Total Control Pro Limited

#E2E Female 100

Total Control Pro Limited — 27/03/2023

We are delighted to announce the inclusion of Dolores Sanders, Strategic Director for Total Control Pro, in the inaugural E2E Female 100, featuring 100 of the most prominent female disruptors who significantly contribute to the UK economy! The E2E Female 100 is run by E2E in association with The Independent and in partnership with IWG. It aims to showcase the very best UK female-run or founded companies that are excelling, experiencing consistent growth, and presenting disruptive business strategies creating an impact not just in their sector, but also on a nationwide and in some cases, on a global scale.

The E2E 100 rankings are a product of E2E, a trusted networking community whose aim is to empower businesses with the knowledge, connectivity and tools they need to grow successfully. There will be six E2E 100 league tables published over six months: Female 100; Tech 100; International 100; Job Creation 100; Dynamic 100; and Profit 100. The 100 companies in each category are selected based on independent research and data analysis by Experian, with the release of each table marked at a celebratory event at either the House of Lords or the House of Commons.

Read the article here

We would like to thank E2Exchange especially Shalini Khemka for the acknowledgement of her business endeavours and inclusion in the list and The Independent for their support of women in business.

We are also delighted to have been invited to celebrate the launch at the House of Commons cohosted by Lord Bilimoria.

6 Manufacturing KPIs for Operations Management

Total Control Pro Limited — 13/10/2022

The latest annual data for the UK manufacturing industry, collected by Make UK before the coronavirus pandemic, shows the sector accounts for £191 billion of output, placing us in the Top 10 largest manufacturers in the world. The only way to keep up with such fierce competition is by monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) and optimising manufacturing operations.

What are Manufacturing KPIs?

Manufacturing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are a way of measuring a manufacturing business’ performance over time in order to achieve overall business goals. These measurements can be analysed to make smart changes to manufacturing operations that ultimately come together to improve the business’s bottom line.

But just what are these KPIs? In the below article we outline the 6 manufacturing KPI’s for operations management namely;

Operational Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
Overall Labour Effectiveness
Scrap Rates
Right First Time / First Pass Yield
On-Time In Full (OTIF)
Non-Conformance

What makes a great Key Performance Indicator in Manufacturing?

Your manufacturing KPIs need to have a clearly defined and realistic goal. It is important to be specific – what do you want to achieve, and by when? Is this practically achievable? You should also ensure that this goal is quantitative, i.e, it can be measured definitively using numbers. This will ensure that you can accurately measure your progress objectively.

Next, you need to identify your data source and define how you will measure and use the data; this will make sure nothing is left open to interpretation. What metrics will you use to measure? How often will you measure? So when you have all this information at your fingertips, what do you do with it?

You will probably need to communicate your findings with teams, shareholders or even board members so you will need to make sure you have a complete understanding of what you are looking at. Having a manufacturing intelligence system that handles reporting, takes the headache out of data analysis because it presents information in easy-to-interpret data charts that you can translate quickly.

Challenges of measuring manufacturing performance:

Data collection is difficult

Data gathering without the right tools is always going to be a challenge. A little like trying to eat soup with a fork; it may get you by slowly, but it is not the best thing for the job. Using paper-based timesheets and relying on your shop-floor operators to collect this data is not only a poor use of their time but also allows the possibility of inaccuracies. Data collected in this way is not reliable enough to make big business decisions.

The data we collect gets old quickly

When you want to use KPIs for operational improvements, it is essential that the data you are using is both accurate and up to date. You will find it hard to make real improvements like increasing productivity and reducing costs when you can only react to historic data.

It takes a long time to analyse the data

The Manufacturer noted in its 2021 Digital Transformation Assessment that time is a problem for many people when it comes to data collection. A global automotive manufacturer reportedly said, “We still spend more time making the report than we spend doing something with it.”

6 KPIs for Manufacturing Operations Management

Now you know what KPIs are and how to make a great one, but what KPIs could you use to make manufacturing operations management a whole lot easier? Here are some examples of the types of manufacturing KPIs that will make a real difference:

1. Operational Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

One of the most significant KPIs for those looking to maximise productivity, OEE is all about measuring how your equipment actually performs in relation to how you expect it to perform.

2. Overall Labour Effectiveness

Understanding the value of your resources is essential to operations management and that includes your people. Labour makes up such a large proportion of your operational costs, yet it is often overlooked when measuring productivity. Instead of making opinion-based assertions on the performance of your employees, you can gather quantitative data, just like you do with your equipment. This allows you to spot trends like; best-performing shift patterns, and identify employees that may require additional training, and even acknowledge and reward those that are performing particularly well. A good manufacturing operations platform will allow you to look at various dimensions within your organisation, whether that be across: individuals, teams, departments and even plants. You’ll be able to determine the speed at which your operators work as well as the quality of the work being produced.

OLE = Availability x Performance x Quality

Availability = amount of time operators are actively working / amount of time the operators were scheduled for

Performance = actual operator / expected output or labour standard.

Quality = number of sellable units / total units produced.

3. Scrap Rates

Material costs can soon add up when the output from your production process cannot be used as finished goods. There are several reasons why scrap occurs, but all of them result in a cost of both money and time. A high scrap rate could indicate poor raw material inputs, flawed production procedures, faulty machinery or the need to upskill operators. You may need to review how you process work instructions on the shop floor. If you tend to use paper on the shop floor

Scrap Rate % = (Number of Units Scrapped / Total Number of Units Produced) x 100

4. Right First Time / First Pass Yield

There are times when a finished product may not pass quality inspections, resulting in goods being sent back to the shopfloor for reworks. If you want to maintain a lean approach, then you are going to want to find out where and why your products went wrong and keep this

down to a minimum. That is where the ‘right first time or ‘first pass yield’ KPI comes in. Calculating the percentage of products that meet specification requirements, the first time they have been through your processes is a key indicator of how well your production facility is running.

If you find yourself with a low ‘right first-time’ rate, you are going to want to take preventative measures to correct any issues and make sure money is not wasted on repeat reworks. You can use a digital solution that keeps a complete audit trail of each and every stage of your processes to investigate the root cause of these issues.

Right First Time % = (Quality Units / Total Units Produced) x 100

5. On-Time In Full (OTIF)

The number of deliveries made on time and complete / the total number of deliveries.

6. Non-Conformance

Non-conformance or nonconformity is the failure to meet specified requirements. Nonconformity can occur in both the process and the product. Consequently, nonconforming procedures such as not utilizing the management system correctly or not following the standard operating procedures can lead to nonconforming products.

Ultimately, choosing the right technology to measure and manage KPIs for your business can be the difference between success and failure as that directly impacts time and money.

Conclusion

With a clear focus on Product, People and Process, TotalControlPro® helps manufacturers manage operations effectively.

TotalControlPro® brings real-time cloud-based AI/Machine Learning technology to manufacturers via a simple modular and agile Smart Manufacturing platform – a disruptive subscription-based platform that delivers smart work planning, execution, process control, inventory management and real-time performance reporting. Right resources at the right place, at the right time, doing the right task, against the right job.

In addition, we do not charge upfront set-up costs but invest our services into a long-term monthly SAAS agreement so you can focus on your business and maximise your ROI.

If you would like to see how to take Total Control of your manufacturing operations, contact us.

Are you a Lean Master or an Agile Advocate?Are you a Lean Master or an Agile Advocate?

Total Control Pro Limited — 25/05/2023

Are you a Lean Master or an Agile Advocate?

As the team at Total Control Pro work closer with a number of Manufacturing consultants and partners to deliver our solution, we’ve realised they fall largely into two camps, the Lean Masters and the Agile Advocates, and it’s very helpful to understand this from the start of the software configurations and implementation stage.

Agile manufacturing and lean manufacturing are two different approaches to manufacturing processes that aim to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and improve overall productivity.

Agile manufacturing focuses on flexibility and responsiveness to changing customer needs and market conditions. It emphasizes collaboration, quick decision-making, and continuous improvement. The goal of agile manufacturing is to quickly and efficiently produce customized products that meet customer demand, without sacrificing quality.

On the other hand, lean manufacturing is an approach that aims to eliminate waste and optimize processes. It focuses on reducing non-value-added activities, such as overproduction, waiting, defects, overprocessing, excess inventory, unnecessary motion, and unused talent. The goal of lean manufacturing is to create a smooth, efficient flow of materials and information through the production process, delivering products on time with minimum waste.

Agile Manufacturing

Agile manufacturing requires a different approach from traditional manufacturing, as it emphasizes flexibility, speed, and responsiveness. To achieve this, several systems and practices can be put in place. Here are some examples:

Modular Manufacturing: Modular manufacturing involves breaking down the production process into small, independent modules that can be easily combined to create different products. This approach allows for greater flexibility, as modules can be rearranged or replaced as needed.
Rapid Prototyping: Rapid prototyping involves creating physical models of new products quickly and inexpensively. This approach allows for fast iteration and testing, enabling manufacturers to respond quickly to changes in customer needs or market conditions.
Cross-Functional Teams: Cross-functional teams bring together individuals from different departments or areas of expertise to work together on a project. This approach encourages collaboration and knowledge-sharing, enabling teams to quickly identify and solve problems.
Just-In-Time Manufacturing: Just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing involves producing products only as they are needed, rather than building up a large inventory. This approach reduces waste and frees up resources for other tasks.
Agile Supply Chains: Agile supply chains are designed to be flexible and responsive, with the ability to quickly adjust to changes in demand or supply. This approach involves working closely with suppliers and customers to ensure that materials and products are delivered on time and to the required quality standards.
Continuous Improvement: Continuous improvement involves constantly analysing and improving processes to eliminate waste, reduce costs, and improve quality. This approach requires a culture of experimentation and innovation, with a focus on learning from mistakes and making incremental improvements over time.

Lean Manufacturing

Lean manufacturing is an approach that aims to eliminate waste and optimize processes to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve quality. To achieve these goals, several systems and practices can be put in place. Here are some examples:

Kanban System: Kanban is a Japanese term that means “visual signal.” A Kanban system is a pull-based system that uses visual signals, such as cards or bins, to signal the need for materials or parts. This approach ensures that materials are delivered just in time, reducing inventory and waste.
Value Stream Mapping: Value stream mapping involves analysing the entire manufacturing process, from raw materials to finished products, to identify non-value-added activities and opportunities for improvement. This approach helps to identify and eliminate waste, reduce lead times, and improve overall efficiency.
Single-Piece Flow: Single-piece flow involves producing one item at a time, rather than in batches. This approach reduces inventory and waiting times while improving quality and reducing defects.
Total Productive Maintenance (TPM): TPM is a system that involves regular maintenance and inspection of equipment to reduce downtime and improve productivity. This approach helps to identify and eliminate equipment-related waste, such as breakdowns or defects.
5S System: 5S is a workplace organization system that involves sorting, simplifying, sweeping, standardizing, and sustaining. This approach helps to create a clean and organized work environment, reducing waste and improving efficiency.
Poka-Yoke: Poka-yoke is a Japanese term that means “mistake-proofing.” This approach involves designing processes and equipment to prevent errors or defects from occurring. This approach helps to improve quality, reduce waste, and minimize the need for rework or inspection.

Conclusion

In summary, while both agile and lean manufacturing aims to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and improve overall productivity, they differ in their approach. Agile manufacturing emphasizes flexibility and responsiveness, while lean manufacturing emphasizes waste reduction and process optimization. Ultimately, the best approach will depend on the specific needs and goals of the manufacturing organization.

At Total Control Pro, we use an Agile software process to deliver our DynamxMFG platform, we know that there are features and configurations that best serve Lean, while others best serve Agile. If you are looking to implement new technology to support your manufacturing process, contact us to discuss these variations.

Women and Manufacturing

Total Control Pro Limited — 08/07/2019

Dolores Sanders, Women in Innovation Award Winner, was delighted to discuss diversity and Women in Manufacturing with Leasa Clarke at the MIM Summer Drinks - watch this space for some exciting events coming soon.

DynamxMFG Smart Work Bench by TotalControlPro and Steel Frog

Total Control Pro Limited — 23/10/2023

Total Control Pro, a pioneer in innovative software solutions, is thrilled to announce an exciting partnership with SteelFrog, a renowned manufacturer of high-quality, space-efficient lean manufacturing furniture. Together, they are unveiling the future of productivity enhancement and process perfection with the DynamxMFG-Steel Frog Smart Bench.

This groundbreaking collaboration combines Total Control Pro’s award-winning software expertise with Steel Frog’s top-tier, space-efficient furniture for high-use environments that enhance productivity and perfect processes.

Software + Hardware = Total Process Improvement Solution!

DynamxMFG is a subscription-based platform that utilises cloud technology to put you in control of your production facility, providing real-time visibility to your entire enterprise. This is achieved via specific operation areas that cover smart work planning, shop floor data capture, manufacturing execution, process control, inventory management and real-time performance reporting. The right resources, at the right place, at the right time, doing the right task, against the right job.

The Steel Frog Smart Bench is the culmination of innovative technology and ergonomic design, aimed at optimizing productivity and refining processes across a range of industries.

"We are excited to present the Steel Frog Smart Bench at the Expo, as it embodies the growing capabilities of DynamxMFG and highlights the essence of partnership that we are deeply rooted in" says Dorian Smellie, CEO of Total Control Pro. "This collaboration signifies the convergence of software and hardware, and we believe it will redefine how businesses operate in high-use environments."

Visit our stand, L114, at the Advanced Engineering Expo to experience first-hand the future of productivity enhancement and process perfection. Our experts will be available to provide demonstrations, answer questions, and discuss how DynamxMFG can transform your business.

TotalControlPro Partner Showcase – IoT Horizon

Total Control Pro Limited — 06/03/2023

Our business partners program is designed to enable manufacturing companies of all sizes and sectors to take advantage of the latest technology and achieve their business goals. Partnering with Total Control Pro Ltd. to deploy and utilise the proven Manufacturing Operations Platform, DynamxMFG® enables the adoption of industrial digitalisation and drives growth and success. From existing partners, we have seen firsthand the impact our technology can have on a business. Our solutions are flexible and can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each partner.

Each month, Total Control Pro features one of its long-term partner companies. This month we feature IoT Horizon.

Who is IoT Horizon?

IoT Horizon is a leading provider of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for businesses looking to optimise the performance and energy efficiency of their buildings. Their cutting-edge solutions enable building owners to connect, monitor and control their assets and systems in real-time, providing valuable insights that lead to cost savings and improved productivity of the workforce.

What does IoT Horizon do?

IoT Horizon helps clients with digital adoption, which means helping them transition into using digital technologies. IoT Horizon provides end-to-end solutions which include conducting a site survey to determine requirements, building the business case, installing sensors, and using their own IoT platform, called Neronis®, to visualise and analyse the data collected from these sensors. In short, IoT Horizon helps businesses use digital technologies to improve productivity, health, and well-being, and make cost reductions.

Example use cases include…

An overview of the partnership with TotalControlPro

IoT Horizon has a consultancy arm to the business in which we provide independent advice to clients on their digital strategy. Total Control Pro delivers DynamxMFG®, a MES (Manufacturing Execution System) / MOM (Manufacturing Operations Management) that IoT Horizon would recommend to clients looking to track and improve productivity in the manufacturing industry. We bring the IOT, they bring the people product and process tracking. We have delivered a joint solution to AMRC Samlesbury to demonstrate real-time visibility of Stock, Machining, Manufacturing and Assembly, clients can visit this site to see this in action.

Niamh Allen, Sales & Marketing Director, IoT Horizon

As the Sales and Marketing Director of IoT Horizon, I am passionate about our mission to create smarter, more sustainable buildings through IoT technology. With IoT Horizon, businesses can unlock the full potential of their buildings and take a step towards a more efficient and sustainable future.

Dolores Sanders, Strategic Director Total Control Pro Limited, Sales and Marketing – DynamxMFG®

IoT Horizon was introduced to us through another partner and one of our earliest collaborators. As we negotiate the rapidly expanding technology environment and the needs of UK Manufacturing, having Deyrick, Niamh and their team to share the journey has been invaluable.

As technology providers, it is our belief that we need to make and share tech that is fit for spec, and often the right solution for the client is a combination of digital solutions, working with our partners allows us to do this.

Conclusion

The digital environment and journey to Smarter Factories are sometimes seen as a confusing and onerous process. Added to that manufacturers need to find ways to streamline their operations and reduce costs. Total Control Pro Ltd invests in a strategic partner ecosystem that delivers integrated solutions with our DynamxMFG® Operations Platform, enabling Manufacturers to find the right package of services to suit their needs. By joining our partner program, companies will have access to this powerful platform and be able to offer their clients the same level of efficiency and cost savings that we do.

Do not miss this opportunity to stay competitive in the market and offer your clients the best solutions available.

Book a 15-minute demo of our DynamxMFG® platform and discuss our partner program today.

Digital Twin - Future Factories

Total Control Pro Limited — 11/11/2020

Factories of the Future are poised to reshape the global manufacturing landscape.

Turn your vision into reality this Digital Manufacturing Week with a little help from TotalControlPro and partners New Intelligence Ltd Robopod® Mechatronic MCS Control Systems Ltd

Take the first step, and request more information here.

Workplace Productivity Hacks #2: Latest Technology

Total Control Pro Limited — 24/02/2020

TIP: Understand how to utilise the technology and its data – allow the technology to aid your productivity – Find out more about ACTIVATE

How do we utilise the technology?

