Ever heard of “lights-out manufacturing”? This concept sees factories operating autonomously; without any human intervention. The name given to this type of manufacturing is inspired by the fact that lights-out factories don’t need any lighting so they’re just big buildings full of machines working in the dark.

Why are we mentioning this? To illustrate just how much the manufacturing industry is changing and that there are countless opportunities to innovate across the manufacturing supply chain. This may sound exciting – and it is – but is can also invite a great deal of complexity into your manufacturing operation; especially if these new technologies are not monitored and managed effectively.

Lights-out manufacturing may sound like the perfect strategy for manufacturing businesses looking to do more with less, and at a lower cost, but without any people involved in the process it becomes critical that you have the right monitoring and management platforms in place to guarantee that everything is running as it should. Without a system like this, it would be impossible to manage the expenses, usage and performance of your various operating units.

OneView is Nebula’s cloud-based technology expense management solution. With OneView, your mobile, fixed and cloud environment is fully optimised, which means that it is easier to manage usage, expenditure and cost allocations related to your entire technology environment. It also provides manufacturing businesses with a real‑time overview of critical business information. 

Below, we’ve outlined how automation can enable your manufacturing business. We also showcase how OneView can help you to make the most of this newfound efficiency.

Reduced human error: One of the main benefits of automation is a reduction in human error. But errors are still possible within a digital environment. With automated monitoring across your IT infrastructure you can curb the risks associated with outages and system failures. When using OneView, manufacturing businesses can constantly manage and monitor technology use; allowing them to achieve greater operational efficiencies.

Real-time tracking and traceability: With a cloud-based application like OneView, data collection happens in real-time and reporting is automated and centralised. And along with improved reporting comes greater accountability so that manufacturers have a clearer picture of all of the costs associated with the different elements across their technology ecosystem.

Improved accountability: When manufacturing is automated, it is far simpler to review your system’s performance without having to hire people to keep an eye on things and spot any anomalies. This is also true when it comes to costs. OneView’s financial management features automate internal cost allocations; with advanced analytics and reporting to improve spend analysis and reporting.

But don’t take our word for it, here’s a case study, which showcases how we helped a multinational manufacturing business streamline their technology use.