How 3M Leveraged Power ON to Enhance Data Management and Analytics

3M, a globally recognized manufacturing giant operating in the fields of industry, worker safety, healthcare, and consumer goods, utilizes Power ON from insightsoftware to address data integration and quality challenges within their vast production network in a continuously evolving industry.

Background

Jason Wong, Data Factory Manager at 3M, describes their data group’s mission to leverage digital tools for production optimization and data-driven decision making.

3M faces hurdles in data integration due to:

• Disparate systems across manufacturing plants with varying levels of customization.
• Inconsistent data fields and naming conventions.
• Manual data entry leading to inaccuracies and incompleteness.

Key Challenges

3M faced significant challenges in data management and analytics, particularly in integrating data from numerous Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) across various plants. This integration is crucial for creating a unified and comprehensive view of manufacturing operations but poses difficulties due to the disparate nature of MES systems.

Ensuring data accuracy and completeness was another critical challenge, as reliable reporting and analysis depend on high-quality data. 3M wanted to streamline data collection processes to eliminate manual intervention and delays, which are prone to errors and inefficiencies.

“We wanted to bring advanced analytics to support our business growth and enable data-driven decisions based on all the data and the data model,” says Wong.

Solution

Wong and his team turned to insightsoftware to implement Power ON as a data collection and management platform. Wong chose Power ON because its strengths aligned with 3M’s requirements:

• Robustness for handling large datasets.
• User-friendly interface for report creation and data collection.
• Strong technical support for troubleshooting and issue resolution.

Automating data collection not only enhanced the timeliness and reliability of 3M’s information, but also reduces the burden on staff, allowing for quicker and more accurate analysis. Overcoming these challenges was essential for 3M to leverage data effectively and drive operational efficiency and strategic initiatives.

How 3M Benefits From Power ON

3M’s implementation of Power ON strategically enhances its data management and analytics. By facilitating efficient plant data collection and eliminating reliance on emails and manual updates, Power ON ensures consistency with standardized forms. Streamlined reporting processes enable faster, more accurate analysis, while improved data quality drives data-driven decision-making for production optimization and business growth.

3M now benefits from:

• Executive Reporting: Power ON enables the creation of reports readily accessible by executives for bi-weekly or weekly reviews of operational issues.
• Inventory Management: During supply chain disruptions, Power ON helps in optimizing production by suggesting product prioritization based on available raw materials.
• Machine Tracking: Power ON facilitates tracking machine utilization and performance across plants, providing insights for cost control and efficiency improvements.
• Data Cleansing and Standardization: Power ON allows for collecting missing data points and standardizing naming conventions for seamless data integration.

Power ON has significantly enhanced data quality and accessibility within 3M’s manufacturing network. Its user-friendly interface and robust features have made it an invaluable tool across various departments. By enabling faster and more accurate data analysis, Power ON empowers informed decision-making, leading to better production planning and increased profitability.

Conclusion

Power ON empowered 3M to overcome its data integration and quality challenges. By streamlining data collection, ensuring consistency, and facilitating data analysis, Power ON paves the way for data-driven decision making and operational excellence.

Learn more about how to manage integration and quality challenges. Ask for a free demo.