Technology is consistently evolving. From new apps to cutting edge devices, new resources are constantly being released, offering new ways to improve operations. However, it can be confusing how to cut through all this ‘newness’ and actually utilise technology to achieve productivity growth.

Today manufacturers face high implementation costs and time, as well as delays to experiencing a return on investment. Adding to this, new technologies bring additional data sets and information to management teams, most of whom are consequently left unknowing what to do with it all. They are Data Rich and Intelligence poor.

This is where TotalControlPro (TM) offer a solution, our Activate product can be installed within a week and an immediate ROI is identified. In one sense, the technology we use is not the most advanced that we offer, it utilises and scans paperwork to construct a full audit log enabling a full productivity tracking system, it is however, tech that’s fit for purpose. As mentioned in Productivity Hacks Blog #1, visibility of production systems from show-floor to top-floor is vital for workplace productivity. This provides managers with a clear, full data log of what is happening and offers managers a better overall understanding, enabling faster responses to resource management.

For example, a customer in the recycling industry has taken productivity tracking to the next level. Thanks to adding digital audits and accurate cost and timing data, they can now predetermine the profitability of their recycling process. Complementary economic and environmental considerations can be made in alignment that better serve future generations. At TotalControlPro™ we understand implementing new technologies to improve productivity is not just about the one technology but combining elements that suit the full requirements of your industry and provide clarity rather than confusion.

How do we deliver the technology?

A second consideration when implementing new productivity technologies is the way the technology is delivered. TotalControlPro™ use new methods of deployment to ensure a speedy implementation and easeful transition to use. With overseas clients, TotalControlPro™ assess, configure and deliver our full software system online using webinars, feedback videos and facilitate teaching digital champions across the global manufacturing sector.

We wholly believe in allowing technology to drive and facilitate growth of alternative technologies. A recent client, a tech manufacturer, producing high level digital control panels realised they were making high level tech but not using such tech to assist in their own production. Our advice to them? Don’t wait for the perfect plan based on long drawn out road maps, get started in a small way to build and add on new extra technology. So, why try and solve every problem when you can get Activate up and started in a week and have data to drive your decisions?

TotalControlPro™ believe if you find a good technology partner, they can connect you to technology that assists your growth. You do not have to be the expert. You’re the expert in your business, we’re the expert on our product. We will not tell you how to run your business, we will give you access to the data that helps you do your job to the best standard and evolve the business for the future.

Find out more about ACTIVATE.

Jasmine Smellie _ Marketing

Come and play in Total Control Pro's Ferrari Pit Lane

Total Control Pro Limited — 18/06/2019

On Thursday will be waiting for you at stand B10 of Made In The Midlands Expo 2019, with our brand new red Ferrari.

Although it is, as you have probably noticed, just a Lego one, You can have some fun and track you best time in the Pits to do a bonnet and wheel asssembly.

The fastest to assemble the Ferrari will win a free 90 days trial of our Activate shopfloor Tracking software system

TotalControlPro tracks People Product and rocess on the shop floor, improving productivty and your visibilyt of all process.

All participants will have an activation code for a free 14 day trial.

Join us and see how you compare on our leader board!

B10 stand, close to gate 26. Ricoh Arena, Coventry. 8AM-4PM, 20th June 2016

In the meanwhile, check out our Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and webpage

TotalControlPro™ Activate – Unpacked

Total Control Pro Limited — 25/11/2019

We know that it’s hard to digest everything a product offers, and you can sometimes become overwhelmed; avoiding a decision. So, TotalControlPro is here to make the decision easier and more efficient than ever. Here we unpack Activate, our starter cloud system for tracking the whole working process. Giving you the knowledge to make your decision that little bit easier…

Access, order and go!

One of the biggest benefits of Activate is its simple self-set-up. So, your work can be up and running almost instantly after downloading. The easy-to-start system is simple to use and navigate, helping you find your way quickly. There are no set up costs and no contract required, a simple £195 fee is paid monthly and can be cancelled at any time. Although, we’re pretty confident you won’t…

Key features

TotalControlPro prides itself on providing the latest features on all our products and Activate is no different. Activate is built on the three P’s – Product, People and Process. A work-in-progress (WIP) status, production times and quality control help monitor the product. Whilst live comments, feedback and productivity rate help analyse your staff, making sure everything is running smoothly. The process is provided by supply chain information, KPIs and strategic insights, ensuring no bottlenecks occur.

These features all combine into one easy-to-manage product, helping optimise your workflow and improve the manufacturing process from start to finish.

Why should you use Activate?

If you haven’t made up your mind already this might help. Many of our clients have been able to save at least the cost of one or more full-time equivalent staff per month, with others increasing productivity by 15%. In both cases, TotalControlPro pays for itself in labour savings and operational efficiency. Making it the go-to software for a range of companies.

If you want to experience the benefits for yourself contact TotalControlPro today!

New Website, New Office

Total Control Pro Limited — 17/05/2021

An Update from TotalControlPro

Our shiny NEW website is now live and is showcasing the latest and greatest modules of our TotalControlPro Operations Management Platform. It's now easier than ever to understand and implement Industry 4 technology in your manufacturing business. But that's not all that's new.

Today, (17th May 2021) is our team's first day back in the office and we couldn't be more excited! In 2020, our team grew so much that we had to get a bigger office space and today is the first time we have put it to good use. For many of us it's also the first time we've met each other in person!

TotalControlPro Partner Showcase – Smart Manufacture

Total Control Pro Limited — 06/02/2023

Our business partner program is designed to enable companies of all sizes and manufacturing industries to take advantage of the latest technology and achieve their business goals. Partnering with TotalControlPro® to deploy and utilise the proven Manufacturing Operations Platform DynamxMFG® enables the adoption of industrial digitalisation. drive growth and success. From existing partners, We have seen first-hand the impact our technology can have on a business. Our solutions are flexible and can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each partner.

Each month, Total Control Pro features one of its long-term partner firms. This month we feature Smart Manufacture.

Who is Smart Manufacture?

Smart Manufacture is an independent manufacturing consultant and software services provider specialising in driving growth and efficiency into small to medium-sized manufacturing and small distribution businesses across the UK, by helping them streamline and automate their end-to-end processes. Smart Manufacture partners with several best-of-breed software companies that provide user-friendly and cost-effective offerings in the areas of MRP, MES (Manufacturing Execution System), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), Digital Work Instruction and business process management. There is also another side of the business, Smart Quality, which provides independent ISO consultancy services to the manufacturing sector as well as other sectors, helping companies to implement and maintain several ISO standards in the areas of Quality, Environmental, Health and Safety as well as some niche industry sectors including Medical Device, Aerospace and Nuclear. The company also offers cloud-based software that helps businesses more simply and efficiently manage all their ISO, legal, and wider customer and regulatory compliance activity.

An overview of the partnership with Total Control Pro

Following initially meeting through the Made in the Midlands network, Smart Manufacture and Total Control Pro quickly recognised the potential synergy between their respective manufacturing consultancy and software offerings and the opportunity for Smart Manufacture to identify through their client consultancy engagements the potential fit for Total Control Pro’s platform. As a result, the companies have worked together on a project for a property development and joinery company and are currently engaged in a proof of concept for a steel moulding, laser cutting and fabrication company.

“Smart Manufacture identified the pain and the specific areas where digital solutions can transform the production environment – in doing so, signposted DynamxMFG® to their clients. Smart Manufacture had a trusted advisor role inside the companies they engaged us with, and as such could have some of the challenging conversations around process changes and the boundaries of technology provision vs business process improvements. We are looking forward to more successful deliveries and a fruitful partnership in 2023 and beyond.” Dorian Smellie, CEO, Total Control Pro.

“Smart Manufacture is looking forward to continuing to develop the partnership with Total Control Pro to harness the combined experience and capabilities to help more manufacturers across the UK to drive improved efficiencies and productivity through digitising their manufacturing processes.” Sara Duff, Director, Smart Manufacture.

Why partnerships are important for Total Control Pro?

The digital environment and journey to Smarter Factories can be seen as confusing and onerous as a process and added to that, manufacturers need to find ways to streamline their operations and reduce costs. Total Control Pro Ltd invests in a strategic partner ecosystem that delivers integrated solutions with our DynamxMFG® Operations Platform, enabling Manufacturers to find the right package of services to suit their needs. By joining our partner program, companies will have access to this powerful platform and be able to offer their clients the same level of efficiency and cost savings that we do. Do not miss this opportunity to stay competitive in the market and offer your clients the best solutions available.

Book a 15-minute demo of our DynamxMFG® platform and discuss our partner program today.

What does Smart Manufacture do?

Smart Manufacture provides services such as;

Manufacturing Discovery and Scoping Consultancy
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Optimisation Consultancy
MRP and ERP software
MES software
CRM software
Digital Work Instruction Software
Business Process Management Software

Smart Quality Services

ISO implementation consultancy services
ISO gap analysis consultancy
ISO toolkit templates
ISO maintenance services – one-off or
ongoing internal audit services
ISO and compliance management software
Legal compliance management software

It is important to highlight that SME News recently awarded Smart Manufacture, their Southern Enterprise Award for “Best Manufacturing ERP Solutions Provider”

Conclusion

Manufacturers are wanting integrated solutions that reduce the time, cost and risk of deployment. Total Control Pro Ltd has invested in creating a strategic partner ecosystem that delivers integrated solutions with our DynamxMFG® Operations Platform.

Make Industry 4.0 a reality for your clients with our Performance Partner Programme.

Combine your expertise with DynamxMFG^®industry-leading software to help transform manufacturing. Created by manufacturers for manufacturers, DynamxMFG^® will give you the confidence, resources and benefits to enable you to build a business that is Ready-to-go, Flexible and Rewarding.

Productivity Hack #5: Work-Life Balance, Here to Serve

Total Control Pro Limited — 15/04/2020

Overall Tip: Put measures in place that support your own distinctions between work and leisure. Embrace and adapt to the change, do not fight it and you can come out stronger.

When we originally unfolded this blog back in January, times were very different. The aim was to focus on ensuring a work-life balance for our clients, something much easier to achieve when there is a clear, physical distinction between the workplace and home.

This distinction has recently become blurred as more and more people are tasked with working from home. Therefore, it is more important than ever to strike the balance between work and home life. It is important to recognise this does not apply to everyone, as there remain a lot of manufacturing companies who are continuing normal operations, providing vital goods and services that keep the world turning even during lockdown.

TotalControlPro™ is all about offering the right information at the right time, from anywhere. However, right now that “anywhere” may be your kitchen or home office, due to current circumstances. We have stated in previous blog posts the value we place on the well-being of our workforce, no matter the situation, and you should too, even if the office is just your spare room for the time being.

The TotalControlPro™ team have dominated this remote-working situation by facing it head on and ensuring we have a smooth and well organised communications system, both internally and externally. Here's our approach:

Two team meetings a day using Microsoft Teams ensuring a pro-active start followed by a briefing of our successes and struggles at the end of our day.
Regular check-ins within our teams via video calls to assist and support each other.
Keeping our social media channels updated to provide our followers with current information.
Keeping connected to as many other parties as possible, like our clients to help them in any way we can.

Furthermore, we have many more methods of staying connected as a team that will be implemented moving forward, such as virtual office socials to help manage the spirits of our workforce. The key to this whole system working is healthy communication.

We expect that there will be even more changes yet to come for us at TotalControlPro™ and many other companies across the world, but for a lot of manufacturing companies; little about their day-to-day work life has changed. We rely on these industries continuing in order to keep our lives as normal as possible.

At TotalControlPro™ it is our job to support these manufacturers as best we can with our software. In the past we may have attended factories to show them how our system is implemented and how it works. Now we can deploy all our services online and rapidly. In the case of our newest customer, we took them from initial demo to deployment in just 10 days. It is so important that our clients and their workforce have access to the information our software enables, both on or off site.

We understand the need to trust and communicate with our team, that we will work together and get the work completed to the best of our ability during these trying times. This trust means that management do not have to check in on employees constantly to see if they are doing their job or not.

Another key part of this new way of working is patience. We must be patient with each other as we transition into a new way of working for the foreseeable future, it can take time to adjust to new circumstances and here at TotalControlPro™ we fully understand that it will be difficult.

Something to keep in mind is that for a lot of people, their workplace and their home are now the same place; meaning that the line between work and free time is blurred. It is good to have something that signifies the end of the day. It could be good for you to write a daily schedule so that you know that once the last thing on that list is completed; it is the end of your working day and you may now spend time in leisure. It’s all about doing what you can to prevent those lines from becoming blurred.

Currently, we are faced with very difficult circumstances. Everyone is trying to work around COVID-19 and we are doing our best to accept this change and to adjust to the position we find ourselves in.

As a team we continue to adapt and hope you hear our battle cry:

"We are here to serve so how can we help?"

George Welford_Marketing

A guide to Industry 4.0 – Getting Underneath the Jargon

Total Control Pro Limited — 22/10/2020

We have certainly had an uncertain year, Brexit and COVID-19 have highlighted further instabilities, with the pandemic forcing us to change the way we live and work. Factories that were beginning to make decisions to drive their digital agendas have had to accelerate their decision making in order to keep manufacturing plants in operation. While every company is different, the one thing that all manufacturing industries have in common is the need for connectivity and; access to real-time data across partners, processes, products, and people – the need to be part of Industry 4.0 (not just switch off!)

Total Control Pro Ltd and MCS Control Systems have come together once again since the Silverstone Technology Cluster webinar, to discuss the what, why, and how of Industry 4.0 and the importance of making these changes sooner rather than later.

Evolution of The Industrial Revolution

Before understanding what Industry 4.0 is, it’s important to acknowledge that there have been many Industrial Revolutions, all of which came with changes that seemed overwhelming at first. Now, we look back at these changes knowing how important they were for manufacturing to move forward in such competitive markets.

The First Industrial Revolution

Taking place between the late 1700s and early 1800s, the first industrial revolution noticed a shift in manual labour processes. In particular, this was the evolution from human and animal labour to an improved system that allowed people to use water and steam powered engines along with other machine tools.

The Second Industrial Revolution

The second industrial revolution began in the early 20^th century when steel and electricity were introduced to factories. Electricity really helped to propel the industry into a new era with a focus on improving efficiency and productivity; from the benefits of mobile factory machinery and developing the concept of assembly lines.

The Third Industrial Revolution

The third industrial revolution emerged in the late 1950s when more electronic technology was incorporated into factories. Eventually, this started to include computers too. The era of robots being used commonly put emphasis on an era of high-level automation.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution – What is Industry 4.0?

Industry 4.0 is something that many find hard to wrap their head around. That’s why we asked Sam Thiara, Business Development Manager at MCS Control Systems how he would define Industry 4.0, given his experience in this field. He said that the simplest way of defining Industry 4.0 is “The next generation of being able to improve a business using technology and linking that with people and processes.” It’s the next step to improving levels of productivity, as well as enabling ease-of-access to vital data, whenever you need it.

There is no doubt that technology is a massive part of our day-to-day lives, however the increasingly connected culture we find ourselves in is having a massive impact on the world of industry. The fourth industrial revolution also known as Industry 4.0, emerged over the past few decades and is still happening today. Industry 4.0 primarily focuses on connectivity and collaboration with the help of the internet. Industry 4.0 highlights the importance of M2M (Machine to Machine) and IoT (Internet of Things) deployments to bring about increased automation, improved communication and monitoring as well as smart machines that can diagnose and fix issues without the need for human intervention.

Industry 4.0 is already leading to factories becoming more automated and self-monitoring as the machines are able to connect and communicate with each other. This allows human workers to work on other tasks, which grants companies a much smoother overall production process.

What are the advantages of Industry 4.0?

The true value of Industry 4.0 comes from improving productivity and minimising inefficiency in all aspects, making it one of the most valuable concepts of the modern world of industry. Some of the benefits of adopting an Industry 4.0 model include;

Addressing potential issues before they become big problems

The key to this is the ability to access real-time data (or near to real-time). Of course, there are limitless benefits to real-time data, especially in manufacturing. But what exactly does access to live data allow you to do as a business? How will it impact your processes moving forward? Sam described how this data could benefit you, “firstly, you can actually act on a particular circumstance that might have created a problem in a part of your facility, on demand. The challenge of not having access to live data is that you can’t act on this information.” If you are only using historical information to make decisions, you risk losing time, money, and even customers if something goes wrong along the way.

Total Control Pro Ltd, Strategic Director, Dolores Sanders said, “We know in manufacturing, there’s always a plant operator who can walk into work and just by the sense and feel of the plant that day they can tell you how things are going to go. We want to be able to capture that in a digital flow of the workforce and how they operate.” Through the use of these systems, harnessing the digital flow through real-time data, the productivity of the workforce on any given day will be at the end of your fingertips.

TotalControlPro™ is often adopted to address, high-end requirements of planning and scheduling and resource management. However often we ascertain, that some of the foundation data needed, is missing:

Accurate production times per process being worked and per person.
Clear workflow instructions and line of site of next job
Ease to batch into production for efficiencies

Without this core data, everything else is like icing on mud – it looks good in the board room, but it’s not grounded in reality.

Remote working

The need for digital technologies in manufacturing is at an all time high, especially due to the problems the world is faced with at the moment. Some of the recent changes seen in digitising operational processes have been made out of necessity in response to COVID-19, but are they to become the foundation that brings about long-term change to our manufacturing?

