Keeping up with the pace of transition is highly critical for success and manufacturers will need to reconfigure processes and technology to take on this challenge.
The journey towards a digital transformation begins with a digital readiness assessment of an existing technology framework to identify where the organization currently stands. This is an important preliminary step as the rest of the process would largely depend on its outcome. The precursory assessment is followed by an exercise of identifying viable digital talent and talent gaps – training sessions and workshops or additional recruitment can be carried out to complete this phase. As an organization progresses through each stage of implementation, it is beneficial to build a digital talent archive that could help provide support for the workforce in the long run.
Digital transformation is the all-encompassing integration of digital technology that transforms and streamlines the day to day procedures of a business. It also creates an environment and culture that requires proactive participation throughout the organization.
The main objective of digital transformation is to improve efficiency, manage risk and identify fresh avenues for monetization. It transcends across the spectrum of conventional roles and responsibilities. An evolving digital culture will empower the manufacturing industry to move away from bulky accounting ledgers to spreadsheets for more streamlined business processes.
Digital transformation has two dimensions- a cultural dimension and an individual dimension. The cultural dimension begins at the organizational level. This could be either the operational or infrastructural changes within the work environment. For example, the replacement of access cards with a biometric system or shift towards cloud computation.
The individual dimension is where the real power and potential of the digital transformation. As an organization begins its journey towards digital transformation, it is imperative that employees across all verticals be digitally equipped to become active contributors. Appropriate training sessions and adequate skill enhancement workshops can be an impactful starting point.
As in all enterprise transformation initiatives, clear definition of the qualification of the manufacturing operations from different dimensions is critical. It helps clearly define the as-is state before the intended to-be state can be defined. The path to reach the destination in digital maturity is defined by where an organization starts from. Understanding the readiness to embark on the digital transformation hence becomes the key for success.
A comprehensive digital readiness assessment needs to cover three important dimensions of process improvement. They are Culture (People), Process and Technology.
