Benefits of Low Code in Manufacturing

In the manufacturing industry, there is an increasing shift towards digital transformation. Many leaders have benefited from adopting Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, and Additive Manufacturing innovations.

Industry 4.0 has dramatically changed manufacturing, and the results are being felt across the board. Increasing numbers of manufacturers are using mobile devices, IoT, data analytics, the cloud, and more. By using modern technologies, companies are achieving greater efficiencies and lowering costs.

Organizations have realized that low-code software development has several advantages. Engineers can create applications that address manufacturing problems. Experienced developers can focus on urgent tasks as employees can independently create solutions. IT teams and business users can also collaborate on low-code projects.

Build Low-Code Manufacturing Apps

Low-code development is critical for improving manufacturers’ performance, production, and input. Large companies are already using technology, machine learning, and Artificial Intelligence.

However, due to costs and logistics smaller companies are slower to adopt smart manufacturing tools. Low-code offers them the opportunity to gain ground on their larger competitors. Here are some ways how low-code can improve the manufacturing industry.

Faster Development Cycles and Greater Agility: Shorter development cycles increase a company's agility. Enterprises can automate almost any process with less effort, respond to changes in product demand, and develop new products rapidly.

Integrates with Legacy Systems and New Technology: Low-code platforms are often compatible with legacy systems and new technologies. Manufacturers can use low-code tools to bring older systems up to speed with the rest of the industry.

Build Applications without Needing to Hire External Help: Low-code platforms enable companies to develop and test software themselves. This means they don’t need to hire outside consultants which saves manufacturers time, money, and energy.

Low-code is an essential part of the movement towards smart manufacturing. According to recent research, 80% of companies see smart manufacturing as a key contributor to their future success.

More Accessible App Creation for Citizen Developers: Companies have found that citizen developers come from various departments. Business analysts, who spend most of their time working with Excel and BI tools, find low-code platforms easy to learn. Industrial engineers who are well-schooled in model-driven development also find low-code tools to be easily accessible.

Improves Efficiency and Accelerates Innovation: Manufacturers build low-code applications to enhance logistics, inventory management, and supply and operations planning. Business users are also creating applications that offer insights that support decision-making. By developing applications for field services and core business use, it helps transform factories into digital enterprises.

Resource Management in manufacturing typically involves the use of an ERP system to plan the effective use of resources. While Enterprise Resource Planning Systems are an improvement over MRP II systems, they do have limitations.

A Low-Code ERP System: To upgrade an ERP system typically requires hand-coding. In many cases, companies need to enlist the help of an outside consultant. Changes made to an ERP force updates to a company's reports and workflows. Gartner, Forrester, and others support a more user-friendly ERP, a faster, more digital approach that accelerates application development.

Modern cloud-based ERPs use a "clicks not code" approach. Using point-and-click and drag-and-drop tools, factory workers can develop powerful, user-friendly applications. ERP systems built on low-code platforms are graphical and modular. This means users can make changes themselves without increasing IT workloads.

More Tailored Options: Low-code platforms have built-in controls and security features. Unlike older ERP systems, companies can benefit from upgrades and new releases. Low-code ERP systems have business logic built-in and customizable modules and features.

Low-code ERP systems minimize the need to code by hand. Users can easily create applications that make business processes and workflows more efficient. This means they can actually focus on what they need to see on their screen to get their work done.

There are several low-code and no-code use cases for manufacturing. Here are examples of some of the most important. In the manufacturing industry, machines are usually connected together. If one machine has an error, it will affect the others.

A dashboard application for managers can be used to monitor the entire manufacturing process. If one machine experiences a malfunction, the application sends an alert to other systems. An analytics-based dashboard application provides meaningful insights to improve production and effectively allocate materials and the workforce.

Paper instructions can be difficult to understand and follow. They are also not interactive and can make work tedious. A low-code visual work instruction application can be used to train employees on how to operate manufacturing systems. Visually interactive videos showing different scenarios and use cases could improve employee familiarization.

Quality control is critical in the manufacturing industry because substandard products can damage a company's reputation. With a quality control application, the quality of raw materials and production processes can be monitored with tickets that signal defects. Inspection reports can be generated and sent immediately to stakeholders to provide an overview of the manufacturing process.

Creating Customizable Mobile Solutions

Many manufacturers have realized that mobile applications have several benefits, such as streamlining communication and sharing information. Off-the-shelf applications like Salesforce and Dropbox make manufacturers' work more efficient. Perhaps the greatest benefit, however, comes from developing applications that can be customized.

Using low-code application development, manufacturers can create customized solutions that meet their specific needs. For example, shop floor workers can develop apps to turn machines on and off while providing material flow analysis. Many companies use Alpha TransForm to develop mobile applications that help field workers to complete tasks without a Wi-Fi signal.

The Industry 4.0 revolution is enabling stronger communication between managers and workers in the factory. It also creates a fluid exchange of information between manufacturing plants and their external suppliers, distributors, and customers. Digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Industrial IoT, and Digital Twin are playing a crucial role in this revolution.

However, the demands of Industry 4.0 are making some manufacturers wary of adopting these technologies. This is where low-code offers immense value. It is relatively easy to learn and connects people, processes, and machines. Rapid Application Development is a driving force that enables connectivity between manufacturing plants and customer sites.

Low-Code's Contribution to Creating Smart Factories

Low-code with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning has improved back-office operations by strengthening the connection between core systems. They allow companies to use data from these systems to create insightful analytics. This information is then used to improve operations and drive business results.

Manufacturers use low-code platforms because the initial cost of setting up, deploying, maintaining, and training applications is lower. This is especially beneficial for small and medium-sized businesses. These companies want results but may not have the resources, budget, or in-house expertise to undertake a comprehensive digital transformation.

Low-code platforms also integrate easily with ERPs, MESs, and CRMs, and smart devices. Manufacturers have used low-code to create smart factories where there is a constant flow of communication between the factory floor and corporate offices.

There is also centralized visibility of data processing across multiple factory units. Business users can create low-code applications that help manufacturers better plan operations, deliveries, and logistics. Custom applications streamline the introduction and launch of new products. Managers also use applications to monitor specific machines and equipment.

Examples of Low-Code Manufacturing Apps

Low-code benefits manufacturers from the factory floor to the enterprise level. Business users can build applications easier and faster. Low-code solutions also improve communication and information sharing inside and outside the company.

Applications can improve supply visibility, inventory management, monitoring of machinery and equipment, and increase supply chain efficiency. Small and medium-sized enterprises can use solutions that make digital transformation more cost-effective and efficient.