It’s no secret that manufacturers have experienced tremendous challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have faced supply chain disruptions, issues attracting and keeping workers, and rising customer expectations. As 2022 starts, manufacturing quality control is a big issue. Success in this area involves visibility and traceability throughout the entire supply chain.

Insights for Discrete Manufacturers 

IDC’s End-to-End Traceability in Discrete Manufacturing Report offered insights for discrete manufacturers. The following are some key points contained in the report to consider for your manufacturing business. 

1. Apply traceability throughout your entire supply chain.

According to IDC, only half the 140 discrete manufacturers surveyed have automated traceability, and 42% use manual processes. 

Manufacturers often need to comply with international quality control and traceability standards, which affects sourcing parts and materials. Traceability pinpoints all pertinent information for the materials used in the manufacturing process and distribution of finished goods. It tracks and traces everything throughout the supply chain. 

Tracking allows your team to see how each item moves from one part of the supply chain to the next. The process also includes how raw materials and parts move through the manufacturing process. Once the goods reach the manufacturing facility, tracking allows management to see where the inventory is located. It also indicates who has handled or worked with specific parts and how long it takes to turn them into a finished product. 

2. Enterprise application software can help you prevent problems.

Anticipating problems in advance and stopping them before they become an issue is better than dealing with them after the fact. Investing in digital tracing is a proactive approach to manufacturing quality control that will add value to your products and, ultimately, to your brand.

Enterprise application software is a tool that will give you complete visibility throughout your operation. Management will download a full history for a product on-demand, from the raw materials and parts used to finished goods. 

3. Traceability helps with manufacturing quality control during product recalls.

Product recalls are an unfortunate fact of life for manufacturers. When recalls occur, manufacturers must notify consumers quickly about what action the consumer needs to take. Product safety standards are crucial for manufacturing success. Consumers must have confidence that they are buying quality products or quickly take their business elsewhere.

Traceability helps to find issues early. It gives manufacturers the visibility they need to keep their processes running efficiently and demonstrate to consumers that they are a reliable supplier.

4. Traceability and visibility drive manufacturers toward digital transformation.

Traceability for discrete manufacturers means they must share real-time information with authorized users. They must adapt to digitize their data and processes.

Taking these steps puts manufacturers in an excellent position to fulfill their documentation, quality, and traceability requirements. Going digital means they have complete visibility in their operations, which allows the manufacturers to optimize their supply chain. Customer service will improve as a result.

Ultimately this process means that manufacturers will be better prepared to compete in a digital marketplace. 

Consult PositiveVision for Your Software Needs

The New Year presents opportunities as well as challenges for businesses. As a full-service accounting software consulting firm, PositiveVision is committed to helping small and mid-sized businesses put the right software in place to be more efficient and more profitable. Let us show you how easy it can be to leverage ERP technology and other business software solutions now to prepare for whatever comes in 2022. Talk to an accounting software consultant now.