Sam acknowledged, “There’s a lot of untapped potential in manufacturing plants”. There are plenty of missed opportunities to be more productive, saving time and money. Productivity data is invaluable to manufacturers in an environment that can be very difficult to manage, which is why the ability to collect real-time data is so important. You shouldn’t need to be down on the shop floor to manage your employees. Remote access to that data should be quickly and easily available at all times and this is exactly what the future of manufacturing may look like, in order to stay in operation safely.

Build stronger and more collaborative teams

Dolores highlighted the best way to empower your team with digital adoption is to include them: “The collaboration that we do both through the cluster and beyond is absolutely key to really start to provide the best practice in the sense of digital technologies that are available”.

Industry 4.0 is something that is embraced by the entire business. Everyone in the business needs to be aware of the change in technology and how it will benefit the team moving forward. Sam stresses “If a business is looking to take on Industry 4.0 in its fullest context, they should look to initially benchmark their business.”
This benchmarking enables you to set smaller, easier-to-achieve goals that will allow you to adopt these changes over time with quick-wins. Dolores said, “Industry 4.0 should not be a solely top-down driven initiative it requires the full collaboration of the whole team. It can solve short-term problems with a department or process but the long term impact is achieved when the whole team are fully onboard to create that culture of change within the organisation. If you begin to demonstrate small wins, you start to get people onboard quicker.”

Advice to those beginning their Industry 4.0 journey

Jumping into a changing industry can be very daunting and sometimes people don’t get it right first time. We asked Sam what one of his top tips are for people who are just starting their Industry 4.0 adoption: “Don’t get confused about the jargon. If you take jargon out of the discussion, that in itself would stop the confusion. Larger companies may have teams in place to be able to understand and apply this type of technology and understand that language. The smaller companies quite often don’t do that or don’t have the time to do that. Get rid of the jargon – you do that and I think you’ll get a lot more people engaged.”

Dolores also stressed the importance of understanding the data that you’re collecting: “Bring clarity, bring intelligence. Not just more data”. It’s all well and good having the data there in front of you, but if you can’t make sense of it then it’s completely pointless. Clarity is very important, because it allows you to have the understanding of the data to take corrective action when the need arises. Also , don’t try to simply digitise what you’ve always done. Learn what is working and evolve your process, to embrace the new connectivity. Sometimes companies come to us, want to digitise manufacturing without making any adjustments. That is a bit like buying a Ferrari, but asking for it to still look and feel like your old Skoda, with speed. Some changes are inevitable.

How do people embrace Industry 4.0 while keeping the costs to a minimum?

Cost is a hugely important thing in the manufacturing industry, and you want to keep costs to a minimum as much as possible. Dolores believes that cost is one of the first things that should be taken into consideration and here’s why it’s so important: “Cost optimisation is one of the first things to consider. If we’re going to really manage the resources of our planet and the resources of our manufacturing systems, it’s absolutely key to understand where our costs are building up and what we can deliver to address those.”

Many people are very sceptical of the change into digital transformation because things like this don’t come without spending some money, and it raises questions about the return of investment it can offer. This is holding a lot of people back from making these changes. Here’s Sam’s top tip on how to avoid this: “Because I don’t believe that Industry 4.0 is just about technology, if you align the technology with some of the key business objectives you’re trying to achieve, then that will allow you to be able to determine if what you’re about to invest will provide some return on investment or an element of payback. Try to avoid using technology for the sake of technology, that is when it becomes expensive. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got the latest technologies today or you had it 10 years ago. That’s been one of the challenges of the industry, that it’s been a case of: put some technology in and we’ll improve a piece of the process but they do not often tie that back to the business objectives. That’s what an organisation needs to truly take advantage of Industry 4.0.”

Total Control Pro Ltd live by the Mantra “Available, Accessible, Affordable” and operate on a land and expand process. You can start your digitalisation journey, for less than a cup of coffee per employee, and expand from there, as you see the benefits.

Start your Industry 4.0 Journey with a discovery demo of the TotalControlPro™ Manufacturing Platform Today!

Strategic Director Dolores Sanders speaks to NLive

Total Control Pro Limited — 15/04/2020

TotalControlPro Strategic Director Dolores Sanders speaks to April Ventour on NLive Radio about all things Tech! From movements to inspire more women into STEM to recognising the current shifts in technology both locally and across the country, Dolores remarks at the powerful impact technology is having at bringing people together during particularly challenging times and how there are positives arising.

Recorded on Friday 20th March 2020 - Dolores' interview starts at 14-minutes.

On-Premises MRP or Cloud MRP: What's the difference?

Total Control Pro Limited — 07/07/2021

With so many acronyms popping up within the world of Industry 4, it can be difficult for manufacturers to keep up. Instead of trying to work out if you need an MRP, ERP, or MOM; you should be considering whether your business needs a more traditional on-premises system or a flexible cloud system. Compare the two in the infographic below:

Click here to explore the cloud-based modules that make up the TotalControlPro Manufacturing Operations Platform

Visualise a Smarter Factory with our Digital Twin

Total Control Pro Limited — 09/12/2020

During 2020’s Digital Manufacturing week Total Control Pro, New Intelligence Ltd, Voyage 360, Mechatronic, Robopod® and MCS Control Systems Ltd came together to prove how manufacturing technology can work together to benefit UK manufacturing and beyond. The collaboration, revealed the journey of building a smarter factory through a Digital Twin that allows you to see the technology in action in a factory environment. No more reading about what a smart factory could be, now you can physically see what’s possible for yourself!

What is a Smart Factory?

A true smart factory can be defined as a factory that uses fully connected and flexible systems. This connectivity enables a constant stream of data from synchronised operations and production systems to learn and adapt to new demands. Instead of just gathering various bits of data from various parts of your plant, smart factories can integrate data from system-wide physical, operational, and human assets to create informed business decisions.

Acknowledging Your Current Factory

The first stage of creating a Smart Factory is acknowledging the factory you currently have. After all, it has got you to where you are today! Once you have identified what is working from your current systems and what challenges you’re facing, you then have the opportunity to take corrective action one step at a time.

The Components of a Smart Factory

Many manufacturers already have implemented some components of a smart factory. For example, you may have tools that automate elements of the supply chain like barcode scanners, and different tools that automate various manufacturing stages like robotics. But often, these automations are disconnected from each other. Lack of connectivity between machines and across lines of business mean that people have to keep checking disparate data sets to identify problems or opportunities for improvement. A true smart factory means that none of these data becomes isolated.

Other components you can implement to make your factory smarter include;

Integrating real-time production data with predictive inventory and purchase management systems so your stock can align with your production schedule like you can with the TotalControlPro™ Inventory Module.
Using machine learning to automatically analyse data gathered by sensors and monitoring devices on equipment that recognise opportunities to improve efficiency. From there, intelligent software can actually change the parameters machines use to function, automatically implementing process improvements.
Making better use of robotics solutions, such as drones to handle repetitive tasks that previously required human intervention freeing up human operators to focus on other tasks.

Smart Factories of the Future

Struggling to picture your factory getting smarter? Take a look at our complete digital twin to see a connected factory in action. Connectivity enables multiple opportunities to reshape the ways in which value is captured. In other words, it allows you to turn data into insight, and insight into action. Not only will you be connecting assets, processes and machines, but you’ll be able to connect people across the factory too – from shop floor to top floor!

If you are ready to discuss making your factory smarter then take the first step – Book a Demo today!

Midlands Manufacturers - Free Process Tracking Software

Total Control Pro Limited — 17/03/2020

Made In the Midlands Offer:

Free 3 months Process tracking Energise Product - enabling remote monitoring and management, and production improvements,

Please contact belinda.walton@totalcotnrolpro.com details

Lets #MakeItReal

Come and See us in Birmingham!

Total Control Pro Limited — 15/10/2019

Come and see us on stand C36 at @advancedenguk 2019! See how #DataDriven technology can have you streamline your production process #MakeItReal #Productivity

Technology and Employee Wellbeing

Total Control Pro Limited — 05/05/2020

“The wellbeing of a workforce is right at the top of everyone’s agenda right now… The part that technologies such as TotalControlPro both play now and will continue to play as technologies evolve, is going to be critical for everyone.”

Looking ahead CEO Dorian Smellie considers – how do we look after the wellbeing of our workforce as we return to work?

Hear more at https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6663374787550814208

MadeSmarter employeewellbeing ukmfg # ukmanufacturing

How to build a resilient manufacturing supply chain

Total Control Pro Limited — 18/05/2021

Over the years, supply chains have grown in intricacy and complexity with many plants and suppliers are being spread out across the world. Building resilience within your supply chain to ensure it can withstand external shocks has never been more important. Sometimes external shocks can be anticipated, and you have chance to prepare, like with Brexit. But sometimes they are forced upon with little-to-no notice at all. When COVID-19 hit, it came as no surprise that national lockdowns impacted these complex manufacturing supply chains, pushing resilience to the limit.

At the start of the UK’s first national lockdown, Make UK’s YouGov survey showed that manufacturers were having difficulties sourcing component parts directly from China or any other countries affected by Coronavirus. Like with any linear chain of dependents, it was only a matter of time before this would have a knock-on effect to production in the UK.

Source: Make UK YouGov survey of 244 manufacturers between 4th – 16th March 2020

How COVID-19 impacted manufacturing supply chains

Component parts were being held up around the globe causing many production facilities to come to a halt. During this time, the cost of getting these parts to the UK also significantly increased and only extended the delays. For many, the pandemic has exposed opportunities to improve operations, processes, and logistics, but is COVID-19 the driver of change that will instil agility and resilience to the sector?

According to The Manufacturer’s Digital Transformation Assessment 2021, manufacturer priorities have largely stayed the same despite COVID-19 struggles with 75% of them wanting to prioritise supply chain integrity and resilience. The report also shows that the pandemic has influenced their decision to invest in adopting digital technologies with 67% of them accelerating their plans adoption projects.

Supply Chains vs Supply Chain Networks

The traditional linear supply chain is rapidly transforming into a series of dynamic, integrated systems. In a traditional manufacturing supply chain, information moves like falling dominos – with each step dependant on the one before it. Whereas in a supply chain network, information is being passed fluidly between a series of manufacturers and suppliers, all of which are being informed based on real-time data. A supply chain network reflects the complexity of manufacturing processes across all industries. Parts and components are often sourced from across the world, modified and adapted before being sent on to someone else for the next part of the manufacturing process, crossing the paths of different sectors, companies and even countries.

How to build manufacturing supply chain resilience

Building a smart supply chain network can be challenging but there a number of ways to make it much simpler.

Understand the supply network by increasing visibility

End-to-end visibility allows you to view multiple aspects of the supply chain all at once, providing insights into critical areas. Instead of viewing siloed batches of information from various sources and attempting to piece them together manually digital technologies enable companies to track material flow, synchronise schedules and balance supply and demand. Once you have completely understood your position within the supply chain network you need to understand how the links fit together.

Mitigate risk

Brexit has forced UK businesses to prepare their supply chains for a drastic change. It encouraged people to make their supply chains more resilient through planning. Risks that would impact businesses were considered and solutions were found before the UK left the EU, minimising the potential for disruption. This goes to show that getting ahead of the game is crucial. Manufacturers that had assessed the risks impacting their supply chain and planned for external shocks would have found it much easier to battle lockdown measures than those who hadn’t planned for disruption in the global supply chain. Once you gain complete visibility and understand how your supply chain works, you can identify where a problem might occur and plan a solution that ensures you are not impacted.

Diversification and Localisation

Naturally, the first thing that comes to mind for many when thinking about strengthening supply chains, is reshoring. However, when a selection of manufacturers came together at the Backing Britain event last August, many mentioned that whilst they have the desire to reshore – it is not a practical strategy that they could commit to. As a solution to this, the idea of ‘nearshoring’ was discussed, where nearby suppliers are used, sitting in the middle of offshoring and reshoring.

Diversifying your supply base will ensure that there is always a back-up supplier for when things go wrong. Utilising multiple suppliers in multiple locations will help to build supply chain resilience. By combining local suppliers with existing global supply chains you can ensure you don’t end up with a shortage of critical components and prevent your operations coming to a halt.

Build strong relationships with your suppliers just as you would with your customers. Opening lines of communication between everyone involved in your supply chain network will allow for suppliers, and partners to share data and information directly to enable decisions to be made based on coherent data. How can you work together to reduce lead-times? Is the information you’re sharing accurate, valuable and relevant?

Digital Supply Chains

Data is critical for establishing the foundations of a resilient supply chain and technology is crucial to gathering accurate data. Digital supply chains can help you improve your supplier selection, manage relationships and provide real-time analysis that will increase agility and predict future shocks. Once digitised, it becomes much easier to connect and coordinate resources to dynamically schedule to order. Not only will this connectivity benefit internal systems but it’ll also enable better collaboration between OEMs and SME manufacturers to fill the gaps and manage out processes.

What does a digital supply chain look like?

Let’s take a look at JCB who recently won a £26 million order from Ardent Hire Solutions, and consider how a digital supply chain could work for them. For JCB to coordinate all the parts needed to create their 525 new telehandlers they need to work with their suppliers in a dynamic and effective way. They need to reach out to their many suppliers, to ensure they’re getting the right resources at the right time. The task for JCB to manage all the parts coming in is a very difficult and manual process which can be made much simpler by using connected digital technologies like the TotalControlPro™ Manufacturing Platform.

JCB’s manufacturing suppliers could make use of the Customer Management and Inventory modules to create sales orders determined by their current level of stock and even create a order with their OEM suppliers when their supply is running low, ensuring a continued flow of supply.

Manufacturing planning for 2019; module optimisation

Total Control Pro Limited — 25/11/2019

Friday 21 December, 2018

Following our last blog on productivity at the North pole, we mentioned the TotalControlPro planning module. With that in mind, in 2019, anticipating industry trends and technical developments is paramount. In fact, it’s alleged the UK’s growth in the manufacturing sector fell by 0.8% in 2018. So, ensuring productivity and survival ahead of Brexit, whilst conforming to industry 4.0 principles is key. To explain, we’ve discussed the importance of planning and how our modules can enhance the process in the new year.

Energise Module Pricing by TotalControlPro

Why should manufacturers be planning ahead?

It’s been an exciting year for TotalControlPro. We spoke at various UK events, including the Advanced Engineering show. However, we’re now at the end of Q4; Christmas is upon us and a new year around the corner. Therefore, it’s time to plan.

For example, industry 4.0 will see more use of AI in manufacturing, for example our cloud-control modules. They provide real-time digital tracking across the entire production process for seamless operations. In addition, The Internet of Things (IoT); interrelated and enhanced connectivity will change how manufacturers record and use data. So, the IoT will provide better insight into supply chain and inventory processes. Additionally, IoT enabled tech allows manufacturers to maximise equipment lifespans without disrupting output. Overall, this means lower planning, downtime and costs necessary.

Enterprise Module Pricing by TotalControlPro

How Energise and Enterprise can optimise the process

Planning ahead isn’t as daunting as it seems. In fact, industry 4.0 presents various advantages, such as improved productivity, performance and product tracking methods. Implementing Industry 4.0 frameworks, such as our cloud-control software can optimise the planning process. Its simple to install for easy integration with existing formats. Our Energise module can track all elements of production, providing real-time data on all people and machine processes. Additionally, it can produce key analytic reports whilst enhancing manufacturing intelligence with integrated resource planning.

On the other hand, using IoT and optimising production in real-time enables manufacturers to become more efficient, reducing wastage. Our Enterprise module optimises the planning process by personalising the system around specific production needs. Everyone can see stats such as job times and task completion in real-time. Using the data along with KPI tracking follows the whole process. Therefore, gaining accurate data equates to smarter decision making in the planning and scheduling of the operation.

Advanced Manufacturing and AI Webinar

Total Control Pro Limited — 13/08/2020

TotalControlPro™ Strategic Director, Dolores Sanders discussed how AI can integrate with the other manufacturing systems, to re programme and manage robotic activity as well as optimise production in an agile and flexible manner.

The promise of Industry 4.0 is connecting People Product and Process. Often people are ignored and the result is that manufacturing today is data rich: but information poor. TotalControlPro™ connects the buzz around machine automation and data; with people, enabling those on the floor do their jobs better and respond to change, which is naturally linked to increased productivity.

If you missed out on the live webinar on Thursday 16th July, catch up right here!

Total Control Pro has been awarded Best Manufacturing Systems Developers 2023 - British Made Awards.

Total Control Pro Limited — 22/11/2023

Total Control Pro, a leading provider of cutting-edge manufacturing systems, has recently been recognized as the Best Manufacturing Systems Developers in the prestigious British Made Awards. This accolade is a testament to their unwavering commitment to technological innovation, unparalleled expertise, and exceptional service to the manufacturing industry.

The British Made Awards have become renowned for celebrating British manufacturers who uphold the highest standards of quality and excellence. This year, Total Control Pro emerged as the standout winner in the category of Manufacturing Systems Developers, impressing the judges with their groundbreaking solutions and forward-thinking approach.

What sets Total Control Pro apart from their competitors is their deep understanding of the challenges faced by manufacturers. They have consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the industry, leveraging the latest advancements in technology to streamline operations, enhance productivity, and drive long-term growth.

