Question

Your process team has been requested to identify technology that would be beneficial to manufacturing and service operations clients (e.g., SBS Seating and MLD Hospital). Consider the following:

• SBS Seating manufactures leather seating that consists of various components, such as frames; electrical parts (heating and comfort features); padding; and leather sewing (final assembly). It currently uses basic accounting software and high-end manufacturing plant machinery in its operations.
• MLD Hospital has little or no specific technology tools pertaining to inventory management.
• Walton's Department Store: a growing retail concern that is interested in providing low cost products and is relying on technological innovation to optimize costs.

Answer 1

Technology that will be beneficial to the manufacturing & service operations clients are listed below -

1) SBS Seating

• It requires utilisation of ERP System & high-end Accounting Systems such as SAP, Sage or Salesforce to streamline processes.
• Automation tools & technologies should also be applied.

2) MLD Hospital

• It requires implementation of Inventory Management System such as NetSuite.
• It also requires utilisation of EHR Systems & Health Information Systems.

In general, technologies that will be beneficial to the manufacturing & service operations clients are -

1. Manufacturing Optimization Systems
2. RFID
3. Advanced Analytics
4. Business Intelligence
5. Procurement & Inventory Management Systems
6. Customer Service Optimization Systems
7. Big Data
8. Internet of Things
9. Automation
10. Artificial Intelligence
11. Cloud Storage
12. ERP Systems
13. Supply Chain Management Systems
14. CAD & CAM
15. Decision Support Systems