In a constantly more competitive market for manufacturing companies, many businesses are facing the advent of Industry 4.0. This trend represents much more than just a technological evolution: it embodies a profound transformation in the way companies design, produce and distribute their products.
Industry 4.0 marks the seamless integration of advanced digital technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), advanced robotics and data analytics into all aspects of the manufacturing value chain. This type of technology enables you to harvest real-time data from your plant and then create interconnections within the production process.
Quebec companies have much to gain from integrating these technologies and modernizing their processes.
Listen to the podcast on La Chaise Bleue :
[Spotify] – 34. Alain Marchildon – Eficio – La Chaise Bleue | Podcast on Spotify
[Apple Podcast] – La Chaise Bleue: 34. Alain Marchildon – Eficio on Apple Podcasts
Alain Marchildon – Specialist in digital project management and Industry 4.0
To help us get to the heart of the matter, we are calling on Alain Marchildon, a technology manager with over 30 years’ experience in strategic planning and digital transformation. On a regular basis, he advises and supports business leaders in the development of their digital strategy. He is currently a member of the team of experts at Eficio, a firm specializing in helping growing companies make the digital shift.
In his consulting role, he recommends the adoption of solutions such as ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). This type of tool is particularly relevant to business process automation and intelligent plant management.
This article will help you :
- Identify the signs that show it’s time to act with intelligent plant optimization;
- Distinguish between the different challenges facing the manufacturing sector in terms of Industry 4.0 ;
- Understand the benefits of automating and modernizing technological business processes;
- Evaluate the development opportunities offered by the Soutien à l’Innovation pour la Productivité des Entreprises Manufacturières (SIPEM) program.
Signs to watch out for before making the digital shift
The question on every manager’s mind is: when should we undertake a plant modernization project?
While there may be many valid reasons to start this type of project, expert Alain Marchildon shares two critical signs to watch out for:
- Optimizing project management within the plant;
- Cybersecurity measures to protect the organization.
Project management is lacking
Our expert is clear: when corporate decision-making is impacted, it’s time to question the way your business currently operates. If you’re seeing a drop in productivity on your production lines, or an increase in unplanned downtime, this could be a sign that your equipment is becoming outdated, and could benefit from an upgrade.
Another aspect that frequently undermines the management of technology projects is the absence of a Chief Information Officer (CIO), or someone responsible for digital projects. This is exactly where experts like Alain Marchildon come in. They can identify the implementation steps needed to optimize your plant, and also calculate which investments will generate an attractive return on investment for your company. With precise specifications in hand, you’ll be able to take effective action on priority projects.
“When managers don’t know where to start: the solution is the digital plan”. – Alain Marchildon
Cybersecurity measures
Another essential aspect, according to Alain Marchildon, is to evaluate the company’s security processes. If there aren’t many procedures in place, or if there are several gaps, this is a sign that it’s important to modernize your practices with the aim of enabling an effective transition to a Factory 4.0 model. This reality is often one of the major irritants for most companies that want to grow and develop, but are limited by their precarious IT security measures.
Here are a few essential elements that should be part of a manufacturing company’s IT security arsenal:
- Network and system security ;
- Access and privilege management ;
- Equipment and sensor safety ;
- Continuous monitoring ;
- Incident response plan.
If you don’t have measures in place to secure these various aspects, cybersecurity is an issue not to be underestimated as you make the digital shift.
In short, if your company is facing one or more of these signs, it’s time to seriously consider modernizing your plant to stay competitive, improve operational efficiency and meet changing market demands.
The challenges facing Quebec companies
Plant modernization represents a crucial challenge for manufacturing companies, as they have to navigate an ever-changing landscape characterized by shifting market demands, increased global competition and rapid technological advances.
According to Alain Marchildon, there’s still some digital catch-up to be done in Quebec, despite the clear improvements of recent years. However, the democratization of several types of technology opens up a range of possibilities for manufacturing companies wishing to modernize towards a 4.0 model.
“There’s a lot of digital catching up to do in Quebec. Fortunately, we’ve seen an improvement in Quebec in recent years. – Alain Marchildon
In short, plant modernization is a strategic imperative for manufacturing companies seeking to remain relevant and competitive in an ever-changing global market.
For his part, the expert identified a major issue for Quebec manufacturers: the importance of a strategic plan.
The importance of a plan for your digital shift
The harsh reality is that many managers are too busy putting out fires within their production. As a result, they don’t have time to implement new technologies or structures.
Our expert’s conclusion is that it is essential to have a manager who not only supervises, but above all communicates the various components of the project to the teams in the field. It’s also important that this manager understands the benefits of bringing this project to fruition, and is genuinely motivated by it.
This is also where the specifications come into play, an essential document for the realization of any technological project. With this plan in hand, the manager has clear and precise instructions for carrying out his mandate. One of the advantages of this type of tool is that it enables the identification of “quick wins” or changes that can easily be implemented.
Once the project is completed, the expert recommends setting up a long-term technology plan. A technology plan doesn’t have an end like a one-off project. Rather, it’s a long-term initiative that needs someone to oversee it.
The benefits of modernizing IT technologies and management
With the arrival of innovative technologies such as robotization and artificial intelligence, the integration of new digital solutions in factories has become democratized and simplified. What’s more, several support and financing options are currently available on the market, according to the expert. He underlines two particularly interesting benefits for companies when it comes to making the digital shift.
Developing new complementary services
By aiming to transform your company 4.0, you not only increase your production potential tenfold, but also the development of new functionalities. It’s not unusual for companies newly equipped with more powerful technologies to find new solutions for their customers. This translates not only into improved delivery times, but also into the possibility of offering new services or complementary products.
“There’s the possibility of adding digital services around the product. [For example], some companies using machinery can add sensors to their machines to measure new information.” – Alain Marchildon
Optimize internal processes
Beyond technological innovations, a smarter plant will help your management make better decisions thanks to real-time access to data. This is also the opinion of Alain Marchildon, who mentions that a successful digital transformation enables companies to gain in maturity as well as productivity.
Many companies underestimate the potential of digitizing their business processes and automating their production. Among the most important benefits, we can note that optimization enables :
- Reduce operations management costs;
- Optimize plant productivity;
- Deliver products faster;
- Optimize product quality;
- Improve customer satisfaction.
Listen to the podcast on La Chaise Bleue :
[Spotify] – 34. Alain Marchildon – Eficio – La Chaise Bleue | Podcast on Spotify
[Apple Podcast] – La Chaise Bleue: 34. Alain Marchildon – Eficio on Apple Podcasts
The SIPEM innovation funding program: support for Quebec companies
Alain Marchildon is one of the SIPEM program’s accredited experts for the production of Cahiers de Charges Technologiques. Cahiers de Charges Technologiques are crucial for clarifying the expectations of all parties involved in a project, and guaranteeing the quality of the work produced.