Their state-of-the-art manufacturing systems have revolutionised the way businesses operate, providing a comprehensive suite of tools designed to optimise every aspect of the production process. From inventory management to quality control, Total Control Pro's solution DynamxMFG offers unparalleled visibility and control, empowering manufacturers to make informed decisions and drive efficiency.

One of their most notable offerings is their cutting-edge production planning software, which enables manufacturers to accurately forecast demand, optimise scheduling, and balance resources. By harnessing the power of advanced algorithms and data analytics, Total Control Pro helps businesses minimise waste, reduce costs, and maximize output, thereby increasing their competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market.

Additionally, Total Control Pro's commitment to continuous improvement is evident in their seamless integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technology into their systems. By connecting machines, sensors, and devices, they create a network of interconnected components that enables real-time monitoring, data collection, and analysis. This invaluable data-driven approach empowers manufacturers to preemptively identify and resolve issues before they impact production, minimizing downtime and ultimately elevating customer satisfaction.

Moreover, Total Control Pro recognises the importance of adaptability and scalability in an ever-changing manufacturing landscape. With their agile framework, they ensure that their solutions can be tailored to fit businesses of all sizes and industries. Whether a small-scale niche manufacturer or a multinational conglomerate, Total Control Pro has the expertise and flexibility to cater to unique requirements, allowing for seamless integration and rapid return on investment.

Total Control Pro's dedication to customer success, evident in their responsive customer support and comprehensive training programs, further solidifies their position as the industry's best. They go above and beyond to understand each client's specific needs, providing individualized solutions, and offering continuous guidance and support throughout the implementation process and beyond.

The Best Manufacturing Systems Developers award at the British Made Awards 2023 is a tremendous achievement for Total Control Pro, reflecting their unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction. As they continue to redefine the manufacturing landscape, this recognition serves as a validation of their leadership in the industry.

The future looks incredibly bright for Total Control Pro, as they remain at the forefront of technological advancements, driving industry-wide transformation, and setting new benchmarks for manufacturing systems developers. With their unrivaled expertise, disruptive solutions, and steadfast commitment to customer success, they are poised to continue revolutionizing the manufacturing industry and exceeding the expectations of their clients.

Our Customer's Experience - By way of Silverstone Composites

Total Control Pro Limited — 01/07/2020

At TotalControlPro™ the customer comes first. Your needs are central to the way we operate. Inside of this stand here is a brief overview of a new customer’s journey with us.

We are committed to breaking down the traditional barriers to software deployment. Say goodbye to long, costly implementation times, complex new systems to teach staff and no guarantees of a return on your investment. TotalControlPro™ seeks to provide a plug and play experience. The experience of putting technology inside your factory could be as simple as the technology you install in the home. It could be as easy to run a track and trace, customer management or Inventory system as it is to download Netflix onto your TV.

Our customer experience falls into FOUR simple steps:

Demo

Book a free online demo with our team as a chance for you to visualise the system, the way it works, view its functionalities from job tracking to profit identification. This is also a chance to highlight any concerns or specific challenges you currently face to our team. There is the opportunity to personalise the system from design to job functions.

Time to ACTIVATE your system! The journey from “interested” to “activated customer” starts here. An automated software subscription and portal, that puts you in charge of the number of users and modules and how you want to access them.

Now ENERGISE and get your first level configuration mapped out.

You can of course configure your system yourself – you are in control, however, we have some experience in this, and advise condensing time and booking some sessions with our Professional Services team – much more fun than that sounds.

a) Scoping and Configuring

Whenever we embark on helping a new customer deploy our system the most important start is to address the current problems you are facing. This is identified during our scoping stage. Prior to the pandemic, these would be done onsite. Our team would come to you, work with your production staff, get to know the team, understand their needs, view data processing and establish the desires for the system operating inside the factory.

We are now able to deliver this exact service virtually through a series of sprint call sessions. During these virtual calls our PS team understand who has what data, where, how it is used and then processed. The key at this stage is getting all stakeholders together and configuring exactly how our system would look and work from shop floor to top floor to meet your needs.

b) On-boarding and support

Through close client relationships and on-boarding support calls we will connect, customise and assimilate the system into the rest of your organisation for full integration.

We understand deploying a new software throughout your factory can be a daunting procedure. However, through our support board and knowledge base where you can speak to the team or check-in on our videos, we are there to ensure a seamless journey. By supporting managers, we teach staff to use the system quickly and efficiently.

Syncronise

Data driven results : Use the data, to improve processes

As your system starts to generate data, we will support you with the technology to connect and automate your production process. Talk to the team about Syncronised Manufacturing.

You are up and running! Watch your production levels reach new heights!

Webinar: SME Manufacturers collaborating to solve the UK productivity challenge!

Total Control Pro Limited — 28/02/2024

Calling All Manufacturing SMEs and Industry Innovators: Let's Tackle the UK Productivity Challenge Together!

Join us for our upcoming webinar where we'll dive deep into this crucial topic. Discover how SME manufacturers are coming together, pooling resources, and forging alliances to overcome the productivity challenge head-on.

In this engaging session in partnership with Conex and the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub (SMDH), you will discover:

✅ Strategies for enhancing productivity in your manufacturing operations

✅ Insights into effective collaboration models among SMEs

✅ Real-life success stories of SME manufacturers driving change

✅ Opportunities for networking and partnership

What's your plan to support and solve #ukproductivity?

This isn't just a question; it's a call to action. And the answer lies in collaboration, innovation, and shared determination.

SME Manufacturers, are the unsung heroes pioneering collaboration to solve the UK's productivity challenge! It's a monumental task, but one that's well worth discussing and supporting.

Date: 06 March 2024

Time: 1 PM

Register to attend here: Link

Thoughts about the Economic Climate from our Chairman

Total Control Pro Limited — 26/03/2020

Anthony White cut his teeth in the financial sector, in these times of crisis the changes being made on a daily basis are concerning, we wanted to share the thoughts of someone who has weathered a similar storm...

LATEST – 09/04/2020 - Equity Markets

The difference between the performance of the global equity markets and the underlying companies has rarely been larger.
Recovery from the peak of panic selling has been impressive with some indices up nearly 30% from their recent trough.
Equity markets have always been there to discount future expectations, i.e. hope or doom. When the dramatic fall came last month, expectations became very bad very quickly and now that has changed. (It could of course change again).
The major economies are seeing the 7-day rolling average of new Coronavirus cases either flatten out or decline. The countries which were first afflicted are slowly coming back on economic stream. New York which is the Global Capital of the Financial Markets Worldwide is seeing its 7-day rolling average flatten which is very significant as that is the HQ for decision making in the Financial Markets.
Importantly the US starts releasing its 1st quarter earnings numbers next week. These are expected to be pretty bad. However, if the equity markets don’t react negatively to these announcements this could offer up another positive move. If they are worse than expected expect a move lower again for the Global Indices could be expected.
We have seen a huge decline in oil prices thanks to a price war between Saudi, Russia and the USA. This acts as another huge easing of inbuilt costs and is very helpful to our economic recovery.

26/03/2020 – Sending in the Cavalry

The lasting commonality behind any economic recovery of victory in war is multiple people working together. We should all be grateful the US Cavalry has ridden to the rescue with a near $2tn package. It probably has more rights than wrongs, and similar to the UK version offers support to workers and not just large corporations.
From Trumps’ Tweets, he seems to think the country could be open by Easter which plays against all advice given by his ‘specialist medical team’ and those elsewhere in the world (except Sweden which still hasn’t moved to lock-down).
An interesting quirk of the USA is that State Governors can issue State of Emergency lockdowns over which the President has very little sway. Several senior supporters of Trump have suggested that running an economy with hospitals overflowing just won’t be possible.
Given the high ranking Trump’s supporters (Cheney, Graham et al.) making these points I suspect Trump may change his messaging. It will be interesting to see how quickly the tune changes in Russia where the President is playing a similar game only to be called out recently by the Mayor of Moscow.
The People’s Bank of China is in discussions to cut rates for the first time since 2005. There is also a mandate to lend money to companies which may not being run very well which looks like a short-term move to sustain employment. The latter looks like storing trouble down the road.

25/03/2020 – Finance and Peacetime Activity

The US has failed to get an agreement thanks to Democrat Leader Nancy Pelosi through the Senate pushing back on greater oversight on funds given to larger companies, a whole raft of green issue and the need for more money to be given to employees.
US Politicians are arguing in the eye of the storm and putting politics before country. The ECB announced a 750bn euro debt repurchase plan, but similar to last time, politicians are arguing in the background and no one quite believes they will carry it out.
Meanwhile the Chinese are recovering and beginning to carry out soft diplomacy upon those countries caught with Covid-19. Given many of the countries in Europe haven’t yet fully recovered from the poor handling of the 2008 crisis some are only too willing to take help from whoever makes the offer (including Italy allowing the Russians to fly in troops and supplies which in better times might be considered an act of war!). In 2008 the Chinese and American politicians worked very closely to help create a resolve. Today Trump and Hsu are both being undiplomatic about each other’s countries.
One of the great things enforced by the regulatory bodies in the broking industry was “Know Your Client”. This embodied understanding every aspect of your client including their ability to pay for trades executed upon their behalf. Settlement was 2 days and if they didn’t settle the cost loosely came out of your hide. That could be very expensive. Most industries have settlement nearer 60 days which is terrible for manufacturers.
In these trying times “Knowing Your Client” is vital to your future. Rate them by revenue. Highest revenue is highest risk. Create a risk rating which relates to your industry, understand their business. Dissect their filings at Companies House, they have an excellent search engine. If you subscribe to a credit rating agency like Experian or Equifax now is a good time to become an expert. While all clients would like to do business as before this just isn’t realistic, so understanding where you have problems and making adjustments to payment terms is vital. Remember cash is king

23/03/2020 – Navigating Through the Information

I was asked a few weeks ago at a talk to students of a local university whether the 2008 the fat cat bank bail-out by the US and UK was morally OK. Interesting question. On the surface no. Delve a few inches lower and the answer was absolutely yes.
Real answer was the much delayed and argued bail-out in Europe was a disaster, morally awful. There was too much belief by the ECB (very political) in the system at the EU being blessed by Divine Right and therefore it didn’t have the same problems as the US/UK banking system. They were so wrong and ended up with unemployment in the 20% + in many countries within the EU while the US/UK rate fell to a recent level just below 4%.
CFOs now need to divine their expectations and what they can do with current cash supplies. Employees can also look to the future again, albeit with some trepidation. The race is on to get the funding to the companies as soon as physically possible. The UK has a Conservative Government with a very large majority and is therefore able to push legislation through quickly which isn’t happening in other countries.
Until we see a package out of the US and multiple other countries, which helps both the corporates and their employees, the effect of the UK package will be limited however much of a gold standard it might set.

20/03/2020 – More Business Focused Observations

Creating legislation to fit the pandemic takes time. The dislocation between Central Banks not working together and not necessarily singing of the same hymn sheet means the time to success is longer that needed. The ECB continues to have internal wrangling with similar dislocations between North and South.
Chancellor Sunak is to unveil a line-up of plans to help employers fund employees. The Prime Minister offered to ‘stand by you’ if you the employer ‘stood by your employees’. The currency weakness this may create should be offset by other nations enacting similar policies. The market’s reaction to both the potential support from the UK and from the US was positive. Help of this type is very hard for the politicians, it means trusting the public with government funds which they find difficult.
The weakness in the Norwegian Krona is more a reflection of it being perceived as an oil based economy. One should remember they have a Sovereign Fund which stands at around $1t in asset value which for population of 5.4m people is very supportive.

19/03/2020 – Business Focused Observations

The huge sell off in US Treasuries marked a warning shot against the lack of initiative offered up by Trump and other leaders around the world. The bond market is the most important of Global Market and when confidence is so low - it gets sold off. Politicians need to listen. Central Banks have for the most part actioned answers for a ‘normal recession’.”
We need to see action by leaders around the world to helicopter money into the system to support jobs and employment costs. If you offer an arm of certainty - with a future ahead and not just in the rear view - the markets and panic should ease. We are not there yet.
If the State is requesting or demanding the population stays at home and not go to work, it needs to become the “provider of last resort” in terms of wages, credit support for business and insurance.
On a positive note the $5 bbl decline in the oil price (and the continued inventory build thanks to weak demand) adds another $200bn in cost reduction to the global economy, not big but OK for one day’s work.

18/03/2020 – Surviving an Economic Health Crisis

The really interesting positive step which has received little airtime this time around is the oil price war by Saudi against Russia and the USA shale producers. This has knocked the oil price from around $57bbl to around $30bbl. If you look purely at the decline in price and the net benefit to the global economy, it takes about $1 trillion a year out of oil spend or input costs. This frees up around 1.25% of Global GDP ($85t) to be spent upon more important items.
In both Sweden and Denmark, they have enacted policies to fund a large portion of wage costs to keep people employed. Given the Chancellor has suggested the move yesterday was not his last, maybe his next move will include some employee support.

To find out more about Anthony White, his background and to gain more of his expertise visit Anthony's LinkedIn Profile and share your thoughts.

Total Control Pro™ - We are here to serve so how can we help?

Bespoke Vs Customised Software

Total Control Pro Limited — 06/02/2023

Bespoke Vs Customised Software

When it comes to developing technology for manufacturing processes, companies often struggle to find solutions that fit their unique needs. We often hear our clients say, “Our systems or our process are very different,” or “We find it hard to find technology that fits” or “It’s going to need to be built specifically for us.” This is where the understanding between bespoke and customised software comes in.

In this article, we will explore the key differences between these two types of software and how they can benefit your organisation.

Bespoke Software

First, let us define bespoke software. Bespoke software is software that is built from scratch and tailored to the specific needs of the customer. It is not a one-size-fits-all solution and is often used by large manufacturing groups with complex resource management systems. The software is designed to meet the specific requirements of the customer and is often more expensive than other types of software.

Bespoke software is, in its very nature, designed to be built from scratch (but often utilising a code bank the developer has already created). A bespoke ERP Software will be built from several different sets of codebases that understand the key fundamentals of resource management but will be built to the requirements of the customer.

A key benefit of bespoke software is that it is designed specifically for your organisation’s unique needs. This means that it can be customised to fit your processes, workflows, and other specific requirements. Additionally, bespoke software can be integrated with existing systems, making it an ideal solution for businesses that need to improve their operational efficiency.

One key challenge of bespoke software is that it is built for the needs of the customer at that specific point in time and often ignores how the business will scale and how the requirements will also shift for that business. A good software developer will try and pre-empt some of the future needs of that customer. However, that is often hard to do from a software-build business perspective without someone working from the business strategy perspective as the software is built. Unless there is long-term support and development for the software build, the benefits of the build will quickly be lost. Your bespoke software is often obsolete the minute it goes live.

So, tips for bespoke software?

Build with the software developers and the business strategy in mind. And sure, you have at least a five-year business strategy in place and you’re building to that. Have a long-term support contract to ensure that your software is being updated, and maintained.
Ensure that the software is in escrow, so if anything happens to the developers, that software code is accessible and owned by yourself.
Have a specific department or set of resources in-house to manage the training, understanding and the reasons behind the way that software was built. Often our clients will say to us we had this built or someone in-house built this for us. They then left. Now we don’t know why it was done a certain way. These are all things that need to be captured.

Advantages of Bespoke Software:

Tailored to specific needs: Bespoke software is built from scratch, meaning it can be customized to fit the specific needs of an organisation.
Improved efficiency: As bespoke software is designed to fit the specific processes and workflows of an organisation; it can help improve efficiency and productivity.
Integration with existing systems: Bespoke software can be integrated with existing systems, making it an ideal solution for businesses that need to improve their operational efficiency.
Competitive advantage: Bespoke software can give a business a competitive advantage as it can be designed to do something that no other software can do.
Scalability: Bespoke software can be designed to be scalable, meaning it can grow with the business and meet changing needs.

Disadvantages of Bespoke Software:

High cost: Developing bespoke software from scratch can be more expensive than using off-the-shelf software.
Time-consuming: Developing bespoke software can take longer than using off-the-shelf software, which can impact the business’s operations.
Maintenance: Bespoke software requires specialized maintenance and upgrades, which can be costly and time-consuming.
Risk of failure: Bespoke software carries a higher risk of failure as it is built from scratch, and any errors or issues may not be discovered until after development is complete.
Dependence: Businesses can become dependent on the software developer that created the bespoke software, making it difficult to switch to a different provider. Also, should the software developer cease to develop that software or cease trading altogether, it will adversely affect the business.

On the other hand, customised software is pre-built software that is modified to meet the needs of the customer. Unlike bespoke software, customised software is not built from scratch but is based on an existing codebase. This means that the cost of customised software is often lower than that of bespoke software.

So, let us talk now about customised software.

Customised Software

Customised software is this in the case of an ERP, MRP or operations platform. It is software-based that has been already created and the fundamentals are already in place and with many of the real details already in place. Customisable software allows the client to make certain changes, and these changes vary from product to product.

Customised software is a great option for businesses that have a specific budget and still need a solution that meets their specific needs. It is also a desirable choice for businesses that have a simple process or workflow. Customised software can be customised to meet the specific requirements of the customer, but by its nature, there are limits to refinements available.

