Industry innovates new approaches

This is an unofficial translation by Roima Intelligence of an article originally published in Finnish in the Innovaatiot (Eng. Innovations) supplement of the Finnish business magazine Kauppalehti Optio on November 22, 2018. The original article is also available online.
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Industrial companies are now investing changes to operating modes and information systems. The message from operational management has been that by tightening the screw, you cannot grow or respond to market needs.
Ever more often, the markets demand mass personalization; that is, individual products with the advantages of mass production. Moreover, product life cycles are accelerating, and  the requirements for traceability are growing strongly.
“The management of companies recognize the need for mass personalization. However, it is unclear to them how this need should be tackled in production and in logistics. Often the traditions and models of serial production and project manufacturing are deeply rooted in the organization”, contemplates Juha Burtsoff of Roima Intelligence Oy.
As a result of globalization and industrial networking, the product development, manufacturing, warehouses and markets of a company can all be located in different countries. Information management and the ability to operate efficiently in networks have become competitive factors for companies.

“The last years have been busy for Roima. Our experts have helped companies implement manufacturing strategies where product planning and production all the way from quality control to warehousing and logistics serve the company’s target markets”, Burtsoff says.
The scarcity of resources calls for new modes of operation. Lack of competent workforce is a widely acknowledged challenge. Recycling and reuse of materials are growing strongly. Climate change will also affect the availability and prices of goods and raw materials.
The new situation offers potential for new business; it can already be seen that the achievers turn scarcity into a competitive advantage.