The Information Technology (IT) Vocabulary Builder series aims to deliver a very concise summary of a currently relevant topic to Information Professionals.  It is done mostly by collecting a small number of highly relevant web links to save you the time of combing through search results yourself.  It differs from sites such as Wikipedia because it includes opinions, forecasts, and detractions in addition to just facts.

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Today, I would like to discuss the term, Manufacturing Intelligence.  It means different things to different professions, people, and parties.  It is intertwined with Information Technology in such a way that I believe that all Information Technology professionals need to be familiar with the concept and ready for its explosion.

This is how Wikipedia defines it:

Enterprise Manufacturing Intelligence (EMI), or simply Manufacturing Intelligence (MI), is a term which applies to software used to bring a corporation’s manufacturing-related data together from many sources for the purposes of reporting, analysis, visual summaries, and passing data between enterprise-level and plant-floor systems. As data is combined from multiple sources, it can be given a new structure or context that will help users find what they need regardless of where it came from. The primary goal is to turn large amounts of manufacturing data into real knowledge and drive business results based on that knowledge.

Automation World has a great quote in their explanation that adds real insight into the concept.

There are two important things to note about implementing Manufacturing Intelligence: 1) It is not something you can “buy” in a software product; 2) It is not a standard or a defined technology. Manufacturing Intelligence is more a strategy or way of defining and approaching solutions to problems and opportunities. However, a well-designed strategy will use software products that can make the adherence to standards and application of specific technologies easier.

The critical idea is that with quicker, more accurate, more timely, more complete information about your manufacturing process, you can make decisions faster, in a more timely manner, and with significantly less risk.  It is closely akin to other Enterprise Knowledge Management and Data Mining initiatives that we have discussed before.

Here are some recommended sites for further reading on this dynamic topic:

  • Wikipedia – Enterprise manufacturing intelligence
  • AutomationWorld – Manufacturing Intelligence Not a Buzzword in Manufacturing Software
  • Managing Automation – Manufacturing Intelligence (MI) News, products, and resources
  • SAP – Manufacturing Intelligence Using Intelligence Dashboards

Beyond dashboards, data storage, knowledge management, and databases information technology is an integral part of the burgeoning focus on manufacturing intelligence.  Though many may try, I suggest that you cannot have world class manufacturing intelligence without ninja class information technology systems and people.

Do you have experience with implementing, market research, or product development in support of manufacturing intelligence?  Is your enterprise using or thinking of installing a program to accomplish it?  Do you know of any case studies associated with the IT portion of it?  Please share with us.

That is my Information Technology Thought of the Day (ITTOD) for November 24, 2009 ©Scott Coughlin.

Image Credit: Link Notes

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