Advantages of Customised Software:

Cost-effective: Customised software is often less expensive than bespoke software, as it is based on an existing codebase.
Quick implementation: Customised software can be implemented more quickly than bespoke software, as it is based on an existing codebase. At Total Control Pro – our fastest deployment, has been 1 week, but 4 weeks for a basic set-up that can be used live is realistic.
Proven solution: Customised software has been tested and used by other organisations of various sizes, making it a proven solution.
Support: Customised software often comes with support and maintenance from the software developer, making it easier for businesses to get help when needed.
Industrial Expansion: Customised software that serves a specific market, can often bring new features and functions to all the users more quickly. Multi-user feedback ensures a more robust or feature-rich system.

Disadvantages of Customised Software:

Limited flexibility: Customised software is based on an existing codebase, meaning it may not be able to accommodate certain specific needs or requirements of the business.
Limited scalability: Customised software may not be able to scale as the business grows and evolves, making it necessary to find a new solution in the future. Always check the feature roadmap of the product.
Risk of vendor lock-in: Customised software can be dependent on a particular vendor, making it difficult to switch to a different solution in the future.

However, many of these disadvantages can be offset with the right software/ technology partner.

Key Tips for choosing your customisable system

Choose a customisable solution, that is specific to the manufacturing industry, not reworked from another industry.
Ask for templates specific to your industry or way of working and look for a system that has integration partners to future-proof adding other customised software to meet scaling requirements.
Define long-term business goals.
Plan to optimize business processes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both bespoke and customised software can provide valuable benefits to your organisation. The key is to carefully evaluate your needs and budget to determine which type of software is the best fit for your organisation. By understanding the differences between bespoke and customised software, you can make an informed decision that will help you achieve your business objectives.

DynamxMFG

Stemming from the definition of Dynamic, “force that stimulates change or progress within a system or process”, Our fully customisable DynamxMFG® platform is just as dynamic and ensures you use the right resources, at the right place, at the right time, doing the right task, against the right job as your business scales!

As a company, we believe in the value of partnerships and have a shared commitment to the long-term success of our clients and partners to assist them in meeting their goals. and provides top-of-the-line tech solutions. With Total Control Pro, you can trust that you’re not just getting a quick sale, but a long-term partnership that will help you achieve your goals.

Schedule a 15min discovery call with us here to learn all the inner workings of DynamxMFG® and how it can help your business.

Visit our website, www.totalcontrolpro.com, to learn more about the products and services we offer.

Trending technological advancements in manufacturing

Total Control Pro Limited — 20/07/2023

Introduction

Dolores Sanders – our founder and CMO attended the Smart Manufacturing Summit in Londonderry NI last week. In the conversation were all the variants of new technologies and what is clear is the terms and types are often used interchangeably. In our commitment to rule out the jargon, we’ve sort to highlight each area, and why collaboration between these is particularly important as you undertake your digitalisation journey.

Technological advancements keep revolutionising the manufacturing industry at unprecedented rates.

In this article, we will explore the concept of Industry 4.0 and its profound impact on manufacturing processes. We will also touch on the transformative concept of Industry 4.0, also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Finally, we will dive into the power of data analytics and predictive maintenance, uncovering how manufacturers are leveraging data-driven insights to optimise their operations and minimise downtime.

1. Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing

Industry 4.0 known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, represents a paradigm shift in manufacturing practices by integrating advanced technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and data analytics, into the core operations of factories. This transformative concept holds the promise of increased automation, connectivity, and intelligence across the entire manufacturing value chain.

At the heart of Industry 4.0 lies the vision of a smart factory, where machines, processes, and systems communicate and cooperate seamlessly, resulting in enhanced productivity, flexibility, and quality. These smart factories leverage IoT devices to collect real-time data from various sources, enabling manufacturers to monitor and control operations remotely. With AI and machine learning algorithms, these systems can analyse data, make informed decisions, and even predict maintenance needs, minimising downtime and optimising production processes.

2. Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing)

One of the most captivating technological advancements within Industry 4.0 is additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing. This revolutionary technique allows for the creation of three-dimensional objects by adding material layer upon layer. Unlike traditional manufacturing methods that involve subtractive processes, 3D printing enables the production of complex geometries with unparalleled precision. From prototypes to custom parts, the applications of additive manufacturing are vast and span across industries such as healthcare, aerospace, and automotive.

The benefits of additive manufacturing are multifold. It reduces material waste, as only the necessary amount of material is used in the printing process. This not only contributes to sustainability efforts but also results in significant cost savings for manufacturers. Additionally, 3D printing allows for rapid prototyping, enabling designers and engineers to iterate quickly and bring products to market faster. The ability to produce customized parts on demand is another game-changing aspect of additive manufacturing, offering unprecedented flexibility and personalisation.

3. Data Analytics and Predictive Maintenance

In parallel with the rise of Industry 4.0, the power of data analytics has become increasingly vital for manufacturers. The abundance of data generated by smart factories provides valuable insights into operations, production cycles, and performance metrics. Through sophisticated data analytics techniques, manufacturers can gain a deeper understanding of their processes, identify inefficiencies, and make data-driven decisions to improve overall efficiency. Predictive maintenance, enabled by data analytics, plays a crucial role in minimising downtime and maximising equipment lifespan. By analysing sensor data and historical patterns, manufacturers can detect potential failures before they occur, schedule maintenance proactively, and avoid costly disruptions.

The Impact of these technologies

Here are some ways in which these advancements will impact manufacturing:

Process Optimisation: Organisations will gain insights into their processes by analysing large volumes of data. By identifying patterns, trends, and anomalies, organisations can optimise their processes for improved efficiency and productivity. These insights enable businesses to automate repetitive tasks, streamline workflows, and allocate resources effectively.
Predictive Maintenance: By analysing historical performance data, sensor data, and other relevant parameters, organizations can detect early warning signs of potential failures. This predictive capability allows businesses to schedule maintenance activities proactively, preventing unexpected breakdowns and minimising downtime. Automation systems can be integrated with predictive maintenance models, triggering maintenance tasks automatically based on data-driven insights.
Quality Control and Defect Detection: Organisations will be able to analyse data collected from various sources, such as sensors, production lines, or quality control processes. By applying advanced analytics techniques, such as statistical process control or machine learning algorithms, businesses can identify patterns related to product quality and detect anomalies or defects in real time. This information can be used to automate the process of rejecting or diverting defective products, ensuring consistent quality, and reducing the need for manual inspection.
Intelligent Decision-Making: Organisations all over benefit from actionable insights to make informed decisions. By analysing historical and real-time data, businesses can identify trends, correlations, and cause-effect relationships. These insights enable automated decision-making processes, such as dynamic pricing, demand forecasting, inventory management, and supply chain optimisation. By automating these decision-making processes based on data analytics, organisations can respond quickly to market changes, optimize resource allocation, and drive operational efficiencies.
Customer Personalization and Engagement: Data analytics helps organisations understand customer behaviour, preferences, and needs by analysing customer data. This enables businesses to deliver personalised experiences and targeted marketing campaigns. Automation systems can utilise customer analytics to automate personalised recommendations, targeted advertisements, and customised messaging, ensuring effective customer engagement and driving customer satisfaction.

The insights derived from these technological advances empower businesses to automate repetitive tasks, proactively maintain equipment, make data-driven decisions, and deliver personalised experiences. In today’s manufacturing landscape, incorporating tools like DynamxMFG® and similar SaaS (Software as a Service) platforms is imperative for factories to stay competitive.

While Industry 4.0 and its technological advancements offer immense potential for manufacturers, it is crucial to address the challenges that arise along this transformative journey. The integration of new technologies requires can require substantial investments in infrastructure, equipment, and workforce training. Manufacturers must also address concerns related to data security, as increased connectivity can expose them to cyber threats. Furthermore, the implementation of Industry 4.0 technologies necessitates a cultural shift within organizations, fostering a mindset of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Industry 4.0 represents a revolution in manufacturing, fueled by the integration of advanced technologies such as IoT, AI, robotics, and data analytics. Smart factories, powered by Industry 4.0 principles, offer unprecedented levels of automation, connectivity, and intelligence. Additive manufacturing, with its ability to produce complex objects with precision and customisation, is transforming the way products are designed and manufactured.

DynamxMFG® is an innovative manufacturing platform that leverages machine learning and cognitive automation to provide a comprehensive infrastructure for thriving in the rapidly evolving manufacturing industry. By harnessing the power of data analytics, DynamxMFG® enables factories to gain actionable insights, optimize operations, and drive automation across their processes. With its advanced capabilities, DynamxMFG® empowers manufacturers to enhance productivity, improve quality control, make informed decisions, and stay ahead in a highly competitive market. Embracing tools like DynamxMFG® ensures that factories can fully leverage the benefits of data analytics and automation, leading to increased efficiency, agility, and success in the manufacturing sector.

Smart Manufacturing Data Hub www.smdh.uk Is an innovation hub for UK SME Manufacturers.

Productivity Hacks #1: Workplace Communication

Total Control Pro Limited — 07/02/2020

As a company, TotalControlPro™ are committed to empowering global manufacturing and unleashing their full potential. Our vision is to bring clarity and full visibility to the manufacturing industry worldwide, and have our clients see their productivity reach unfathomable heights. Across the next few weeks we will be releasing our ‘Top Five Productivity Hacks’ to enable you to unleash your full potential.

Communication is central to every industry workplace. When communication is out of sync amongst teams, mistakes are made, production lines falter and ultimately organisations face ineffective to-ing and fro-ing in order to get anything done. TotalControlPro™ have recognised that clear communication strategies enable three key transformations: in employee engagement, customer engagement and internal team communication systems to allow our clients to reach and even excel their targets.

One of the most important things for the adoption of productivity tools, such as TotalControlPro™, is a fully engaged employee workforce. We found instilling a track and trace software, offering clear visibility of the shop-floor to top-floor, facilitates employees to send the right information to management teams and vice versa. A clearer, more detailed communication system through one single point of communication sent via an audit trail, allows not only the management to understand what is being conducted on the shop floor, but also enables employees to be engaged and empowered through a new visibility of their workstation achievements. Employees no longer face frustrating games of Chinese whispers for information to reach the necessary management teams. Instead, precise, detailed and clear information reaches the right teams in a matter of seconds. Production errors can now be solved at half the time and productivity no longer faces major delays.

Secondly, the adoption of TotalControlPro™ cloud MES software enables clearer customer communication. By viewing where each product is along your production line, the time taken so far and its forecasted time to delivery, your customers can receive first-class customer service. No longer do they fear unexpected delays as you have the information at your fingertips to give precise time to delivery. We can ensure that communication need only be said once as it can then be captured, stored, sent and displayed to the right person, at the right time, at the right place. Miscommunication between customer and producer becomes a thing of the past.

Finally, no discussion of workplace communication would be complete without reference to the importance of an authentic internal team. A unified organisation founded on an empowering mission statement and core values is vital to ensuring an authentic service can be provided to customers. At TotalControlPro™, we recently conducted a team training day, where the whole team (from technicians to human resources) discussed and aligned on who we are as a company and what we are committed to offering the world. We recognised this unity, when a company is working completely for the same goals, productivity improvement can truly be made both to our clients and to our own employees. By uniting your company values and streamlining communication, huge productivity potentials can open. It ensures the reduction of missed communication or misunderstood communication, both of which often result in delays in productivity. This may also have a major impact in your marketing, as if the same methods of communication conducted employees is reiterated to clients there is clear authenticity in your business, which will entice positive customer interest. Therefore, treat employees the way you would treat your customers and watch the difference this could have on your outputs.

Technology and the Future of Work

Total Control Pro Limited — 01/07/2020

How can UK Manufacturers improve profitability and productivity to offset the challenges of the past few months?

Hear CEO, Dorian Smellie and senior shareholder, James Anthony discuss some of the pressing questions of today. Including how we get back to previous production levels with a socially distanced workforce and the role technology will play in this new workplace.

Test Out a New Technology Today!

TotalControlPro · Technology and the Future of Work

Inflation Effect On Manufacturing

Total Control Pro Limited — 07/07/2022

Inflation Effect On Manufacturing

What is inflation and why is important?

Inflation is measured by looking at the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This is calculated as a basket of goods and services and how much they cost over time. The CPI is used as an indication of how much prices are rising or falling in general terms. The Bank of England (BoE) defines inflation as “a sustained increase in the general level of prices”. In other words, it is when prices go up compared to last year or last month or last week. Inflation occurs when there is more demand for goods than supply and this drives up their price.

However, inflation is not just something that affects businesses – it also has a direct impact on the cost of production, which can be passed on to customers. Rising prices mean that companies must pay more to buy materials and services, increasing their operating costs and reducing profit margins. In addition, rising prices make it more difficult for consumers to afford products and services. This can result in decreased sales volume or lower profit margins if a company cannot pass along these increased costs to its customers.

The business of a manufacturer is to buy raw materials and convert them into something the market needs or wants. That process determines making calculations upon the cost of goods needed as input to convert them to the product. You must include wage costs, energy costs, and machine costs in the input costs to arrive at total input costs.

“The relationship between manufacturing and inflation is more complex and multi-faceted than most news reports give it credit for.” Ethan Karp, Forbes.

Inflation has been a hot topic in recent years, with the Bank of England (BoE) raising interest rates for the first time in a decade.

Increase in the cost of production

The cost of production is the price at which a company sells its goods to consumers. It includes the total cost of producing and delivering those goods, including all labour costs and the cost of raw materials. The cost of production is one of the most crucial factors in determining a company’s profit because it allows you to calculate your gross profit margin.

Producer input prices rose by 22.1% in the year to May 2022, up from 20.9% in the year to April 2022; this is the highest the rate has been since records began in January 1985. Producer output (factory gate) prices rose by 15.7% in the year to May 2022, up from 14.7% in the year to April 2022.

Businesses must therefore grow by at least 8.1% to keep things static. Consumers around the world are all facing similar inflation concerns. If their income does not rise by the level of inflation, they will be worse off than being unable to afford to buy what they used to before the rise in inflation. So, a manufacturer faces the double hit of increasing costs and potential declining demand from the end-users.

Add to the above problem the uncertainty of being able to acquire the products for your input in a timely fashion and you have an incremental problem. The ‘supply chain’ blockages that have occurred from China Covid lockdowns, food export shortages from Ukraine or fuel shortages from the Russian trade embargos and your problem is enhanced.

Can you curb inflation in your business?

It is time to take a hard look at how you use your resources. Inflation can be managed by adjusting prices and costs — and there are many ways to do that without sacrificing quality.

Here are six quick tips for dealing with inflation in your business:

Keep an eye on your labour costs.
Invest in an affordable technology that will provide end-to-end business transparency, helping to identify gaps and offer ways to increase efficiency while lowering the costs of production.
Look for opportunities to outsource parts of your business.
Stay abreast of changing regulations and laws that may affect your business (such as minimum wage increases).
Watch out for price hikes from vendors or suppliers who are passing along increased costs of doing business due to inflationary pressures or other factors outside their control (like tariffs).
Be prepared for changes in technology, as well as the costs associated with upgrading equipment or software to meet new industry standards or secure compliance with new regulations affecting your company’s operations (for example, if you have employees with certain types of skills who have now become more expensive because they are hard-to-find resources due to the scarcity.Business Intelligence and labour tracking tools such as TotalControlPro resource management alongside real time Inventory management will assist above all you need your technology to be agile as you need to be in a changeable market.

Unpredictable supply chain

The supply chain is the link between raw materials and end products, and it is often a major contributor to the success or failure of your business. The supply chain has been a key point of focus for many years, but most companies still struggle with unpredictable supply chains that are difficult to manage.

“The interconnectedness of global supply chains means that when one price goes up, others tend to follow. Increases in labour, energy and transport costs are contributing to inflation around the world, posing difficult policy challenges.” Economic Observatory, 2022

Managing Your Supply Chain

The key to managing your supply chain is having accurate information about when and where shipments will arrive at your facility. This allows you to plan accordingly so that you can meet customer demand while also staying within budget. Planning and Resource Management software is an excellent way to improve this process because it gives you access to real-time information about every shipment coming into your facility — including location details such as ETA (estimated time of arrival), status (tracking number) and more. You will also have access to all sorts of reports that allow you to monitor trends over time so that you can identify potential problems before they

Conclusion

Businesses need to progress and adapt to challenging economic conditions – and they should always be looking at ways they can increase productivity and boost efficiency so they can save money where possible. The Office of National Statistics published that UK businesses are more confident than before, proving that there’s hope for entrepreneurs and small businesses who want to achieve growth this year.

Technology has an impact on competition and market structure by increasing productivity and lowering the rate of wage growth. As technology becomes more accessible, barriers to new company creation in many areas are reduced. Market competition is exacerbated, and prices are affected. It is therefore imperative to invest in technology today that will increase productivity, improve efficiencies and improve turnover.

TotalControlPro® prides itself on providing software solutions that utilise cloud technology to put you in control of your production facility, providing real-time visibility to your entire enterprise. TotalControlPro® provides advanced planning, customer management, inventory, execution and intelligence capabilities to help you increase the profitability & productivity of your organisation.

Total Control Pro is your technology partner, and we have listened to our clients and know that Cash is King – we have responded by removing all upfront set-up costs – through our Foundation user package, we will invest our upfront service into the long-term monthly SAAS agreement so our clients can focus on their business.

Book a discovery session here and find out why more people are choosing TotalControlPro® to track all elements of the manufacturing process to improve efficiency and productivity.

Speak to the Team at Backing Britain!

