Public and private sector enterprises have always been in pursuit of ideas that ensure more efficiencyand flexibility, qualities that have a direct effective on both profitability and performance. As wireless networking moves into the mainstream, many organizations find that the addition of mobile network components offers unmatched business benefits, both direct and indirect.
Mobile solutions enhance the connectedness of a workforce and decision-making by providingfaster access to more current information. They are easier to maintain and configure, reducing the need for IT staff.
Indirectly, mobile solutions significantly improve worker satisfaction by providing easier, more flexible access options, introducing new, “cutting edge” mechanisms for customer interaction.
The addition of wireless or mobile technology can lead to more efficient workflow, enhance productivity and improve communications in a particular business scenario.In the case of an aerospace production facility,involved in the remanufacture of aircraft engines. Engines arrive at the facility, arelogged in, and disassembled. Some parts are replaced, others are refurbished and the engines are reassembled and sold as factory-overhauled products.
On the shop floor, workers use light pens to read and enter data on progress, parts used and time worked, uploading the information via a hardwired network. ThisProcess efficiency is heavily dependent on real-time information flow; parts can be physically moved many times between download cycles, when workers feed the information from their scanners to the data collection system. That’s countless hours wasted searching for the right part.
Data verification can also be a problem, since workers have no way to verify the accuracy of their information at the time of data entry.
Benefits of a Mobile Solution
Moving to a wireless infrastructure would let the facility establish two-way data movement and continuous information flow, speeding upcommunications, eliminating the lag between data entry and upload and letting the workers keep on top of day-to-day business from the production floor.
It would also simplify the inventory process,replacing a paper-based system with a more secure wireless approach. The facility could add wireless bar code readers and – to provide even greater mobility and allow for real-time transactions – handheld computers could be added to the mix.
Business Benefits thus accrued would include:
• Increased productivity through real-time tracking of the parts and labour associated with each order, with verification at the time of data entry
• Improved communications with control personnel, who can remain on the production floor without being out of reach
• More accurate analysis of product costs,with better tracking of labour details against work orders
• Significant reduction in parts’ retrieval time
Mohnish Mohan is a Chief Product Officer for the firm Product Works Inc. Mohnish Mohan has been a thumbs up for his investment initiative to fund and build applications and services that delivers on the promises of the social web.