As we’ve seen in the past few weeks, just the mere mention of tariff increases on incoming foreign products has had negative effects on businesses relying on foreign materials. Not to mention, general cost increases that could branch off and affect production and distribution down the line.
Here are a few ways that Advantive’s range of manufacturing software can prepare you for an uncertain economic future, from helping to automate your business and manual workflow successfully, to pointing out and addressing any potential vulnerabilities.
- Automate your business. One unfortunate and unforeseen outcome of new economic regulations is the effect on the human side of things. Increased tariffs could potentially be quite expensive to both manufacturers and customers, leading to cut backs in business, including manpower. Whether you’re in automobile manufacturing or the food industry, your business ultimately relies on human beings, and a more automated business means less pressure on them to get the job done. That means an increase in safety, efficient workflow, and just a general uptick in employee morale. In addition, teaching your employees an updated & automated workflow is generally quick and painless. No more weeks of training; Advantive software can easily be learned in an afternoon, and even remotely!
- Keep your stock in check. All of these changing tariffs and regulations can be confusing and difficult to keep abreast of, much less implement into your business at the drop of a hat. Advantive software offers real-time visibility and updating capabilities, which means by the minute management of your inventory. No more relying on a manual count to check your supply, and no more waiting until end of the day for numbers to update. So in case a sudden order comes down the line, you won’t have to wait for the end of lunch or the weekend to wrap up to determine if there’s enough on hand to meet the surprise demand. A few clicks into a program like Parity Factory will tell you in real time what you’ve got.
- Be consistent during inconsistent times. Quality control is a key element for any manufacturer, and changing regulations can make maintaining it that much more difficult and expensive. Automating your business can ease that strain, streamlining your processes and cutting back on errors. Features such as Proplanner’s ability to swiftly adapt to ever-changing variables and allowing you to generate and compare scenarios, or VIA’s real-time sequencing and analytics, will help you keep the same level of quality that you and your customers have come to expect.
- Stay ahead of the curve. It’s impossible to predict the future, but you can certainly try to with automated planning & scheduling features. No more wasting time and manpower, preparing jobs by hand. Take the guesswork out of the equation and streamline your production with scheduling & sequencing features, perfectly honed to meet the specialized & complex needs of your business. Easy to use drag & drop abilities, predefined workflows, and side by side comparisons will help you plan for quicker & more efficient production, no matter the product. You’ll be more organized and therefore better equipped to combat any changes or vulnerabilities.
- Cut back on unnecessary waste, expensive recalls, and costly production mistakes. Squandered product due to things like overfill or human error are already a major headache for any manufacturer, but new economic regulations could easily add a significant amount of strain to your business’ quality control on top of that. Advantive software like Parity Factory, for example, can help reduce waste and manual labor by allowing you to track and manage your inventory in real time, from development to final stage, without the additional strain of physical manpower. A batch of perishable goods accidentally mislabeled? Find its precise location instantly, where it originated down to the customer. Sudden recall of goods? Track down the specific batch and recall within minutes, putting you well under the industry requirement of two hours maximum.
- Peace of mind. Added fees are already being seen in nearly every industry, and the last thing you need are additional costs as a result of any issues that may arise once you’ve shipped your product. A misplaced or damaged shipment is a nightmare for all of the parties involved, and Advantive software can ease some of that anxiety and stress. Efficient lot tracing, for example, is crucial for quality control in the food industries where product recalls sometimes arise. Knowing exactly where your product has ended up, whether it be one box or an entire pallet, can now be done in mere minutes.
No matter how the incoming tariffs are affecting your business, Advantive has you covered with solutions tailored for your industry and our unprecedented times. Reach out to Advantive for a demo today!