Digital Innovation Fund Empowers Flowlens, a Smart Manufacturing Data Hub Lighthouse

The Flowlens SMDH Lighthouse Project focused on improving the digital capabilities of 10 manufacturing SMEs.

Most manufacturing SMEs lack the time and sometimes the skills needed to fully exploit digital technologies. This means that the opportunity to optimise their processes through smarter use of data analytics often falls by the wayside.

The 10 SMEs came from a cross section of device and equipment manufacturing industries, ranging from nuclear detection equipment to scientific instruments to medical devices, and ranging from 5 employees up to 50. 

In most cases, the day-to-day demands of the businesses quickly became apparent as the main ‘competitor’ for change, as customers and other pressing challenges eat up the attention of senior people in the business. However, these same challenges provided rich fodder for potential improvements.

As equipment and device manufacturers, supplier performance ranks highly on most risk registers. Understanding the cost and delivery performance of suppliers tends to be an afterthought where businesses rely heavily on manual processes and data capture isn’t always reliable and consistent.

Flowlens MRP software includes comprehensive stock/inventory management tools, purchase ordering and goods received workflows as well as planning and shortage reports. By implementing these user-friendly workflows, not only are companies able to streamline this vital process in the business, they also create much greater visibility of the supply chain performance aspect.

Flowlens was able to develop rich supply chain management dashboards that enabled companies to drill down into individual supplier performance, both in terms of delivery and cost performance. Where relevant this enabled companies to compare price and delivery performance fluctuations for suppliers who sold the same items. 

Most SME Purchasing Managers (who often wear more than one hat) will have a gut feeling for whether a supplier's performance is positive or negative, but without looking at the results over time, it’s impossible to see what’s really happening. The ability to ‘zoom out’ and see how late deliveries have trended over time is a crucial tool in tackling production lead times and ultimately improving cashflow.

Automation played an important role in the project. Again, due to time or other constraints, many SMEs fail to produce regular KPI dashboards or reports to understand their performance against goals. By working with the SMEs to identify suitable KPIs and automating the updates for monthly reports, we were able to move the focus from laborious report creation, to value-added insights. 

Beyond this we also identified database triggers that allowed companies to be alerted based on conditions changing. This included customer sales and pipeline alerts as well as supply chain and operational alerts that mean that relevant people can be alerted by email when something important changes.

One example is Denatec, a UK-based engineering SME specialising in the design, manufacture, installation, and maintenance of equipment for extreme and challenging applications. Flowlens worked with Denatec to identify several challenges and data-driven solutions: 

Optimising MRP Utilisation: Denatec identified gaps in how their MRP system was being used, leading to incomplete or inconsistent data entry. They sought improved reporting to highlight these gaps, ensuring better data accuracy and enabling more reliable insights for decision-making.

Sales Funnel Visibility: Sales managers needed visibility and greater insight on lead and quotation conversion rates to reduce the amount of ‘money left on the table’.

Supply Chain Monitoring: There was an opportunity to strengthen oversight of vendor reliability and costs and inventory levels to minimise stockouts and improve fulfilment efficiency.

Enhancing Decision-Making: Leadership recognised the need for more up-to-date and comprehensive reports to support faster, more informed decision-making.

Engineering Director Nathan Peel commented: 

“The use of Flowlens to manage Denatec’s ERP / MRP / MES requirements has, without doubt, enabled the business to grow from strength to strength.  However, with ever increasing throughput of data, it was essential that Denatec explored ways in which it could further streamline some of its reporting and management processes to improve efficiency and reduce the impact of global rising costs.  Working closely with the Flowlens team, as part of the SMDH project, we have been able to leverage PowerBI  to consolidate and analyse critical data, guiding operational improvements that have streamlined workflows and reduced manual reporting burden."

General Manager, Jessica Klein added: 

“With the integration of Power BI, we now have instant visibility into key supply and sales metrics. This has allowed us to proactively address bottlenecks and make faster, data-driven decisions that directly impact our bottom line."

These efforts are just the beginning for companies like Denatec and will hopefully inspire others in the wider sector to take note of the opportunities.

Flowlens continues to offer user friendly MRP and MES software, as well as manufacturing analytics and business intelligence services, with more information available from flowlens.com 

Flowlens has also just launched their first book ‘F.E.A.R.L.E.S.S. Digital Transformation’ - an easy to digest step by step guide to implementing new digital systems in SME manufacturers. Download your free copy at flowlens.com/fearless