Total Control Pro Limited — 17/08/2020

Want to speak to a member of the team? Find out the best time and place to speak to us at the Backing Britain Virtual Exhibition!

Download this timetable here!

Back to Work: Social Distancing Challenges in the Workplace

Total Control Pro Limited — 01/07/2020

Returning staff to work whilst adhering to social distancing measures may result in the disruption of usual business and production processes, only to be made worse if some employees are still remotely working. The communication challenges this creates makes it almost impossible to get the workplace back to normal.

Internal Communication is one of the most crucial components in ensuring that a business – no matter what size – is operating at its best. According to a Microsoft and YouGov report, Driving Growth in Small Business, which looked at small and medium businesses back in 2019, the majority of employees thought that their working environment did not support meaningful collaboration. Specifically, 42% of staff described communication among colleagues within their workplace as sociable. 20% went as far as saying it was unproductive. Understandably, communication within the workplace has been further impacted since the Coronavirus Pandemic with the introduction of social distancing measures, but there are ways to overcome these challenges.

Preventing Face-to-Face Working

The Driving Growth in Small Business report also highlighted that the preferred method of communication which was used most among 74% of UK employees was face-to-face

engagement. However, the new guidelines in place stress the need to avoid face-to-face interactions where possible making it much more difficult for employees to discuss job activities with their colleagues.

John Lewis Manufacturing faced these restrictive communication challenges and reached out to TotalControlPro™ to provide the solution to facilitate getting their employees back to work quickly and safely.

Like all our customers, John Lewis Manufacturing has access to the on-screen Job Notes function which allows them to send; targeted, team, department, or even company-wide messages. This removes the need for long face-to-face debriefs, keeping their employees safe. Improving communications allows workers to improve their productivity by saving an average of 30 minutes per operation, per day!

Remote Teams

In April 2020, statistics released by the UK’s Office for National Statistics showed 49.2% of adults in employment were working from home, as a result of the social distancing measures introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The measures in place emphasise that if you can continue working from home you should.

Our cloud-based system has enabled those who are still working remotely to stay updated quickly while effectively communicating with other on-site team members. If a production manager is off-site, they have the ability to send and receive messages both to and from the shop floor. Similarly, sales or customer service teams can remotely access job information tracking and provide real-time information to their customers, including the job status and production stage.

Reinforcing Cleaning Processes

One of the governments key measures to ensure the safety of employees returning to work states that workplaces should be cleaned more frequently, paying close attention to high-contact objects like door handles and keyboards. It is important that these cleaning processes are tracked and

managed correctly so both employers and employees can have confidence that staff safety is being maintained.

Stephen’s Catering have been a particular success story when it comes to reinforcing cleaning processes. They reached out to TotalControlPro™ with the need of updating their system to track workstation cleaning processes. Now they have the ability to track cleaning workflows and boost confidence within their workforce that they are maintaining staff safety .

The unfortunate reality of returning to work after the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, is that what is considered normal for each industry; is not safe or practical in present times. So instead of trying to get back to normal, it’s time to move forward by creating a new “normal”. We all need a new way to communicate and manage people, products and processes in a safe and effective way, that helps to make up for the lost profits from the last few months.

What challenges are you facing?

We are here to help. Get in touch and book a free personalised demo today!

Made Smarter Technology Accelerator Prototype Presentation

Total Control Pro Limited — 02/06/2021

The Made Smarter Technology Accelerator is at the forefront of industrial innovation, it has been developed to pair manufacturers with technology companies so they can take advantage of advanced technology to radically alter, and improve the way we approach manufacturing.

We are delighted to have been selected to partner with Safran to help them overcome their adaptive scheduling and performance monitoring challenges. Currently, their scheduling is a predominantly manual process with support from a bespoke manufacturing execution system (MES) focused more on paperless execution rather than intelligent scheduling and execution. This setup can lead to delays, increased inventory issues and inefficiencies and a resource heavy shop floor unable to react quickly to priorities. Our data-driven planning scheduling and resource optimisation solution tackles their challenges and provides an intelligent system capable of reacting to changing customer demand.

Taking place online on 23 June 2021, we invite you to join us as the programme proudly presents the first phase insights and learnings for industry. You’ll hear directly from the Industry Challenge Owners and Tech Sponsors in two industry focused panels, find out more about the challenges they face and how to overcome them. Joined by the 14 programme startups you’ll discover the industry-changing prototypes as they pitch the conceptual solutions developed through the programme.

Attendees will get a chance to:

Hear from industry experts and leaders from a range of sectors.
Listen to pitches from the most exciting startups working within the industrial sector.
Learn from two focused panel discussions on the key barriers for adoption and how we can overcome the challenges industry face.

Find out more and mark your attendance.

Digital Manufacturing – Trending or Transforming? – Silverstone Technology Cluster

Total Control Pro Limited — 13/08/2020

Missed the webinar on Thursday 23rd July? Catch up with our Strategic Director, Dolores Sanders, as she highlights some of the quick wins for digital manufacturing over the last few months and explores what this might mean for the future.

TotalControlPro™ chaired this discussion bringing the latest research from the Digital Manufacturing on a Shoestring from the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge, The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the University of Nottingham. As well as sharing some inspirational case studies from manufacturers who have recently taken steps to digitise effectively over the last few months, including John Lewis Manufacturing.

Dolores was also joined by Sam Thiara, Head of Business Development for MCS Control Systems Ltd , Mark Sweeney, Director of Professional Services and Niamh Marie, Sales and Marketing Director from IoT Horizon Ltd to share the latest thinking and ideas and questions from like-minded peers from across the cluster.

Backing Britain Live 2020 – Digital Business Festival

Total Control Pro Limited — 13/08/2020

TotalControlPro™ will be Exhibiting at the Industry’s First Virtual Expo

Backing Britain Live 2020 – Beginning on August 17th, will be a 2-week-long “Digital Business Festival”, featuring over 30 events and aiming to feature 5,000 delegates.

Made in Group announced that in response to the global Covid-19 crisis, they have been forced to cancel their annual manufacturing exhibition and instead will now be holding the industry’s first virtual exhibition – Backing Britain Live 2020. This milestone is a major move for Made in Group on its mission to keep industry connected, help manufacturers collaborate, share best practice and promote British manufacturing.

TotalControlPro™ are quickly becoming market leaders with an advanced, easy to use cloud-based system that allows you to track all elements of the manufacturing process to improve efficiency and productivity. We have helped manufacturers to implement new ways of working during this period of global disruption; this includes training and supporting our customers to use modern technology that minimises disruption in a time of crisis.

Our Strategic Director and Co-Founder, Dolores Sanders said, “As a software as a service company, we can support clients both nationally and internationally, however, we have long identified the socioeconomic advantages of being fully engaged with our regional manufacturing ecosystem. The advantages of the Backing Britain Virtual event is, we can bring everything that’s great about our regional relationships and share the best of what we do in the virtual showcase, with accessibility to us and our clients for a far wider reach.”

We are proud and excited to be exhibiting at such an iconic moment in modern industry history and be at the forefront of technological innovation. It is the time for the industry to not only stand up and be counted, but to ultimately embrace change and be enthusiastic in the face of new ways of working, such as virtual networking.

The exhibition already has more than 200 exhibitors confirmed with a footfall target of 5,000 delegates. We’d love to virtually connect with you on the day.

Virtual Exhibition Stands

Virtual Conferencing

Virtual Networking

Siemens and TotalControlPro, a success story

Total Control Pro Limited — 03/06/2019

Read the full article

Visit our website

A Chief Engineer of Siemens came to TotalControlPro™ – after previous Work In Motion studies had identified challenges in their work flow and production systems. What they needed was real time eyes on the production process and live reporting information. “They knew that some of the employees were producing considerable more than others, they just didn’t know who or what was enabling this and therefore couldn’t reliably recreate it across the production facility.”

Challenge 1 - As each job was multi part and multi employee they needed to attribute part of each job to separate employees within a team.

Challenge 2 - There were different work team configurations and the production management wanted to assess which configuration was most productive.

Challenge 3 - Each job was labour and time intensive and span across shifts, so the team wanted to attribute time for each job part to different shift teams as well as individual employees. “On the shop floor they are literally soldering thousands of connections and thousands of pieces of wire with no real visibility of who was doing what and when”.

Keys to success

● TotalControlPro™ could be implemented into the factory easily and efficiently within the production budget.

● Seamless integration with Siemens in-house protocols and systems.

● Flexibility of scanning model allowed for adaptation for all different team working conditions.

● Scalability of the application enables expansion from trial to full service implementation.

“After just 4 weeks, we can clearly see that working one particular employee combination gives us increased productivity over the other, contrary to our assumption and expectation, saving us months of assessment and lost productivity” - Chief Engineer

Red the full story on our website

5 key considerations when choosing a technology partner

Total Control Pro Limited — 11/08/2022

5 key considerations when choosing a technology partner

When shopping for a comprehensive SAAS (Software as a Service), ERP (Enterprise Resource Programme), or MRP (Materials Resource Planning )software solution, one must spend considerable amounts of time evaluating online reviews, assessments, and certifications before committing to a product. The best return on investment comes from finding a service provider who knows what they are doing. But how does a prospective client know that the service provider is knowledgeable and will add invaluable input to the company?

The right partnership will be key to your future scale and success. It is important to find someone who shares your values and vision, regardless of cost. Of course, for every company, the right technical partner will be different. In the 9 years of TotalControlPro’s process expertise and working with clients on diverse types of projects, there are certain crucial points and questions never to be overlooked.

The 5 key considerations outlined below are;

Knowledge vs Expertise
Testimonials and References
Product Quality and Pricing
Commitment to client success
Aligned and shared values

Knowledge vs Expertise

While hiring a technical partner, you must look for their expertise over knowledge as your project is likely to benefit more from their proven experience than from their vast knowledge.

Furthermore, a technology company should have relevant industry expertise that will contribute to the company’s success. Technology advances are huge and fast but not every technological advancement applies to your business. It is important to ascertain what product/service needs to keep accelerating and what value the partner can give in this regard.

Your potential technical partner should be able to provide the following things to you in terms of expertise:

Guidance throughout the journey and suggestions on innovative solutions.
Expertise in your specific needs. If the technical partner hasn’t worked on similar projects, but their specialisation matches your needs, they may be an excellent fit for your project.
An intrinsic understanding of your business and goals.
Are they equally interested in your project and can think out of the box?

2. Testimonials and references

Where are they now? The number of years of operation is a good indicator of proficiency but nothing beats hearing/ reading what their clients have to say about the prospect. One can visit specialised websites and platforms, such as Capterra and develop a preliminary list of companies that:

Have detailed positive reviews focused on solving the client’s problems? Concentrate on the context of the reviews and not just the numbers.
Provide the technical services you require. Understanding the prospective partner’s specialist areas is key.

Additionally, review the potential partner’s website and their Testimonials, References, Case Studies and Project portfolio (if they have one) and eliminate all but 3 or 4 vendors that meet these requirements:

Their website provides all data necessary for you to decide, such as the fields of expertise, client base, the number of completed projects, industries, and contacts.
Resources, including Case studies and testimonials of previous projects that clearly show their approaches to solving problems and how they have solved problems like yours or work in the same niche. Having worked on relevant projects, the company will suggest the best approach, processes, and solutions for your business challenges.

At TotalControlPro® we understand that selecting innovative technology for your digital manufacturing process can be a minefield and have our case studies and blogs together in one place to give you the certainty that we have this, we have done it before. Built by Manufacturers for Manufacturers.

3. Product/ Service Quality and Pricing

Service and product quality are crucial as are the costs incurred in investing in the product and services. You ideally want to get the most cost-effective service that can make 2-3x times more return on investment (ROI).

Does the cost justify the service and support provided?
Do they suggest alternative and cost-effective approaches and resources?
Are the pricing estimations clear and transparent? This should include the scope for potential iterations during the project.
What support do they offer after go-live?

Investing in your technology partner is also investing in the core of your company. Make sure you choose the best value for your company and not just the cheapest price on offer. Therefore, even when numbers are higher than initially expected, but the partner in question inspires confidence as well as a good working model, you should go for a partnership with them. Pricing is only one component of the entire puzzle.

4. Commitment to client’s success

Are they providing long-term value, not just short-term fixes? Often, partners can make a massive difference to a business straight away. Your technology partner should be able to identify short-term wins as well as a longer-term strategy for you right from the beginning.

The company that knows what they do will provide you with a detailed work plan for your project and describe every stage of the development. Moreover, they will constantly update you on the progress and will give you access to a task-tracking system and other project management tools, so you can easily follow the sprints and provide your feedback.

Service Level Agreements (SLA) can serve to understand the level of commitment from both parties. An SLA is a contractual document that acts as an ongoing reference point for service and reliability expectations, like uptime guarantees, response times for issues, and resolutions for downtime.

A professionally written SLA should cover this, however, ensure the below is covered;

A description of the scope of the work to be performed under the agreement
An issue/resolution statement, or what the solution is to provide or resolve
Level of service to be provided
Service performance roles and responsibilities of the supplier
Service availability including Guaranteed uptimes, Downtime resolution
Data security
The process by which a customer notifies a supplier of changing needs
Payment term responsibilities
Contract management I.e., Renewal processes, Pricing changes, Escalation procedures, and other changes to the SLA
Indemnifications I.e., Limitations of liability, Governing laws
Cancellation terms

A well-defined process that is clear and allows you to track progress throughout the whole development cycle is a win.

5. Aligned and shared values

The list of qualified partners should be quite short once you have established your priorities, goals, and execution strategies. To ensure smooth collaboration, both parties need to be compatible in terms of culture and work style.

However, many companies are unsure of what questions to ask when it comes to tech team culture. Here are a few;

What communication tools does the team use and are they different from yours?
How often and at what depth does the team want to share feedback?
Does the organisation promote continuous learning?

These answers can reveal to what extent the company encourages growth and innovation and how the organisational structure can be a complement or a hindrance to projects. A flatter company structure is often a good indicator that those working on the project will take the initiative and approach issues proactively throughout the project duration.

Conclusion

Choosing the right technology partner for your business can be the difference between success and failure. That choice can have implications on time, money, and overall success. TotalControlPro® helps manufacturers make these choices regularly. Take the above considerations into account ahead of your next project and contact us.

Total Control Pro Ltd. Wins Prestigious DIF Lighthouse Award for Manufacturing Innovation

Total Control Pro Limited — 21/02/2024

Press Release

Northampton, 27 February 2024 – Total Control Pro, a pioneer in manufacturing technology solutions, is excited to announce its receipt of the prestigious DIF Lighthouse Award, recognising its significant contributions to the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub (SMDH) project.

The company's flagship DynamxMFG® Manufacturing Platform is at the forefront of digital transformation for SMEs, offering them the opportunity to leverage advanced insights, optimise operations, reduce expenses, mitigate risks, and secure a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving manufacturing sector.

DynamxMFG® is a cloud-based, subscription platform that delivers comprehensive control over production facilities with real-time operational visibility and analytics across the enterprise. It facilitates smart work planning, efficient shop floor data capture, precise manufacturing execution, streamlined process control, and inventory management, coupled with real-time performance reporting, ensuring optimal resource deployment. The right resources, at the right place, at the right time, doing the right task, against the right job.

The SMDH Lighthouse Project Explained

The SMDH initiative seeks to revolutionize UK manufacturing through data-driven innovation, promoting the shift towards Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0. It supports SMEs in their digital transition journey, offering a risk-mitigated pathway to growth with its funded proposition.

As part of this initiative, Total Control Pro is providing a six-month base license for up to 10 users at no cost, leveraging the DynamxMFG® platform. Details on the project can be found on Total Control Pro's SMDH Project page. www.totalcontrolpro.com/smdh-project

"Including DynamxMFG® in the SMDH Lighthouse Project is a testament to Total Control Pro's dedication to driving innovation and supporting SME manufacturers in navigating the complexities of the market," said Dolores Sanders, CMO & Strategic Director.

Total Control Pro is more than a supplier; it's a strategic ally, offering SMEs comprehensive support on technology adoption, scalability, and sustainable practices in the Industry 4.0 era.

This award reinforces Total Control Pro's role as a leader in manufacturing innovation, highlighting its commitment to industry excellence and positive transformation.

About Total Control Pro

Total Control Pro Limited stands as a forefront provider of manufacturing technology solutions, empowering SMEs to excel in the digital manufacturing age. Through DynamxMFG®, the company is redefining manufacturing processes, enhancing efficiency, and promoting sustainable development.

Media Contact:

Lloyd Chikamba, Marketing, Total Control Pro, +44 345 680 4045

For more information on Total Control Pro and the DynamxMFG® Manufacturing Platform, visit www.totalcontrolpro.com/features.

Manufacturing Business Recovery Webinar – Profitability

Total Control Pro Limited — 07/07/2020

How can UK Manufacturers increase their profitability in a post-COVID19 climate?

TotalControlPro™ Strategic Director, Dolores Sanders discussed returning to profitability at the GBSIoT Business Recovery Webinar held on 3rd June 2020. Dolores highlights the ways in which manufactures can get back to being profitable after the particularly challenging past few months.

Listen today to find out how you can get back to work quicker or manage workforces remotely, reduce the cost of activities and levels of waste while increasing efficiency.

