How RPA Technology Reshapes the Future of the Manufacturing Industry

Industrial Revolution 4.0 is upon us and the manufacturing sector has emerged as its biggest beneficiary. RPA or Robotic Process Automation is one of the essential trends of Industrial Revolution 4.0 and assists the manufacturing industry to improve productivity at reduced costs. This is one of the big reasons why manufacturers approach RPA service providers.

What is RPA in manufacturing?

As per the Statista prediction, the global market size of RPA technology is expected to reach USD 10 billion in 2023. It is fair to mention that the manufacturing sector will play a significant role in achieving this target. This thriving industry sector faces more dependence on different repetitive processes, and therefore, opts for digital transformation. RPA in manufacturing is useful for bringing automation and optimizing core processes to increase productivity. 

RPA consulting services can help manufacturers make a strategy to automate various rule-based, repetitive operations using software bots. It is essential for dealing with routine processes and focusing on innovation to enhance daily operations. Automation consulting services are also useful in finding ways to automate administrative tasks like data entry, report preparation, etc. As a result, manufacturers can reduce dependence on human effort.

How RPA can be used to improve productivity

The most important role the RPA can play in the manufacturing sector is it can streamline maintenance services and automate processes to increase productivity. Here are the four ways it can boost efficiency and productivity in the manufacturing sector. 

• Automates manual tasks

RPA  can automate manual tasks that are repetitive in nature and based on specific rules. For example, it can handle HR-related activities and invoicing to save time and effort for employees. Also, RPA can manage tasks related to meetings and inventory effectively. 

• Improves accuracy

Minimal human intervention results in more accuracy in processes. RPA can reduce human effort and the risk associated with the error. As a result, you can get rid of manual errors. 

• Speeds up processes

RPA bots can work on a 24x7x365 basis. As a result, manufacturers can continue their operations with ease and accelerate various processes to meet deadlines for projects. 

• Reduces costs

RPA technology needs a one-time investment. Once bots are implemented in the system, they can help manufacturers save big on operational costs and reduce other expenses significantly. 

Challenges of RPA in manufacturing

RPA technology can bring many benefits to the manufacturing industry, but it is of utmost importance to eliminate the implementation challenges. Here we mention some primary challenges related to integrating RPA in manufacturing companies.

•  Lack of Insights

RPA technology needs technical knowledge and coordinated efforts from all employees. Insufficient or improper insights about the working methodology or the processes can result in chaos.

• Task Limitations

RPA solutions may not be capable of automating all processes. Only specific, rule-based tasks which are mundane or repetitive can be automated using the RPA technology.

• Implementation Issues

Most manufacturing companies face various issues during RPA implementation such as unforeseen scenarios, different requirements, and the involvement of multiple units. A renowned and reliable RPA services provider can help you address this challenge.

• Lack of Resources

It is the most common challenge faced by manufacturing industries. The right resources are necessary for the smooth functioning of RPA solutions. Skilled personnel is required not only to understand and execute RPA but also to quickly step in to identify and resolve issues that can arise during the process automation.

• Wrong Selection

Manufacturers have to choose the right RPA solution to reap its benefits and automate processes. Often the realization of having chosen the wrong solution comes only in the implementation stage when it fails to meet the customized needs. 

It is advisable to contact an experienced RPA consulting company to cope with these challenges and leverage the benefits of this futuristic technology for your manufacturing industry. 

Use Cases for RPA in Manufacturing

RPA is capable of playing a vital role in automating many processes in manufacturing companies. Here we mention a few of its applications. 

    

• Purchase Management
  

RPA can automate the entire process of creating purchase orders. It can handle activities ranging from extracting relevant data to getting approvals from respective heads via emails. This can save a significant amount of time and effort for manufacturers.

• Inventory Management

RPA is helpful in monitoring stock levels, reordering items, sending alerts/reminders on replenishing stocks, tracking deliveries, and generating necessary reports. Manufacturers can manage their supply chains and ensure that they have the right amount of products in stock to meet customer demand.

• Invoice Processing

A custom RPA solution can automate the extraction of data related to invoicing, sales, and purchases.  It can also generate delivery receipts, identify duplicate invoices, and update records. This can help manufacturers to streamline their invoice processing and reduce the risk of errors.

• Customer Services

RPA can be used to automate customer service tasks such as responding to emails, answering queries, and providing support on a 24x7 basis. This can help manufacturers to improve their customer support and provide a better experience for their customers.

• Bill of Materials (BOM)

RPA is also useful in creating standard templates for BOMs, identifying and alerting manufacturers of missing documents, and choosing alternative components from databases. This can help in ensuring the accuracy of BOMs with the right components available for production.

In addition to these use cases, RPA is capable of automating several other processes in the manufacturing company including HR processes (e.g., onboarding, payroll, benefits administration), Shipping & Logistics (e.g., tracking shipments, managing deliveries), and Sales & Marketing (e.g., lead generation, customer segmentation).

A trusted automation consulting company can consider your business requirements and suggest highly customized RPA solutions. 

Concluding Remarks

In a nutshell, the role of RPA is not limited to improving productivity in the manufacturing sector. It can handle various repetitive tasks across different departments of the manufacturing industry to save time, money, and effort.  Manufacturers can enhance their customer services and get a high ROI in a relatively short period with an effective RPA implementation. 

When it comes to mitigating implementation and other challenges, manufacturers can always approach a reputed RPA consulting services provider, and leverage the benefits of this advanced technology.