Digitisation enables companies to become solution and service providers
How digital connections create positive reactions
Sven Durian of Siemens Digital Logistics shows how , despite volatile conditions , logistics and production can be coordinated to create intelligent , sustainable value chains
The supply chain is a delicate structure : a mosaic of relationships that links worlds . We are constantly reminded of just how vulnerable this organism is by the steady trickle of ominous new developments that threaten it : supply problems that bring semiconductor production to a standstill , a pandemic that stops supply chains in their tracks , severe weather incidents that cause regional bottlenecks and labour strikes that create traffic gridlock . The far-flung , complex network of international supplier relationships , collaborative processes and logistics network structures is susceptible to disruptions . VUCA is the name of the game in production and supply chains , throwing planning figures out the window and forcing market players to adopt agile new strategies and approaches .
• Volatility from such factors as shortened product lifecycles and scarce resources makes it difficult to plan supply processes
• Uncertainty in business operations is fuelled by macroeconomic developments , such as rising energy prices , strikes , and higher labour costs
• Complexity in logistical operations stems from greater production variability and growing volumes of data
• Ambiguity is the final element , since situations and information can often be interpreted in various ways The world of production is anything but predictable . How do we ensure a reliable production supply chain when procurement markets are in flux , suppliers do not deliver , and shipping volumes fluctuate ? The way to manage this VUCA-verse muddle is to synchronise production and logistics .
Synchronisation means coordinating the various tools used to plan and control process flows . Physical and digital processes become one , and data models are linked with real-time data . This makes supply chains much more resilient . That in turn yields greater agility and transparency in logistical networks . For this , digitisation is also opening the door to a new age for the chemical industry . It paves the way for companies in the industry from material suppliers to solution and service providers . It is the driving force behind development that creates a new level of efficiency and transparency for the industry ’ s sensitive supply chains . The time to take advantage of the opportunities and possibilities of digitisation has never been more favourable . IT instruments , such as
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