5 Benefits To A Plant Information Management System
Managing a plant is never easy, and that is because there is always a variety of things going on at the same time. You can embrace technology and implement a plant information management system (PIMS) which provides you with more data at your fingertips.
Note: PIMS are used to collect data and make charts, reports, and KPIs. MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) are used to automate tasks and close the loop with your ERP.
Understanding the benefits to a plant information management system can make it easier to decide that you want to make an upgrade.
Make More Effective Decisions
With a plant information management system in place, you will have the ability to see more clearly. At anytime, anywhere, you can receive accurate information in real-time throughout your plant. This will allow you to make more effective decisions regarding operations because of having more information at your fingertips.
If you have ever had to guess about production, standards, labor, or anything else because of not having your report, this can be eliminated in the future by being able to tap into the information in an effective way.
Reduce Blind Spots
Blind spots occur in industrial plants each and every day. The problem with this is that a blind spot can lead to an injury, a safety incident, or a catastrophe of various levels. You want to reduce your blind spots and this can be done by having a higher level of visibility of what’s going on with the various systems.
Industrial controls can even be implemented so you know more about each system. This can tell you about inventory levels so you know if ordering needs to be increased, or tell you about HVAC activity so as to make changes to energy usage, and much more.
Avoid Surprises
Surprises are rarely a good thing, particularly when it comes to plant management. You want to be able to analyze data that has been collected. Software can help with the analysis and make predictions as to what will happen. This will allow you to know in advance when equipment is likely to fail or when plant operations are going to increase or decrease. Having more information available to you will make it easier to respond in the best possible way.
You can prepare your employees, obtain the necessary equipment, and be ready for anything if you are well informed of what is going on. You don’t have to depend solely on your employees to feed information to you. A significant amount can be automated and managed within your plant as a result of modern technology.
Become More Profitable
When you have a well-managed plant in place, you have the ability to increase productivity and profitability. This is because everything will be running more efficiently, productivity will be up, and there will be a reduced chance of accidents happening.
You can plan for the future and optimize every aspect of your operations. Furthermore, the information management system will continue to evolve with your business and meet your needs throughout the years as you grow.
Good Manufacturing Practices, Inc., (GMP) is a full-service control system engineering, system integrator, industrial controls, and automation solutions provider. Experience the GMP difference. Contact GMP to discuss your automation needs and control system improvements.
