Introduction
Manufacturing companies are investing heavily in ERP systems, dashboards and automation. But behind the scenes, Excel sheets, frustration on the shop floor and opaque processes turn out to be the norm. Efficient? Far from it. According to Cor Verbaas, founder of digitalisation agency 4EF, there is only one way to make real progress: dare to deviate from the standard and take a fresh look at how you work. “Efficiency doesn't start with software, but with courage.”
Working smarter starts with knowing who you are
Many companies begin automating without first properly understanding what makes their own processes unique. And that is exactly where things go wrong, Verbaas argues. “You first have to understand what you do as standard and where you deviate from it. Only then can you choose systems that genuinely move you forward.”
The problem, he says, lies in the ‘one size fits all’ thinking of many ERP vendors. Companies adapt themselves to the software instead of the other way around. And that leads to the familiar workaround: Excel.
“Almost every manufacturer still uses Excel as its backbone. Not because they want to, but because their systems can't handle real-world practice.”
Perfection is your greatest enemy
Verbaas advocates a different mindset: don't strive for perfection, but for progress. “An 8 out of 10 is often good enough. That last 20 percent costs you a disproportionate amount of time, money and frustration.”
His approach is radically different from classic ERP projects. No multi-year implementations, but three-month blocks that deliver value straight away. “Move fast, adjust, and celebrate what does work.”
The proof is on the factory floor
The results speak for themselves. One manufacturer of plastic bottles managed to save enormous amounts of space by timing production to delivery rather than to estimates. And at a machine builder, the chaotic goods-receipt process was fully streamlined thanks to a simple scanning solution with direct processing instructions.
“Within seconds everything was registered, without errors and without delays. That's a gain everyone on the floor can feel.”
Without the people, the system is worthless
Technology only works when people want to work with it. And that is precisely where things often go wrong. Verbaas: “As long as people are still complaining, there's hope. When they fall silent, the process has been given up on.”
He argues for a culture in which the shop floor is taken seriously. “The operator knows exactly where things go wrong. You have to involve them, not ignore them.”
Forget ERP – think in terms of mobility
Companies too often think in terms of solutions without having a clear picture of their real need. “They ask for an ERP, but really they just want to get from A to B. Maybe a bike is enough, or a drone.”
It's not about the system itself, but about the result you want to achieve. That calls for probing questions, the courage to think outside standard solutions, and a sharp view of your goals.
Time to do things differently
Verbaas's message is clear: manufacturers need to reinvent themselves. Not with yet another off-the-shelf solution, but with a sharp view of what makes them unique and where they want to go.
“SMEs in particular are the backbone of our economy. If they learn to work more efficiently, the whole of the Netherlands wins.”
So dare to change. Don't start with software, but with vision. And only then choose the tools that fit.
Want to learn more about how you can set up your processes more intelligently? Listen to the podcast , visit www.4ef.nl or get in touch with Cor Verbaas.