Managing the Cultural Impact of Industry 4.0 in Manufacturing
06/03/2020 Epicor Software
Andy Coussins, senior vice president and head of international at Epicor SoftwareThe success of digital transformation isn't just about investing in the right technology. As with any large-scale project-€â€from a change in working location to a company merger-€â€the impact on the people involved needs to be a key consideration when putting a strategy and implementation plan in place. However, in a bid to keep up with the latest technology trends, manufacturers could be shooting themselves in the foot by not addressing change management and cultural aspects from the outset.
In fact, recent research has found that only a quarter (26 percent) of businesses consider change management strategies to be an important part of the move towards Industry 4.0 and the connected enterprise. This suggests that a large proportion of manufacturers are not putting steps in place to manage the impact of such a change on corporate culture, which could affect the ultimate success of any digital transformation project.
Six steps to success
Despite pressure on businesses and individuals to remain at the cutting edge, no one wants to be an early adopter and get it wrong. A recent report from Deloitte into Industry 4.0 readiness found that even in today's technology-driven world, senior executives are not as prepared as they think they are to reap rewards from digital transformation.
"Faced with an ever-increasing array of new technologies, leaders acknowledged they have too many options from which to choose and, in some cases, they lack the strategic vision to help guide their efforts. Organisational influences also challenge leaders as they seek to navigate Industry 4.0. Many leaders reported their companies don't follow clearly defined decision-making processes, and organisational silos limit their ability to develop and share knowledge to determine effective strategies."
To make Industry 4.0 a success, no matter how big or small the change, manufacturers need to put key measures in place to manage the transition. This includes undertaking the necessary groundwork to ensure that whatever technology businesses invest in, they can get the best out of it.
· Step one-€â€Be realistic
· Step two-€â€Get stakeholders on board
· Step three-€â€Keep talking
· Step four-€â€Factor in ongoing training and support
· Step five-€â€Take your time
· Step six-€â€Undertake regular reviews
For more information, please visit: www.epicor.com
Print this articleShare article:
Process and Control Today are not responsible for the content of submitted or externally produced articles and images. Click here to email us about any errors or omissions contained within this article.