You've invested in state-of-the-art manufacturing business software and IoT sensors to monitor everything from equipment to forklifts. The sensors collect data on everything from machine vibrations to temperature fluctuations. Your operations team is excited about the possibilities. But three months later, you're drowning in data with little to show for it. Sound familiar?

If you're nodding along, you're not alone. Many manufacturers fall into the "IoT trap", believing that simply connecting devices will magically transform their operations. The reality? IoT is just the beginning of the story. The real magic happens when you pair it with the right manufacturing business software, such as a manufacturing ERP system that not only handles the data but turns it into actionable insights.

IoT: Unprecedented Visibility Across Operations

Those sensors and connected devices scattered throughout your factory provide constant monitoring that was unthinkable just a decade ago. Not only do they capture machine performance, but they also capture environmental data that can impact product quality. They monitor equipment, predicting when they might need maintenance. Even inventory levels are monitored more easily, helping you keep stock counts up to date.

This isn’t your grandfather’s manufacturing plant that relied on workers armed only with clipboards and well-worn pencils to keep count of everything. It’s a precision-based symphony of data, captured through sensors that never sleep.

Data Without Purpose Is Just Data

Here's where things get messy. All those sensors are chattering away, generating massive amounts of data. Without proper coordination, you end up with information silos everywhere. Your inventory sensors talk to one system, production monitors feed into another, and quality control data lives in a third. When data is scattered across multiple platforms, making quick decisions becomes nearly impossible. By the time you've gathered information from five different sources, the opportunity has passed. Instead of automating processes, you've often just created more work for your team as someone still needs to collect, compile, and interpret all this data.

Manufacturing Business Software: Transform Data Into Insights

This is where manufacturing business software, such as ERP systems, comes into play. They bring individual data streams together into a harmonious, actionable system. When you integrate IoT with a solid manufacturing ERP platform, everything connects seamlessly. That sensor detecting low inventory doesn't just send an alert, it automatically triggers a purchase order, updates your production schedule, and notifies your supplier.

Instead of waiting for weekly reports or update meetings, you can make real-time decisions. You can check inventory from an app. Automated workflows eliminate the manual data entry your team was doing. When a machine hits a maintenance threshold, the system can automatically schedule downtime, order parts, and adjust production schedules without human intervention.

Manufacturing Business Software Changes Everything

Manufacturing business software, including ERP and IoT integration, is more than just data organization. It brings order out of disparate data silos and provides reports that enable action. It synchronizes data, too, so that decisions can be made in real-time. And, no matter where the data comes from - warehouse, purchasing, sales - it’s available through one dashboard. 

A manufacturing ERP helps you become proactive instead of reacting to changing business conditions. Using the data from your ERP, you may notice things more quickly. Little things, like a data blip from one of your machines, may be picked up on more quickly, prompting a service call that can save costly downtime. Compliance is easier when everything is tracked and documented automatically, making audit season far less stressful.

Choosing the Right ERP Platform

Not all ERPs are made equal. Manufacturing ERPs differ from general ERPs in that they are created with manufacturing’s unique needs in mind. This includes the ability to integrate with other systems and receive data from multiple sources. If you’re a manufacturer, you need systems capable of integrating multiple data streams easily and capable of producing data and reports that support supply chain, inventory management, and other key areas.

From Overwhelming Data to Strategic Action

IoT offers so much potential. However, the data produced by all the interconnected devices can be overwhelming. It reminds me of the early days of supermarket scanners. Supermarket chains quickly realized they had tons of data, but little of it was useful. They could tell how many gallons of whole milk were sold by store and date, but they couldn’t tell whether you preferred whole milk or skim. Later on, with the introduction of store shopper cards and better analytics software, they were able to use all that data to provide better sales and personalized coupons, both of which helped improve sales. But before that? Lots of data, little of it useful. 

Now with IoT, we have the data, and with ERPs and manufacturing business software, we have the tools to use it. Real-time data, action-packed insights, and proactive strategies for manufacturers that can help contain costs and improve productivity. What could be better?

Positive Vision

Positive Vision is a Chicago-area ERP consulting firm with experience helping businesses choose the right manufacturing software. Contact us to speak to one of our product experts about a customized solution today.

Robert Baran

Robert Baran is the founder and President of PositiveVision. He has worked in a variety of positions including system analyst, computer consultant and programmer, project manager, and division manager.