Optimizing Manufacturing Operations with Salesforce: A Case Study

In today’s competitive manufacturing landscape, companies are constantly seeking ways to optimize their operations and gain a competitive edge. One way to achieve this is by leveraging technology to streamline processes and increase efficiency. Salesforce, a leading customer relationship management (CRM) platform, has emerged as a powerful tool for manufacturers looking to optimize their operations and gain better control over their production processes.

This article will explore the use of Salesforce in manufacturing, with a focus on a recent project to automate a factory producing custom ordered products. We will examine how Salesforce was able to streamline the manufacturing process, resulting in greater accuracy, reliability, and efficiency. Additionally, we will discuss the benefits of using manufacturing modules for Salesforce, as well as potential future developments and upgrades. Ultimately, we will show how these tools can help manufacturers optimize their operations and gain a competitive edge in today’s rapidly changing marketplace.

II. How Salesforce Streamlines the Manufacturing Process

In the past, managing complex manufacturing processes involving custom orders, multiple stages of production, and the need for detailed tracking and management has been a challenge. However, the use of Salesforce as a tool for managing these processes has proved to be a game-changer for many manufacturers.

The recent project to automate a factory producing custom ordered products provides a great example of how Salesforce can be used to streamline the manufacturing process. At the core of this system is the ability to take a completed quote in Salesforce and break it down into a Factory Order. From there, the system creates factory jobs for each custom product ordered and refers to a list of inventory items in Salesforce to determine the necessary components and materials needed for each order.

The system then calculates how much of each material is needed, adds it to a cut list, and sends the order to an outsourced powder coater. Throughout the process, Salesforce manages the status of the powder coating, cutting, and manufacturing, providing real-time visibility into each step of the production process.

The result of this level of detail and tracking is greater accuracy, reliability, and efficiency compared to previous methods. The use of Salesforce allows the factory to progress from job-based stations to activity-based stations, leading to further efficiencies and savings. The system also manages stock levels and uses EOQ to reorder stock, helping to alleviate manual counting and reducing the reliance on the manufacturing manager manually ordering stock.

Overall, the use of Salesforce in the manufacturing process provides a powerful tool for managing complex manufacturing processes, improving accuracy, efficiency, and control.

III. Upgrades and Future Developments

While the use of Salesforce has already proved to be a powerful tool for managing the manufacturing process, there are always opportunities for further optimization and improvement. Here are some current plans for upgrades to the manufacturing modules for Salesforce:

• Stock Control: Upgrading the stock control system to use EOQ to forecast requirements based on orders and quotes in the pipeline. This will help alleviate manual counting and reduce the reliance on the manufacturing manager manually ordering stock.
• QR Codes: Implementing QR codes to help find a physical piece of material in Salesforce. Once a piece of material is powder coated and cut, it becomes quite valuable, so the QR codes will help to ensure that it can be easily located. This will save staff time in finding the correct order and provide greater visibility into the location of materials.
• Smart Saw: The implementation of a smart saw that can read from Salesforce the measurements it needs to cut materials accurately. This will allow for more detailed cutting and the ability to cut more final pieces from a single source piece of material, resulting in greater efficiency and savings.
• Combining Powder Coating for a Particular Color: Planning to combine all powder coating for a particular color across several factory orders. This will further optimize operations and lead to greater efficiencies and savings.

As technology continues to evolve, there is always room for further optimization and improvement in the manufacturing process. By using Salesforce as a tool for managing these processes, manufacturers are well-positioned to take advantage of these advancements and gain a competitive edge in the marketplace.

IV. Benefits of Manufacturing Modules for Salesforce

The use of manufacturing modules for Salesforce provides a wide range of benefits for manufacturers looking to optimize their operations and gain greater control over their production processes. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Detailed Tracking and Management: By using Salesforce to manage the manufacturing process, manufacturers can gain real-time visibility into each step of the production process. This provides greater control and allows for more detailed tracking and management, leading to greater accuracy, reliability, and efficiency.
• Streamlined Operations: The use of manufacturing modules for Salesforce allows manufacturers to streamline their operations and automate many of the manual processes involved in the manufacturing process. This leads to greater efficiency and cost savings, as well as freeing up staff time to focus on other areas of the business.
• Customizable to Specific Business Needs: The flexibility of Salesforce allows manufacturers to customize the manufacturing modules to meet their specific business needs. This allows for greater adaptability and the ability to quickly respond to changing market conditions.
• Seamless Integration with Existing Systems: For manufacturers that are already using Salesforce as their CRM platform, the use of manufacturing modules provides seamless integration with existing systems and workflows. This allows for greater efficiency and reduces the need for manual data entry or the use of multiple systems.

Overall, the use of manufacturing modules for Salesforce provides a powerful tool for manufacturers looking to optimize their operations, gain greater control over their production processes, and gain a competitive edge in today’s rapidly changing marketplace.

V. Conclusion

The use of Salesforce as a tool for managing complex manufacturing processes has emerged as a game-changer for many manufacturers. The recent project to automate a factory producing custom ordered products provides a great example of how Salesforce can be used to streamline the manufacturing process, resulting in greater accuracy, reliability, and efficiency.

With the ability to manage the manufacturing process from quotes to factory orders, track the status and location of materials, and automate many of the manual processes involved in the manufacturing process, Salesforce provides manufacturers with a powerful tool for optimizing their operations and gaining greater control over their production processes.

In addition to these benefits, the use of manufacturing modules for Salesforce allows manufacturers to customize the system to meet their specific business needs, provides seamless integration with existing systems and workflows, and positions them to take advantage of future advancements in technology.

Overall, the use of manufacturing modules for Salesforce provides a valuable tool for manufacturers looking to optimize their operations, gain a competitive edge, and succeed in today’s rapidly changing marketplace.