Energising Mowdens Control

Total Control Pro Limited — 28/05/2019

Read our full Mowdens Case study on our web

Visit our website

TotalControlPro™ has assisted Mowden Controls in ensuring accurate costings and to remain competitive. They have full visibility of products at each stage of assembly, from batching through to shipping, with the ability to review operator performance and compare actual costs against predicted costs for each job. TotalControlPro™ provides needed real time feedback and valuable data on the consequences of, for example, altering production jig, cost effects of pre-forming parts for larger jobs or moving a production process. The team’s performance on a job can easily be recognised, reviewed and rewarded and the possibility of an outdated document remaining in circulation after an update has been eliminated.

"TotalControlPro™ enables us to review, optimise and reward performance and compare actual costs against predicted costs for each job..." Daniel Laverick- Production Manager

"As a bespoke subcontractor, we have hundreds of products and keeping an accurate record of process times was becoming an increasingly messy and demanding manual task. We reached out to TotalControlPro™ as a way to accurately track production on the workshop floor – enabling us to review both operator performance and compare actual costs against predicted for each job. We worked with TotalControlPro™ to record stages, work status and enable electronic diagrams to be shown to operators. This removed the requirement for operators to manually retrieve documentation and instantly eliminated the possibility of an outdated document remaining in circulation. Operators now welcome TotalControlPro™ - even those not computer literate - as the amount of work required to begin a new job is reduced, and their performance on a job can easily be recognised, reviewed and rewarded instead of relying on ‘being noticed’ for feedback. With all job stages being recorded and stored, this has allowed us to ensure accurate costings and remain competitive in an increasingly lean-priced market".

Keys to success

● Being responsive in relation to customers lead times, by supporting their demands for shorter turnarounds and increased flexibility

● Ensure accurate costing to remain competitive in an increasingly lean-priced market

● Industrial Analytics to optimise and reward productivity

● Accurately compare actual with predicted costs

● Able to expand to new highly regulated markets due to audit and traceability.

Find out more, continue reading on this story here

DynamxMFG® on tour in 2023

Total Control Pro Limited — 26/04/2023

At Total Control Pro, we value the importance of connecting with people. That’s why we are excited to announce our upcoming event and trade show dates. These events provide us with a fantastic opportunity to gain a better understanding of our customer’s needs, project goals, and the pressures they face in their industry. Building strong relationships is a key part of our culture, and visiting our stand is a great way to initiate or foster those connections for long-term success.

Whether you’re a customer, partner, or simply a member of our industry, we welcome you to join us and learn more about DynamxMFG® and the latest developments in our industry. And if you just want to catch up and say hello, we’d love to see you too!

The first event on our agenda is Manufacturing and Engineering Week, which will be held in Birmingham from 7-8 June 2023. This expo is the perfect opportunity for us to showcase our latest products and services, network with industry leaders, and learn about the latest advancements in manufacturing technology.

Manufacturing and Engineering Week, 7-8 JUNE 2023, NEC BIRMINGHAM

Get your free ticket – Click Here

2. Next up is the Advanced Engineering Show, taking place at the NEC in Birmingham from 1-2 November 2023. As a leading provider of innovative solutions for the hardware industry, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to connect with clients, partners and other industry professionals at this highly anticipated event.

Advanced Engineering, 1-2 NOVEMBER 2023, NEC BIRMINGHAM

3. We are also taking part in the year-round event, Backing Britain 3.0. The new innovative exhibition format is set to welcome thousands of visitors to the 3D virtual environment, which will continue to run for the entire year connecting 300+ manufacturers with talks from industry leaders and celebrity guests.

Backing Britain 3.0. Virtual Event, 2022-23, Online

View our stand here – Click Here

The aim of the Backing Britain Expo from The Made in Group is to connect hundreds of manufacturers across the region in an immersive, interactive, and environmentally friendly way. Over the last 18 months or so, businesses have had to propel themselves into the digital, whether it be working from home or diversifying their business processes. Digital isn’t going anywhere, and forward-thinking businesses need to get up to speed now so they aren’t left behind in the future. This is why we are excited to be part of Backing Britain 3.0.

At Total Control Pro, we are committed to providing our customers with the most advanced and innovative solutions available. By participating in these three trade shows, we can connect with industry leaders, showcase our latest products and services, and stay on top of the latest advancements in manufacturing.

We invite you to join us at these exciting events and discover how Total Control Pro can help take your business to the next level. See you there!

Should you wish to have a conversation with us prior to the events, kindly Book a 15-minute demo of our DynamxMFG® today.

Manufacturers are transforming! Are You?

Total Control Pro Limited — 29/04/2020

Are you making effective data-driven decisions?

It’s more important than ever to have effective resource management at the heart of your business. Having a clear handle on where our labour and production costs go will help you manage the future of your business.

We are here to enable our manufacturers to thrive and prosper through the current time into the future.

Leading tyre re-Manufacturing company Kal Tire has unlocked its full potential with the help of TotalControlPro. As a forward-thinking business, Kal Tire approached TotalControlPro™ as they wanted to step out of the digital darkness of paper-based tracking and digitise their system. They saw the potential digital technology could have on their production processes.

They wanted to unlock access to "data to make meaningful changes".

Find out how TotalControlPro provides this at https://www.totalcontrolpro.com/case-study/kal-tire/

Book a demo today!

A new home for Total Control Pro

Total Control Pro Limited — 16/02/2024

"The energy here is just so good": A new home for Total Control Pro’s productivity push

Dolores Sanders, co-founder and strategic director of Total Control Pro, explains the reasons for their recent move to Northampton’s Vulcan Works, the company’s journey and the exciting new project driving their growth.

Total Control Pro moved into the Vulcan Works at the end of September, after coming to a Digital Northants event there earlier in the month.

I hadn't visited at all before that, although I knew it was coming. At the event, I met Gail Haddon, who showed me around and immediately I saw that the energy here is just so good.

We found a room here and we moved in within two weeks. The move was easy, and the team here really made it straightforward, from instant Wi-Fi to helping configure some bespoke bits that we needed. It felt right and it ticked all the boxes.

Overall, the main drive was that we're a small business and we sit in two camps. Because we're a tech business, writing code and building interfaces, we need our team to be stimulated by the creative environment - but we're serving an application solely for the manufacturing industry. This building fits both of those sides of the business perfectly.

We also wanted to move somewhere we could do more customer-facing activities and the meeting rooms at the Vulcan Works provide a good opportunity for that.

The guys we have working flexi time want to come here, for the little coffee places and local businesses. I've definitely got more connected to Northampton since we moved into this building.

We found, especially in the run-up to Christmas, the staff finished and popped for a drink somewhere like Maule or V&B which are both brilliant. Pala has just opened in the same area at the top of Derngate which does great pizzas. You've got to use these great independent places for them to survive and bringing people into the town centre to work can do that.

We've also found that the team at Vulcan Works is committed to what's going on. It's always easy to have energy at the very beginning but that energy has been sustained.

Having Barclays Eagle Labs connected in, the Vulcan Creatives initiative, and the NatWest Young Entrepreneurs - does make a difference.

The team here are committed to values that are like the values of our organisation as well. That makes you feel like you're in a good ship and someone's steering in the direction you need to go.

All startups worry about cost, which is understandable. The opportunities that come from the peripheral activities just make it easier for businesses as a whole.

When we were moving in, one of our team did some research and found out that back in the 1890s, the engineering company based in what is now the Vulcan Works developed punch card technology for the shoe industry. This meant they could start to stamp leather out of a sheet in what we now know as a normal process. That technology is the basis on which modern printed circuit boards are built.

When you start to find out things like that, it grounds us in the engineering heart of Northampton. Being here, we also get the chance to catch up with other businesses and get inspiration from them, from something like a robotics company to Revolution Radio. This building is really offering those stimulating surroundings.

We are a team of 10 based at the Vulcan Works and working remotely across the world. We've moved from being product-focused and getting the product right to being more customer-focused now, getting it out there to more clients. We're still refining what we have and that will never stop, but we're at a commercialisation stage now.

Our approach is that we're committed to building technology for the SME manufacturing environment. There are very good digital technologies designed for companies that have a £ 100 million-plus turnover, but they can be extremely expensive. 96% of UK manufacturing operates on less than a £100million turnover, but a lot of those businesses also need to be on that digital journey.

So, we've developed a smart manufacturing platform, DynamxMFG, that's on the cloud, based per user.

This means a small company can get just as much access to the same technology as a larger organisation - it's just the economies of scale on a user basis.

Taking what we understand about Netflix, for example, but putting it into a manufacturing plant. It's solely designed for manufacturers - which is different to other products in the market where they're adapting things to try and serve a manufacturing environment.

A lot of the product development has been funded through Innovate UK projects, so we've been very connected to the manufacturer environment and community while building it. And overall, our product gets the right people to the right place at the right time to do the right job. It captures all the necessary data for an organisation's carbon tracking and if you connect suppliers through our system, it shows you the full digital handshake of a product through up to JCB and Jaguar Land Rover.

I'm really committed to moving people to digital processes. Imagine you're on the shop floor and you have people carrying out complex welding. They want the simplest possible way of registering what they're doing and finding out what they need to do next. We found that we save 30 minutes per operator per day because we're letting them know that without confusion, so they can get on and do their jobs well.

Most manufacturers still stick to paper because of the cost of implementing the digital process, so they're marking things off on cards. We have a change management process to put in place, to get them engaged with the benefits of that digital process - the work being done is recorded and visible by everyone that needs to know.

We're also getting more and more young people joining a manufacturing environment and they expect it. We're bringing gamification onto the shop floor.

Our exciting recent news is that we've just got a major project that includes funding for 35 manufacturing companies to provide their data from our system to a central area where it can be analysed by data scientists for feedback, improvements and benchmarking for UK manufacturing.

This is the next step of the Women in Innovation Award that I won for a previous set of industry benchmarking.

Back then we were trying to do it on our own, but now we've got a major UKRI project backing it along with other consortium partners, which is really exciting.

As part of that project, we'll be doing some events here in Northampton that bring some of those clients from across the UK together to share best practices. It'll be really helpful for manufacturers to share knowledge. They've gone, and continue to go, through some really difficult times with supply chain issues and the cost of energy.

Getting together will give them the chance to ask questions of themselves. How am I doing against someone of a similar size employing a similar number of people in terms of output? Could I be utilising something better or saving energy in some way? Could I be improving productivity?

Productivity is a big issue in the UK. We have a problem to solve - just a 1% improvement to SME manufacturing productivity would put £1billion back into the economy on a yearly basis. Just 1% - and we save 30 minutes per operator per day with our product.

If you've got 50 people on the shop floor, that's 10,000 hours. We talk about the fact there's a skills shortage in manufacturing but let's actually help people who've got the skills do those roles better. Then you start to bring those problems down.

Digital Twin - Factory Challenges

Total Control Pro Limited — 10/11/2020

More manufacturers are transforming their facilities into smart factories by leveraging the latest innovations to optimise production. All of these innovations require the ability to collect, share, and process reams of data. However, if all the separate systems used to manage each phase of manufacturing are siloed, management cannot gather the insights they need. Allowing the free flow of information through each stage of the manufacturing cycle is necessary to pave the way to the factory of the future.

There is no single solution for a successful Digital Transformation, but by focusing on connectivity, people and technology as one, it becomes much more achievable. That's why we are working with New Intelligence Ltd Voyage 360 MCS Control Systems Ltd Robopod® to show you that teamwork really does make the dream work!

If you are familiar with any of the challenges in this Digital Twin, let us help you find the right solution today!

Digital Transformation: Empowering Green Manufacturing

Total Control Pro Limited — 20/08/2020

There is no denying the voice of climate action has grown louder during recent years and arguably about time too. Last year the United Kingdom became the first major economy to pass net zero emissions law. This set the target to “bring all greenhouse emissions to net zero by 2050.”

Since then organisations across sectors are committing to sustainability plans and searching for new ways that help them become greener. The COVID-19 global pandemic has renewed this impetus. Businesses have been forced to consider their current systems and reflect on how they may be more efficient, less reliant on exported resources and more agile to respond to changing global markets.

Green Manufacturing

Today, UK manufacturers are lighting a blazing trail towards a greener future. According to The Manufacturer if the UK continues to lead the world in Green Manufacturing it could see an additional £8bn - £20bn to the economy and create 400,000 to 1 million jobs.

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) believe the UK are well placed to lead the way in building a greener future.

James Selka, CEO of the MTA stated in a recent report,

“Green growth is an important economic driver – growing around four-times faster than the overall economy. Starting early gives companies the best chance of staying ahead and diversifying into future products and markets.”

Later he added:

“Going green is not an option, it is a necessity. The UK has a worldwide reputation for innovation within manufacturing and engineering.”

At TotalControlPro™ we stand by these beliefs and we are committed to supporting both UK and global Manufacturing achieve a greener, more sustainable production method.

The Benefits

Let us first take a deeper look at why manufacturers should consider their green agendas. Amidst the manufacturing industry, a key question that arises is how achieving zero carbon emissions will benefit such a demanding industry.

Drawing from an article written by Blue and Green at the start of the year, the benefits of Green Manufacturing are clear:

The People – Ultimately customers respect companies who are green-conscious and have a specific goal in mind, such as helping the planet become healthier. Being conscious of the system used to produce your goods so they do not evoke environmental harm enables companies to label products as eco-conscious and adds a competitive edge to your business.
The Growth – For any business to survive and thrive it needs to see revenue. The importance now is how manufacturers can achieve this whilst also maintaining sustainability. Anne Qureshi from Blue and Green Tomorrow states “a smart manufacturing company is going to see that the only way to continue making money is to go green.” By committing to a green agenda, consumers, government bodies and partners alike will trust your brand more and sharing this commitment will uphold your position within the changing nature of the UK marketplace.
The Savings – The extent of savings that can be unlocked is both long and short term. Immediate impacts come from the need to buy less paper yes, but in the long term it is about so much more. Finding creative ways to reduce waste by streamlining your processes so they are more efficient will see dramatic cost reduction:

“Going green means investing in things like real-time manufacturing analytics, which links big data to manufacturing and helps pinpoint issues before they become larger ones.”

The Morale – Stepping up and embracing the journey to a greener future should be highly rewarding for you personally but most importantly for your whole organisation. It will encourage employees to feel proud of the culture of their organisation as they know in a small way they too are making a difference. Improved employee morale has further knock-on effects, such as high employee well-being, increased productivity and employee retention (see previous Productivity Hack on Employee Wellbeing).

Our Commitment

So how does TotalControlPro™ support manufacturers with their Green Agenda?

Digital Transformation is a term that is currently flying through the industry conversations. But what does it mean? Digital transformation is the removal of paper-based production tracking processes and the introduction of smart technologies that enable manufacturers to digitally view LIVE production lines. At TotalControlPro™ we believe supporting manufacturers to embrace digital transformation is the opportunity to achieve the net zero goal.

We help our customers go green by helping them not only go paperless, but track stoppages, wastage, managing scrappage, understand machine efficiencies and ensure machine maintenance. Our cloud-based platform helps reduce server running costs and maintenance whilst also utilising web conferencing to enable remote working, therefore reducing company carbon footprint and miles on the road.

Ultimately our Manufacturing Platform ensures cost effectiveness in people, product and processes. We enable businesses to improve their output more efficiently and therefore reek less havoc on the world’s finite resources.

Read more on our customer's experience here.

Jasmine Smellie_Marketing

Dolores Sanders wins Innovate UK ‘Women in Innovation Award’

Total Control Pro Limited — 25/11/2019

TotalControlPro is delighted to announce that our very own Strategic Director Dolores Sanders has been named one of Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation Award winners. One of just nine women from around the UK: Dolores has pioneered the development of our cloud-based technology. In turn, being recognised as one of the leading figures in helping the UK meets the demands of the ever-changing technological complications.

International Women’s Day

The award was announced rather fittingly on International Women’s Day by Business Secretary Greg Clark. Who himself said, “I would like to congratulate all these women on developing inspiring and pioneering innovations to tackle the grand challenges we face as a society, from a new waterproof coating to cut down single-use plastic, to helping us train mechanics with simulators.”

“This is our modern Industrial Strategy in action, backing the innovators and businesses of all sizes across the UK to grow – and develop the products, industries and sectors of tomorrow, boosting the UK economy with the skills and inventions we will need for the next generation.”

Innovate UK Award

Marking outstanding contributions to innovation, Innovate UK has commissioned and installed commemorative plaques recognising each of the award holders where their innovation journey began, to inspire young innovators and communities alike. One of which has been installed at a place close to Dolores’ heart: Oakham School.

Headmaster Nigel Lashbrook stated:

“We are honoured Dolores has chosen to have her plaque on display at Oakham. Technology moves at a phenomenal rate. What Dolores learnt during her time at Oakham is very different to what our Computer Scientists learn today, and indeed what the next generation of students will learn. All good schools, like Oakham, don’t simply teach the knowledge or techniques of the time. Instead we focus on the process of learning, to equip students with the confidence and abilities to ask and answer questions for themselves – skills that are vital for both lifelong learning and innovation.”

An honour from Oakham School

“The plaque will inspire current and future Oakhamians, female and male, to pursue careers in the fields of STEM and innovation – in a similar way to how we showcase and celebrate our Alumni in other departments across the School – from Sport to Drama, Social Sciences to Design Technology.”

As well as receiving nationwide recognition, the winners will each receive £50,000 and a year-long package of bespoke support, coaching and mentoring. In turn helping TotalControlPro take tracking and manufacturing processes to the next level.

