Webalo reviews the key takeaways from the Gartner supply chain symposium/expo in June and September 2022, highlighting how  manufacturers can advance their supply chain optimization, smart manufacturing, and workforce management! 

In manufacturing, the frontline is responsible for executing tasks and following clear guidelines and SOPs. 

While doing so, they use their experience and judgement to ensure results are compliant with intended specifications and work instructions. Manufacturing operations evolve to incorporate more digital tech equipment like IIoT sensors, automation, and robotics. As it becomes more normalized to use advanced IT tools to extract manufacturing data, the frontline and the decisions they make on a day-to-day and minute-to-minute basis will play a key role in ensuring that optimal results are obtained from digital transformation and automation efforts.

Digital Transformation has increasingly become the top priority for leaders the world over. It has become a main pillar of operations strategy and has gained momentum ever since the COVID pandemic hit in 2020. What is less evident though is the fact that digital transformation is far more than just the adoption of automation and new technology. It is really about people and their improved/enhanced/augmented interaction with data: the ability to gather more data faster; manipulate and utilize that data from all incoming and available data streams in the right context with a connected workforce; and allow this digitally-transformed workforce to use this data through the right platforms to perform better, to generate better business and operational results.