Manufacturing automation is the use of technology to streamline production, reducing errors and increasing output. Discover how it transforms industries and drives success.
Manufacturers today are navigating complex challenges, from shifting supply chains to the growing demand for sustainable practices. Staying competitive requires innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and leverage technology for smarter, faster decision-making.
Obstacles like data silos, outdated workflows, and limited transparency can hinder productivity. In an increasingly agile and tech-driven market, overcoming these barriers is essential to meet evolving demands while driving growth and sustainability.
The manufacturers leading the way are those that embrace change, adapt quickly, and streamline their operations. They don’t just keep pace—they set new standards for success, proving that with the right strategies, growth and innovation go hand in hand.
Drivers and Impacts of Inefficiency
A primary driver of inefficiency in many manufacturing organizations are error-prone manual workflows from back office to production floor to shipping. Poor data management and endless manual paperwork mean that at every step where data has to be communicated or translated, there is another entry point for human error.
These manual workflows are not only error-prone, they are often slow and create accountability challenges. Without comprehensive in-house inventory or supply data, production can find itself halted due to lack of materials and delays in sourcing. When the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing, there is no transparency internally (to the team) or externally (to the customer) where in production an order is, efforts are duplicated, while other tasks slip through the cracks.
Manufacturing automations are necessary to create an efficient production pipeline, reduce errors, and increase transparency and accountability.
Automation Drives Efficiency in Manufacturing
So how do you go from manual or inefficient processes to using technology to transform your organization? Implement tools that can unite the back office, production floor, and shipping departments to give your business the single pane of glass needed to fully track supply, order, and production data. Using a platform like Claris, organizations can craft solutions as unique as their business, that support seamless movement through every step in the workflow, all while gathering and reporting on key business metrics. By creating a custom Claris FileMaker solution, you never pay for out-of-box features that don’t fit your business, while maximizing visibility and efficiency at every level. A customized fit also means easier pivots and entries into new lines of business for unprecedented scalability.
Unification of tools across the organization means that the left and right hands will always know what the other is doing, reducing/eliminating errors and drastically increasing customer satisfaction through increased speed to fulfilment and order status transparency. When a data change is made anywhere in the pipeline that can immediately be seen by every department, your business can seamlessly react and adapt. Real-time information reflected in mobile-friendly apps allow organizations to accomplish work faster, more efficiently, and innovate in fresh new ways.
Productivity Drives the Customer Experience
Automation also helps manufacturers do more than survive the boom and bust economic cycles and smooth out internal production challenges, it also helps achieve one of the most imperative initiatives – customer satisfaction. Amazon has set a high bar that customers have come to expect in regards to speed and transparency when they order products. From order placement all the way to the doorstep, customers want to be able to see what’s happening. When organizations rely on outdated workflows heavy on paperwork and light on transparency, they risk alienating customers and failing to foster those strong relationships. Claris FileMaker-driven solutions allow you to build customer experiences that meet and achieve this higher bar of transparency and speed.
Read more: Integrating Google Maps into Claris FileMaker | Codence
But What is Manufacturing Automation?
Manufacturing automation leverages advanced technology, machines, and software to streamline production with minimal human input. By automating repetitive or complex tasks, businesses can achieve greater efficiency, reduce errors, and lower costs.
Automation is reshaping industries. Automotive manufacturers depend on robotic arms for precise, high-speed assembly. Food and beverage companies use automated packaging systems to manage large-scale operations seamlessly. In pharmaceuticals, automation ensures accuracy in critical processes like pill sorting and labeling, meeting strict regulations while boosting productivity.
With tailored automation solutions, businesses can enhance performance, drive growth, and maintain a competitive edge.
Types of Manufacturing Automation
Manufacturing automation offers a range of tailored solutions to meet diverse production needs. Here’s a quick look at the key types, designed to drive efficiency and support your business growth.
- Fixed automation: best for high-volume, repetitive production. Examples include car assembly lines and bottling plants;
- Programmable automation: suitable for batch production where tasks change periodically. CNC machines and injection molding systems are prime examples;
- Flexible automation: ideal for low-volume, high-mix production. Robotic arms and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) adapt quickly to different tasks;
- Integrated automation: combines machines, software, and processes into a unified system. Often seen in smart factories, it uses IoT and AI to optimize the entire production flow;
- Industrial robotics: robots programmed for specific tasks like welding, painting, or packaging, improving speed and precision;
- Autonomous automation: leverages AI and machine learning to make decisions in real time. Used in quality control systems to identify and correct defects on the fly.
By understanding these types, manufacturers can confidently choose the right approach to boost efficiency, ensure quality, and stay agile in meeting evolving demands.
Benefits of Manufacturing Automation
Manufacturing automation brings a range of benefits that help businesses stay competitive and efficient in an evolving market. By automating the manufacturing processes, companies can significantly increase productivity since machines can operate continuously without breaks, producing more in less time. Automation also reduces costs by minimizing manual labor and optimizing the use of resources, which helps to cut down on waste.
Another advantage is improved quality. Automated systems ensure products are consistent and precise, which means fewer defects and higher standards across the board. With faster production cycles, manufacturers can respond quickly to changes in demand, getting their products to market much more efficiently.
On top of all this, modern automation systems generate real-time data that manufacturers can use to optimize processes and make smarter decisions. Many automated systems are also designed to be more energy-efficient, which supports sustainability efforts by reducing material waste and lowering energy consumption.
Codence Can Help
Here at Codence, we are a team of Claris specialists, Interface designers, analytics experts, and finance gurus dedicated to creating custom-crafted solutions for your business. With a Codence-built FileMaker solution, you will finally be able to see all your data, workflows, and accounting in one place, and reach manufacturing efficiency levels like never before. Automate and activate your manufacturing business, achieve new levels of productivity, and discover what new heights you can soar to!
Production Streamlining Example
Codence partnered with a leading manufacturer of electronic components for aircraft, spacecraft, and satellites to transform their production tracking system.
The client’s outdated manual processes—paper job sheets and plastic envelopes—slowed operations and reduced transparency. Codence developed an iPad-based application integrated with a central database, enabling workers to scan barcodes for job check-ins and check-outs, access schematics instantly, and track production stages in real time.
The impact was significant: a 25-30% increase in production throughput, $15,000+ in annual labor savings, higher employee productivity, and real-time order updates for the sales team. These improvements streamlined operations and boosted efficiency.
Read the full case study to learn more!
Future of Manufacturing Automation
Manufacturing automation is evolving through innovation, adaptability, and sustainability. By leveraging AI, IoT, and robotics, manufacturers are streamlining operations, enhancing flexibility, and meeting the growing need for efficiency and eco-friendly solutions. These advancements empower businesses to stay competitive and drive growth with smarter, more sustainable practices.
Ready to take your operations to the next level? Connect with Codence specialists for a free consultation and explore how automation can transform your manufacturing processes. Request your consultation today.
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