Case Studies Eliminating Paper Enables Improved Business Performance and Cultural Transformation

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	Eliminating Paper Enables Improved Business Performance and Cultural Transformation

Eliminating Paper Enables Improved Business Performance and Cultural Transformation

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Applicable Industries	Consumer Goods
Applicable Functions	Business Operation Quality Assurance
Use Cases	Predictive Maintenance Process Control & Optimization Remote Asset Management
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration
Challenge	Like many manufacturers, boat maker Smoker Craft had enormous amounts of data stored on paper, making it nearly impossible to access and analyze in a timely manner. The legacy paper system provided no controls or standards, leading to inconsistent evaluations and data collection. Inspectors had to climb over boats to perform inspections, and any attempt to use the data required many hours of compiling, retyping, and sorting. This often resulted in solving the wrong problems due to the inability to see the big picture. The company operated using old data or handwritten notes, leading to cynicism, conflict, and apathy among employees. Read More
About Customer	Smoker Craft is a boat manufacturing company that faced significant challenges in managing and analyzing data due to their reliance on a paper-based system. The company had enormous amounts of data stored in filing cabinets and off-site locations, making it difficult to access and analyze in a timely manner. The legacy system provided no controls or standards, leading to inconsistent evaluations and data collection. Inspectors had to climb over boats to perform inspections, and any attempt to use the data required many hours of compiling, retyping, and sorting. This often resulted in solving the wrong problems due to the inability to see the big picture. The company operated using old data or handwritten notes, leading to cynicism, conflict, and apathy among employees. Read More
Solution	Smoker Craft replaced their paper-based inspection process with iPads powered by Hertzler Systems GainSeeker Suite. The new system was custom configured to imitate the best parts of the paper-based system while providing intuitive and precise data collection. Inspectors can still climb over the boats to conduct their inspections, but now they tap iPad screens to log defect information. The system guides them through the inspection process, ensuring standard processes and operational definitions are followed. This makes the data more reliable and easier to train new inspectors. The new system also allows for rapid analysis and improved confidence in the data. Frey can now use GainSeeker’s powerful drill-down feature on Pareto charts to quickly identify the main areas requiring rework. The inspection process has become faster, and the data is now in a form that makes analyzing it very simple. Frey meets with his inspectors weekly to review the data in GainSeeker, ensuring they are focused on the correct areas. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics

Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems

Applicable Industries

Consumer Goods

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Predictive Maintenance

Process Control & Optimization

Remote Asset Management

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Challenge

Like many manufacturers, boat maker Smoker Craft had enormous amounts of data stored on paper, making it nearly impossible to access and analyze in a timely manner. The legacy paper system provided no controls or standards, leading to inconsistent evaluations and data collection. Inspectors had to climb over boats to perform inspections, and any attempt to use the data required many hours of compiling, retyping, and sorting. This often resulted in solving the wrong problems due to the inability to see the big picture. The company operated using old data or handwritten notes, leading to cynicism, conflict, and apathy among employees.

About Customer

Smoker Craft is a boat manufacturing company that faced significant challenges in managing and analyzing data due to their reliance on a paper-based system. The company had enormous amounts of data stored in filing cabinets and off-site locations, making it difficult to access and analyze in a timely manner. The legacy system provided no controls or standards, leading to inconsistent evaluations and data collection. Inspectors had to climb over boats to perform inspections, and any attempt to use the data required many hours of compiling, retyping, and sorting. This often resulted in solving the wrong problems due to the inability to see the big picture. The company operated using old data or handwritten notes, leading to cynicism, conflict, and apathy among employees.

Solution

Smoker Craft replaced their paper-based inspection process with iPads powered by Hertzler Systems GainSeeker Suite. The new system was custom configured to imitate the best parts of the paper-based system while providing intuitive and precise data collection. Inspectors can still climb over the boats to conduct their inspections, but now they tap iPad screens to log defect information. The system guides them through the inspection process, ensuring standard processes and operational definitions are followed. This makes the data more reliable and easier to train new inspectors. The new system also allows for rapid analysis and improved confidence in the data. Frey can now use GainSeeker’s powerful drill-down feature on Pareto charts to quickly identify the main areas requiring rework. The inspection process has become faster, and the data is now in a form that makes analyzing it very simple. Frey meets with his inspectors weekly to review the data in GainSeeker, ensuring they are focused on the correct areas.

Impact #1	The new system has eliminated the need for paper, making data more accessible and reliable.
Impact #2	Inspectors can now follow standard processes and operational definitions, leading to more consistent evaluations.
Impact #3	The system has made it easier to train new inspectors, improving overall efficiency.

Impact #1

The new system has eliminated the need for paper, making data more accessible and reliable.

Impact #2

Inspectors can now follow standard processes and operational definitions, leading to more consistent evaluations.

Impact #3

The system has made it easier to train new inspectors, improving overall efficiency.

Benefit #1	The inspection process has become a lot faster.
Benefit #2	The amount of paper used has been significantly reduced.
Benefit #3	The time spent compiling, retyping, and sorting data has been greatly reduced.

Benefit #1

The inspection process has become a lot faster.

Benefit #2

The amount of paper used has been significantly reduced.

Benefit #3

The time spent compiling, retyping, and sorting data has been greatly reduced.

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Overview

Eliminating Paper Enables Improved Business Performance and Cultural Transformation

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit