ONE PLATFORM - CONNECTING EVERYTHING

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1 ONE PLATFORM - CONNECTING EVERYTHING WHITE PAPER MOBILIZING MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLY CHAIN WITH MODERNIZED EMM Nearly every enterprise across every industry is examining and adopting mobility as a key paradigm in the ongoing evolution of its IT operations. While some have argued that manufacturing and supply chain operations have not profited from mobility as much as many other industries, it s important to view that trend with a long-term vision. The wide variety of cost-effective and reliable wireless technologies, networks, services, mobile devices, applications and operating strategies available today are a perfect fit in organizations that depend upon both the movement of materials and the value of staff expertise.

2 Contents Key Mobility Opportunities and issues in Manufacturing and Supply Chain Mobility Requirements in Manufacturing and Supply Chain How SOTI can help Conclusion

3 Key Mobility Opportunities and issues in Manufacturing and Supply Chain Manufacturing involves the transformation of elements within a supply chain into finished goods via the application of specialized equipment, productive staff members and an appropriate and efficient set of procedures that optimize normal operations and similarly address exceptions and issues when they arise. IT systems and solutions, including the rapidly emerging use of wireless networks supporting mobile access and a wide array of mobile devices, are increasingly integral to manufacturing, managing workflow and assuring optimal productivity. Mobility brings information to where it s needed with the efficiency and reliability essential to manufacturing operations, where downtime or even seemingly minor interruptions to operations can have a major negative impact on overall business success. Mobile access to IT resources within a manufacturing environment can optimize workflow by providing links to the information required to manage issues, augment staff productivity, assure worker safety and enable regulatory compliance (including environmental, health and other safety requirements). It also can reduce the cost of inventory, improve quality control and even manage and optimize energy consumption. Real-time tracking of inventory and even maintenance issues can be addressed via mobile-centric technologies like bar codes, radio frequency ID (RFID) and rapidly emerging applications of the Internet of Things (IoT). A wide variety of cost reductions can also accrue from mobility, thanks to the optimization of both staff activities and capacity utilization, as well as the increasing integration of network-based, IT-centric automation. Management visibility is enhanced via real-time reporting and analytics that yield actionable insights. 3

4 Finally, mobility enables real-time tracking of people and materials within the shop floor for enhanced safety, productivity, and the implementation of location-based services and other capabilities. But business mobility can be complex. Success depends upon the availability of appropriate and secure Wi-Fi infrastructure in manufacturing environments. It s also possible that a wide array of wireless devices (from laptops to handhelds to wearables to IoT), operating systems and associated operational procedures will be required in a given facility. A broad range of applications is required, from collaboration, capacity and workflow management, productivity and quality monitoring to cost control, risk management, compliance and process automation. Scalability is also increasingly important. For example, billions of new IoT devices are expected to be connected over the next decade, with many of these used to track the flow of materials, ensure that the right items are in the right location at the right time and optimize worker safety and productivity. These all point to the need for EMM solutions that can tame this very challenging scenario....billions of new IoT devices are expected to be connected over the next decade with many of these used to track the flow of materials... 4

5 Mobility Requirements in Manufacturing and Supply Chain Granular inventory tracking It s now vital to be able to track goods at the item level, not just the pallet level. This is key in coordinating the movement and production of goods and materials across locations, and is enabled via the location and tracking capabilities of the same contemporary Wi-Fi infrastructures that support all mobile communications within a manufacturing environment. Real-time visibility It s now possible to deploy sensors, mobile devices and apps to suppliers business processes, optimizing workflow even across the warehousing and distribution operations. Moving to new web-based apps Applications provisioned in the cloud give manufacturers the ability to more easily interconnect with other parts of their business, including their suppliers and resellers. This improves the speed and reliability of shipments, along with the accuracy of customer quotes. Cloud-based services can also streamline loading and unloading via more accurate ETA/ETD information. Migration to newer mobile technologies The end-of-life of Windows CE is forcing many manufacturers to refresh their devices running newer OSes, such as ios, Android and Linux. As the benefits of these newer, more open and more functional operating platforms are becoming clear, the only remaining element is the EMM solutions essential to security, simplified updates and administration, management reporting and many more related capabilities. Managing IoT devices The advent of IoT enables new elements of manufacturing and supply chain solutions that improve automation, decision-making and optimization based on real-time analytics when the right EMM solutions are in place. Security EMM is the essential unifying element in successful mobile security implementations. Security is likely to remain a persistent challenge going forward, with EMM the linchpin in addressing this challenge. 5

6 How SOTI can help SOTI MobiControl is a leading EMM solution for a wide range of vertical industries, and offers a modernized approach that helps manufacturing and supply chain organizations in a number of ways. These include: Rapid device provisioning The broad array of devices that are likely to be required in manufacturing and supply chain operations means that device onboarding, provisioning, updating and problem-solving must be as efficient and automated as possible. Capabilities must include diagnosing and repairing network connectivity issues as well, through a single pane of glass management console, simplifying operations and lowering operating expense. Mobile device optimization SOTI s Kiosk Mode can be used to restrict a given device to only a limited set of functions that are required based on its current usage parameters. Where this degree of lockdown is not a requirement, SOTI provides a full range of application management capabilities. Mobile Optimized Help Desk Keeping your workforce working is important for any mobility strategy. A key aspect of this is fixing mobile device and application problems quickly, and reducing worker downtime. Unfortunately, a lack of mobile optimized solutions has made the remote support of mobile devices much more difficult than traditional IT support. To date, help desk technicians have not had the tools to expedite support No remote view, remote control, file-sync and forced updates/restart. A purpose-built mobile help desk solution will solve mobile device problems faster, often on the first contact. IoT device management SOTI MobiControl enables manufacturers to confidently introduce IoT devices that improve visibility and automation of operations, and ensure that IT operations management and other professionals can secure, manage and support these devices while avoiding costly downtime. Security SOTI MobiControl includes numerous features and capabilities to secure devices accessing cloud apps, including restricting which apps can be resident on the device and limiting access to both the websites and web-based apps authorized. 6

7 Conclusion Embracing mobility in manufacturing and supply chain operations has the potential to enhance essentially all processes across the board. The key to success is adopting an EMM solution that manages the lifecycle of mobility, assuring the security, reliability and actionable tracking, reporting and visibility essential for improved business outcomes. SOTI is a proven innovator and industry leader for simplifying business mobility and IoT solutions by making them smarter, faster and more reliable. SOTI helps businesses around the world take mobility to endless possibilities. soti.net Copyright 2018 SOTI Inc. All Rights Reserved.