Page 35 - Packaging News Sep-Oct 2020

September-October 2020 | www.packagingnews.com.au
| LINE INTEGRATION & AUTOMATION 35
many businesses tell me that the fac- tory automation team is working on multiple IIoT projects, yet none of them are delivering nor impacting on what the board thinks are the most important issues.
Sad but true, and again simply because of misalignment.
The sixth question is: Do you have the requisite skills, bandwidth, cross-departmental collaboration (maybe a steering committee or advi- sory board) and budget?
We’re well down the decision tree by now with exits at every level, or work to be done at each level, to move forward and get to the final question: Have you done your research, interviewed and selected a platform partner?
This could be a systems integrator or a platform vendor themselves
(such as Microsoft, AWS, PTC, Schneider, Google, IBM... there are so many to choose from), however, be very careful of hammers looking for nails and sales hype around how they’re the best.
You may also consider choosing a trial platform and working with the vendor in a proof-of-concept project, conditional on its success, as long as you’re both in agreement on what success looks like and in agreement on any future relationship. Remember though, caveat emptor.
So, to recap:
1. Do you want to be best in class?
2. Do you know what best in class
looks like?
3. Do you have a leadership commit-
ted to digital transformation?
4. Do you have a high-level project
opportunity list?
5. Do you have an implementation timeline with the low-hanging fruit coming first?
6. Do you have the skills, bandwidth, and budget?
7. And finally, have you chosen an implementation partner?
It’s not about the platform, but a
series of steps of methodical enquiry, which will clarify the maturity level of your business, along this decision tree, and determine at which level work still needs to be done. With several successful smart factory implementations under my belt, I can assure you it is worth the focus, time, and investment. ■
John Broadbent, director of Realise Potential, helps manufacturers under- stand the benefits of Industry 4.0. www. realisepotential.com.au.
It’s not about the platform after all, but a series of steps of methodical enquiry, which will clarify the maturity level of your business.”