often involves modeling ideal practices, analyzing current operations and enabling employees to put process improvements into action on a day-to-day basis. Accomplishing process enhancement also allows manufacturers to better conform to operational standards. As a result, they can improve safety, comply with regulatory guidelines, reduce costs and increase productivity.

For manufacturers, processes do not stem solely from production. Instead, departments such as quality control, safety, maintenance and engineering all have different business processes that they have to complete, the report explained. Unifying these operations with production needs and general corporate goals can enable manufacturers to streamline all of their processes and improve functionality in a holistically.

Traditionally, manufacturing companies have used manufacturing execution systems and manufacturing operations management solutions to improve processes and operations. However, these solutions are not equipped to handle the pace of current needs or the collaboration necessary in the industry. As a result, BPM solutions are emerging as an end-to-end process solution that can meet the varied needs of organizations in the sector.

Considering BPM's broad influence on manufacturing

Specific process improvements play a major role in BPM's functionality in manufacturing. However, the broad implications of the technology are also important. BPM provides manufacturers with the ability to make every aspect of operations social. This makes manufacturing processes much more intuitive, and helps everything from supply chain management to production much more efficient. As a result, manufacturers can keep up with changing market conditions and create revenue opportunities. These gains are particularly important as economies are tight and manufacturers have to carefully control supply to ensure consistent product monetization.

Ben Farrell

Director of Corporate Communications

Ben Farrell