As technological advancements continue, manufacturers turn to digital transformation to streamline processes and stay ahead of changing market demands. As outlined in a recent NAM survey, “approximately 15% expect to have their manufacturing operations digitized end-to-end by 2026.” But the journey to digital transformation success isn’t always smooth. Digital transformation consulting can move the process forward toward maximum ROI and bottom-line results.
Understanding Digital Transformation in Manufacturing
For manufacturing, digital transformation seeks to incorporate digital technologies across their operations. This can entail many areas of the business, including improving production processes, optimizing warehouse operations, and improving customer satisfaction. The goal is to create a more efficient, data-driven company.
Digital Transformation Checklist
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Why Digital Transformation Matters
Digital transformation in manufacturing improves performance by streamlining operations, reducing waste and boosting productivity. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, robotics and automation, machine learning and the Internet of Things (IoT) are reshaping the industry to improve quality, enhance efficiency and flexible production processes.
Plus, leveraging advanced analytics helps manufacturers make informed decisions based on real-time data, optimizing process improvement. These technologies also enable manufacturers to react quickly to changes in the marketplace, positioning them to maintain a competitive edge.
Successful digital transformation can be difficult and involves risk including potential disruptions to operations and data security concerns. By outsourcing their transformation project to a digital transformation consulting firm, manufacturers can focus on their core business operations and ensure that they continue to deliver value to customers while evolving their business.
Digital transformation consulting firms bring specialized knowledge and experience. The right consultant understands manufacturing industry best practices and have a proven track record of successfully guiding manufacturers through the complexities of adopting new technologies.
Digital Transformation Consulting: Ultra's Role
Ultra Consultants has decades of experience guiding manufacturers through their digital transformation journeys. Our digital transformation services provide actionable insights to make your vision a reality.
1. Comprehensive Assessment and Strategy Development
To get started with any digital transformation, it’s important to examine the current state of your business operations. It’s not a good idea to focus on a solution until you’ve thoroughly examined the problem.
Ultra Consultants performs an in-depth evaluation to identify areas for improvement and create strategies to maximize your company’s potential. This process ensures that your digital transformation initiatives extend beyond simple technology upgrades and actually result in bottom-line benefits including:
- Reduced Costs
- Higher Efficiency
- Increased Data Visibility
- Better Regulation Compliance
Importantly, by beginning with business process improvement (BPI), your company can correctly identify the best software and technology solutions to help you move from where you are now, to where you want to be in the future.
2. Selecting and Implementing Technology Solutions
With so many software vendors in the marketplace, it can be difficult for manufacturers to select the right system for their unique requirements. Ultra Consultants’ digital transformation consultants offer advisory services to narrow the field, zeroing in on the solutions that address how your business operates as you move from the current state to your future vision.
Ultra Consultants assists manufacturers select and implement solutions that align with their objectives. Our services include:
Technology assessment: We do the legwork for you. Our research provides an in-depth overview of qualified vendors and the capabilities of their solutions.
Vendor Qualification: Using your requirements and future state vision as a guide, we hold potential vendors accountable during the demo process to show how they’ll address your business drivers and enable future business performance improvement.
Due Diligence: We check vendor references, evaluate implementation strategies, analyze TCO, and help you through contract negotiation to maximize your investment.
Ultra also provides end to end support during implementation. Modern digital technologies, such as ERP systems, can be complex and difficult to implement. Our experienced implementation project managers keep your project on track for a successful digital transformation.
We complement your team in all critical focus areas of the ERP software project, including:
- ERP project management
- Configuring the future state
- Testing the system with your end-users
- ERP data conversion
- Driving performance improvements
If you’ve already begun an implementation and realize that the project is not progressing to plan, Ultra can help get your implementation back on track. We bring a fresh perspective, aligning the technology, implementation partner and your team to chart a new path forward.
3. Change Management and Training
An often-overlooked challenge with digital transformation is managing change. Ultra provides a structured, end to end approach to change management to facilitate a successful deployment of digital transformation efforts.
Leadership Alignment: Ensure executive buy-in and involvement in program direction
Change Readiness Assessment: Engage stakeholders and ensure they’re ready for change
Communication Planning: Communicate to all stakeholders—employees, officers and department heads—throughout the project to clearly explain the business goals behind the change as well as benefits to individuals, departments and the company as a whole. The communication plan also includes establishing feedback channels to solicit input and feedback as the project progresses.
Training & Support Programs: Train associates on the new technology and processes to ease the transition.
By following Ultra’s proven change management methodology, our team can help you navigate change and prepare for your future state.
Ready to start your digital transformation journey?
Overcoming Common Challenges in Digital Transformation
Digital technology investments can bring business value across your organization. But manufacturers often experience obstacles once their projects are underway. Ultra Consultants has extensive experience helping businesses overcome these challenges effectively.
“It was important for us to team up with experts who created an overall plan and were able to identify potential risks – and mitigate those risks before they could become obstacles that could disrupt the flow of the project.”
1. Integration of Legacy Systems
Even with a range of disparate legacy systems—ERP, MES, WMS, PLM—Ultra Consultants can assist in creating integration strategies to allow your legacy systems to operate along with new technology solutions, minimizing disruptions to your operations.
2. Data Migration Concerns
Often during digital transformation projects, data must be moved from legacy systems to new digital technologies. Ultra Consultants can advise clients on best practices for data migration as part of our project management services.
- Data conversion planning
- Data mapping from the current system to the new system
- Data migration, both exporting and importing
- Managing data cleansing activities
- Quality assurance
3. Measuring Success and ROI
Digital transformation involves investment of your company’s resources. It’s important to evaluate your digital transformation initiatives by establishing key performance indicators (KPIs). Ultra Consultants leverages data to help manufacturers track KPIs from cost savings, efficiency improvements and productivity gains to measure progress toward digital transformation goals.
Case Studies: Success Through Digital Transformation Consulting
Here are two customer success stories illustrating real results from Ultra’s digital transformation consulting services for manufacturing:
Case Study 1: Snack Food Manufacturer
A leading snack food manufacturer struggled to manage its operations using legacy software systems and inefficient processes. Ultra Consultants helped them standardize business processes across all locations, select the right ERP to meet their requirements, and complete a successful implementation to gain these benefits:
- 70% improvement in inventory tracking
- 50% time savings accessing data, especially recall info and product history
- 50% reduction in manual processing
Case Study 2: Machining Company
A make-to-order machining company relied on paper-based systems and legacy software requiring redundant data entry. Ultra led the company through a digital transformation strategy to eliminate manual systems and data management, achieving these results:
- 40 percent improvement in reporting
- Elimination of data manipulation within the shop
- Reduction of hours required per order from two hours to two minutes
- Improved shipping execution
- Automated planning and scheduling replaced manual systems
The Path Forward: Partnering with Ultra Consultants
Digital transformation isn’t a one-time project. Beyond simply implementing new technology, it requires systematic review of business processes. This is a process that demands on-going continuous improvement.
Leveraging a digital transformation consulting firm, like Ultra Consultants, can make all the difference in ensuring your digital transformation project is a success. By leveraging Ultra’s decades of experience helping manufacturers select and implement new technologies while optimizing business processes, you can meet today’s challenges head-on and position your company for sustainable growth.
If your company is ready to start your digital transformation journey, contact the Ultra team. Let’s work together on tailored digital strategies to meet your unique needs and drives real results for your bottom line.