Digital Transformation through Collaborative Technologies – IOT Chapter

Total Control Pro Limited — 24/09/2020

While preparing for a webinar with Silverstone Technology Cluster recently, Dolores Sanders – our CIO, realised that more insights were shared offline than online. As a result we drew together some of the highlights in a series of blogs to be posted over the next few weeks – Follow our news to be notified when the next one is published.

What is Digital Transformation?

When considering digital transformation, a drastic change is often the first thing that comes to mind, closely followed by the immediate sense of dread from the idea of overhauling your operations and processes. An online search will highlight countless articles providing you with a number of conflicting definitions packed with industry jargon that simply just doesn’t make sense when it’s all new to you.

TotalControlPro™ and IoT Horizon have come together to discuss “Digital Transformation” in simple terms and discuss why collaboration is key to successful transformation. To begin, we wish to debunk the idea that it has to be a drastic change – think EVOLUTION not REVOLUTION.

Digital Transformation is the combination of traditional manufacturing processes enhanced with new technologies that work together to create a more efficient, productive, flexible and resilient industrial sector. It’s about taking what is already working, and making it work better and faster instead of replacing your existing processes.

Some of the challenges faced by our clients when implementing digital strategies:

Time and Effort

We often say, that the IT of the past and present is not fit for purpose for a growing and agile manufacturer that is facing the demands of; more and more personalised manufacturing, delivery processes and products. Quite simply, tech has to change the way it deploys so that it gives the client opportunities, quick wins, and has a staged role-out across an organisation.

Mark Sweeney, Director of Professional Services at IoT Horizon said that; “If you want to put an ERP solution in, you could be talking months, if not years [before it can be used] and organisations now [2020] don’t have the time to be able to do that.” He also expressed how organisations are recognising that this process can be costly and are realising the need for alternative and affordable ways to implement this.

“If you have the ability to capture data about what is going on in this moment, then you have the opportunity to optimise it and change it. Whereas, if you rely solely on an ERP or a CRM system, you’re talking about historical data, so you don’t have the power to change it.”

Mark suggests that alternative strategies like connecting MES solutions with Internet of Things (IoT) allows manufacturers to get systems running and delivering value in a matter of weeks.

TotalControlPro™ delivery to Siemens showed how in just 4 weeks an optimised process could be established and used to deliver a specific project that, in total, was 18 months long. If we had taken 12 months to deliver, it would have been too late to make a difference. In addition, this was deployed 100% online.

Culture

Culture, or culture management is an important ingredient for digital evolution. Successful implementation of digital technologies can be determined by the extent to which they are adopted by your team. Are your team aware of how these new technologies will benefit them?

Mark said, “When you go in and look at existing processes, people can be reluctant to contribute because they’re fearful for their jobs.” He stressed the importance of motivating your existing workers to get involved in the change from the very start so that transformation can be implemented. By being transparent and consistent with your employees, you can engage them throughout the entire process.

Dolores stressed that having a digital champion in the first phase of transformation is essential. Someone who is enthusiastic and can inspire the same excitement in others really helps to drive and motivate change and help your organisation own the transformation. She said, “part of our remit is to provide technology that is in the control of the people using it, not the software developers. It’s built by manufacturers FOR manufacturers. There’s a lot we can do to help and support by offering scalable and expandable platforms, so a personal solution can be created from a productised software “

Fear

The fear of a big change is enough to put anyone off the idea of transformation. As humans, it’s in our very nature to want to stick to routines. Routine offers comfort from knowing what to expect. But sometimes change is vital in order to keep up with the times. Look at the number of businesses that had to make changes during the COVID-19 lockdown just to stay in business!

If you split these digital changes up into smaller components, it becomes much easier to implement successfully so you can see the return on investment. Having these smaller ‘quick-win’ projects can really help to get the momentum going. They demonstrate that change is good and can positively engage all involved in the process.

IoT Horizon used their own technologies to make a minor change in their office space at a business centre using machine monitoring, which made a big difference to a return on business value. The theme of their investigation was “you don’t know, what you don’t measure”. With this, they began measuring the use of their office space storage heaters using their MPWR sensors that record temperature and vibration. This data is sent to a cloud dashboard that displays this information in a way that shows you how your machine is performing.

They discovered that their storage heaters were turning on at a time in the middle of the night when nobody was in the building. In fact, the heater came on 3 hours in advance of what the business centre thought that it did and got to a maximum temperature in the middle of the night when energy wasn’t the cheapest. The business centre adjusted their 200 storage heaters by one hour to trial the savings. By saving 200 hours per day of energy, an energy consultant estimated that they had saved at least £10k per year and over 32 tonnes of annual CO2 emissions.

Benefits of Digital Transformation

Increase Productivity

Having access to real-time insights can help monitor and even predict situations that may negatively impact your operations. Prevent stoppages and bottlenecks occurring by staying ahead of possible disruptions. Save yourself time and money while using employee time more effectively.

Consistent Communication

Store job information in one place so it can be accessed by relevant team members, whether that’s someone on the production-line or a member of the sales team answering a customer query. Improved communications allow workers to increase their productivity by saving an average of 30 minutes per operator per day!

Reduce Risks

Information is an asset to all businesses because you don’t know, what you don’t know. Use data to make more informed decisions quickly, rather than assumption-based decision making.

Mark explained that there are 4 key ingredients to successful digital transformation.

1. The Importance of Collaboration

Niamh Allen, Sales and Marketing Director of IoT Horizon expressed, “Nobody can solve Industry 4 by themselves…you need the support of multiple digital technologies for a successful digital transformation.”

To support this, the TotalControlPro™ Business Integration Module has the ability to integrate with a wide range of accounting packages, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and job source data file formats to enhance your understanding in all areas.

We can integrate with your current data sources, allowing you to view a complete picture of your business, and understand what’s working, and what’s not. Some of the products TotalControlPro™ integrates with include:

2. Internet of Things (IoT)

With Digital Transformation being all about data, you have to have the freshest, most accurate and of course secure data that shows the behaviour of your organisation. IoT is important because this gives you access to this kind of data.

3. Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Once you have your data, you need to be able to make sense of it in order to generate insights. If a machine had the ability to share live production data and send an alert to people of potential machine health issues before they happen, it can prevent machine downtime and ensure productions continues.

4. Mobile First

People are no longer tied to their desks. Particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that has forced people to limit human interaction and encouraged working from home. Those that were able to harness digital technologies, like TotalControlPro™ cloud-based software, to be able to work remotely managed to thrive through this situation compared to those having to be on-site to get the job done.

Dolores highlighted the importance of cloud-based software, “ultimately, you don’t buy software, it is continuously improving. If you buy it like a box that’s just going to sit in the corner and serve you, it just isn’t going to do that over time. This is why one of the benefits of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is that you can get those continuous improvements on a monthly basis, not just a static piece of tech.”

Want to know more about the MPWR sensors? Let IoT Horizon MPWR your business, speak to the Niamh today by email at niamh@iothorizon.com or by phone on 01706 318110.

Want to find out more about an affordable, accessible & available production tracking system that utilises cloud technology and puts you in control of your production facility, Book a Demo Today!

TotalControlPro™ will be Exhibiting at Backing Britain Live 2020

Total Control Pro Limited — 17/07/2020

TotalControlPro™ will be Exhibiting at the Industry’s First Virtual Expo

Backing Britain Live 2020 – Beginning on August 17th, will be a 2-week-long “Digital Business Festival”, featuring over 30 events and aiming to feature 5,000 delegates.

The exhibition already has more than 200 exhibitors confirmed with a footfall target of 5,000 delegates. We’d love to virtually connect with you on the day.

TotalControlPro is in Bilbao for the #BeDigital exhibition

Total Control Pro Limited — 04/06/2019

From the 4th until the 6th of June 2019 at BEC Exhibition Centre in Bilbao, Spain, #BeDIGITAL hosts a core event in the sector, one of the first ones focusing on the industrial application of digital technologies. @TotalControlPro and @DoloresSanders have been invited to talk about AI in manufacturing.

Our projects at TotalControlPro are commited to connecting the long tail of manufacturers and turning small data to big data, simplifying daily processes of many businesses in the sector. Together with many other strong voices in the innovation and technology sectors, coming from all across the UK, Spain, Europe and beyond, we are glad to expose our ideas and products at #BeDigital2019

Follow @BEC_Bilbao for more information and live coverage of the exhibition, or simply look after the hashtag #BeDigital ( http://bedigital.bilbaoexhibitioncentre.com/)

Digital Twin Collaboration

Total Control Pro Limited — 10/11/2020

What’s a Digital Twin?
A digital twin can be defined, fundamentally, as an evolving digital profile of the historical and current behaviour of a physical object or process that helps optimize business performance. – Deloitte

Introducing the first look at our Collaborative Digital Twin!

TotalControlPro has teamed up with New Intelligence Ltd Voyage 360 MCS Control Systems Ltd Robopod® to show you that teamwork really does make the dream work!

Grow your business with collaborative technology today!

Productivity Hacks #3: Education and Training

Total Control Pro Limited — 12/03/2020

Overall TIP: Build the confidence of your employees through effective training – the right training to the right person at the right time.

It is important when looking at future business development to consider how new technologies are integrated and adopted by employees. Lack of confidence and some knowledge can also restrict effective technological integration. Employee engagement is our buzz word as its essential for effective data, which drives better decisions which increases understanding and knowledge, and creates better engagement. In short, when we get it – we get it…

Confidence is a huge barrier to success. Self-doubt, fear and personal restrictions are something that can inherently disturb progress. Whether that be in a personal or professional setting – the key to success is confidence in the ability to deliver on a task. We believe this confidence can be brought to employees through effective and balanced training and education.

Although highly interwoven, there are clear distinctions to be made between what we define as education and training. Training is the “on the job” work, it is the demonstration and outline of managers on ‘How to…’ use the newly adopted technologies. Training is the vital first step, as it is the enrolment element. We believe managers must engage their teams in the bigger picture; the future progression they envision technology will enable for the company. TotalControlPro™ ensure they can support their clients’ team training through a combination on online and in house engagement training.

We know we can save 30 minutes per operator per day with our system, often simply because they now know much sooner the tasks and jobs they need to do and can access the information to do them better.

However, building the confidence of employees does not finish on only demonstrating the ‘how to’, it must continue to build and educate. Our education element is about helping employees understand the why – why is new technology necessary? Why will it help future progress and growth? Essentially, answering their question, “why should we bother?”

As Dolores Sanders highlights confidence building for employees is about the “Tell, Show, Try, Do.” Through engaging employees on the why and empowering them on the how, implementation of our technology will reap significant benefits for the productivity growth of our clients.

The more effectively or faster you train and educate the people involved in the productivity, the quicker you get to the benefits. But both must be taken in equal consideration. If you focus only on the how or the education (the why), this won’t have companies reach the “happy path to tech engagement.” Therefore, it must be a cohesive mixture of sharing and engaging employees. We found organisations prepared to share the win, win for everyone. This is part of the journey of success.

Total Control Pro™ are now expanding the training and education into our Employee Management System – where we can link employee skills to work task assignment, and trigger reminders for retraining and updates. Just one of the many steps to an Engaged and empowered workforce.

What about the Future?

Here at TotalControlPro™ we recognise the importance of not only educating our current workforce but paving the way for the future employees across the manufacturing industry. Out of our team of sixteen, five employees are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, “we are absolutely keen to nurture those new skills and taking that on board” (Dolores Sanders, Founder and Strategic Director). Our partnership withhas seen Dolores travel to primary and secondary schools across the country to inspire the next generation and encourage more students into STEM whether that’s in further education or apprenticeships. Through these visits, Dolores states “I get to see what the conversation is around entrepreneurship and around business. But they are also the future of the workplace. At TotalControlPro, our technology has a focus on engaging our workforce and capturing the engagement of the shop-floor. A lot of people I am speaking to are going into that environment and they’re the people we are building products for in the future. I need to know, what are the conversations they are having and what are the opportunities that they see and how can we capture that?” We are committed to not only inspiring the future generations, but also listening to them and their needs and ensuring we deliver on those needs.

It is vital to reveal to pupils their opportunities and possibilities in a huge array of businesses and industries. Through these visits Dolores also receives insights into pupil’s ecosystems, “So, who inspires them around them right now? And most of the time they don’t have access to that, they don’t have access to the kind of people who can inspire them and give them a chance to lift their heads up above the parapet and see that there is another conversation.” As part of celebrating International Women’s Day and women in technology in Northampton, we showcased at the Metro Bank. As part of the trailblazers’ tour, we gave people young and old the opportunity to track how long they could build a Lego Ferrari. Through gamification and bringing fun to new technology, young people can view their own potential. It was an amazing opportunity to see both boys and girls, as young as four years old using the same technology applied in cutting edge manufacturing plants, having fun and understanding the importance and use of such software.

Schools have the opportunity to unlocking the culture of entrepreneurship and changing the decisions and aspirations of young people. Having those from industry come in to speak, inspire and engage with young people can rapidly transform the nature of our skills gap and bring greater diversity into all areas of business. It has been revealed that involvement into STEM triples after just three encounters with individuals who inspire them in the industry, Dolores remarks, “Where we bring our ideas and our vision in, it gives them the opportunity to see things differently as well, which is what innovation is all about!”

Jasmine Smellie _ Marketing

Manufacturing Business Recovery Webinar – Profitability

Total Control Pro Limited — 01/07/2020

How can UK Manufacturers increase their profitability in a post-COVID19 climate?

Listen today to find out how you can get back to work quicker or manage workforces remotely, reduce the cost of activities and levels of waste while increasing efficiency.

https://www.totalcontrolpro.com/manufacturing-business-recovery-webinar-profitability

Sustainable Manufacturing and Supply Chain Resilience

Total Control Pro Limited — 15/08/2023

Introduction

In today’s globalised economy, sustainable manufacturing and resilient supply chains have become critical factors for businesses aiming to thrive in a rapidly changing world. As environmental concerns escalate and disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic expose vulnerabilities in global supply chains, the need to adopt sustainable practices and enhance supply chain resilience has never been more apparent.

Sustainable manufacturing and resilient supply chains are no longer just buzzwords; they are fundamental aspects of business success in the 21st century. This blog post explores the concepts of sustainable manufacturing, supply chain resilience, and the growing trend of reshoring and localisation, showcasing practical examples of companies leading the way.

Sustainable Manufacturing

Sustainable manufacturing refers to the integration of eco-friendly practices throughout the entire production process, from raw material sourcing to product disposal. By adopting sustainable manufacturing practices, companies can reduce their environmental footprint, conserve resources, minimise waste generation, and improve overall operational efficiency. Here are some practical examples of sustainable manufacturing initiatives:

Energy Efficiency: Companies like Tesla have implemented energy-efficient manufacturing processes by incorporating renewable energy sources, such as solar power, into their production facilities. This not only reduces their carbon emissions but also lowers operational costs in the long run.
Waste Reduction: Patagonia, a leading outdoor clothing company, has embraced sustainable manufacturing by implementing innovative recycling programs. They offer customers the option to return worn-out garments for repair or recycling, diverting waste from landfills and promoting a circular economy.
Life Cycle Assessments: IKEA, the well-known furniture retailer, conducts life cycle assessments of its products to identify areas for improvement. By analysing the environmental impact throughout a product’s life cycle, IKEA can make informed decisions to optimise resource usage and reduce emissions.

Supply Chain Resilience

Supply chain resilience refers to a company’s ability to withstand and recover from disruptions while maintaining operational continuity. Achieving supply chain resilience involves building flexibility, redundancy, and agility in the supply chain network. Here are practical examples of enhancing supply chain resilience:

Diversification: Following the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, companies like Apple are diversifying their supplier base to reduce dependence on a single region. By spreading manufacturing and sourcing across multiple locations, companies can mitigate risks associated with disruptions in a particular region.
Digitalisation and Data Analytics: Companies are leveraging digital technologies and data analytics to enhance supply chain visibility and responsiveness. Amazon, for instance, utilises advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms to optimise inventory management, demand forecasting, and logistics planning, enabling them to quickly adapt to changing market conditions.
Collaboration and Partnerships: Collaborative relationships between suppliers, manufacturers, and logistics providers are vital for building supply chain resilience. Unilever, a multinational consumer goods company, works closely with suppliers to promote sustainable practices, ensure ethical sourcing, and reduce environmental impact across its supply chain.

Reshoring and Localisation

Reshoring and localisation refer to the process of bringing manufacturing operations closer to the end markets or the home country. This trend has gained traction as companies seek to reduce supply chain risks, improve quality control, and support local economies. Here are practical examples of reshoring and localisation initiatives:

3D Printing: Companies like Adidas and New Balance have started implementing 3D printing technologies to produce customised footwear locally. This not only reduces transportation costs but also allows for faster response times and the ability to cater to individual customer preferences.
Nearshoring: In response to supply chain disruptions, companies are moving production closer to their primary markets. For instance, some European automotive manufacturers have shifted production to Eastern European countries to reduce transportation time and cost while maintaining proximity to their customer base.
Local Sourcing: Organic Valley, an organic food cooperative, emphasises local sourcing by partnering with local farmers. By supporting local suppliers, they minimise transportation emissions, strengthen local economies, and provide fresher products to consumers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, sustainable manufacturing and resilient supply chains have become essential components of success for businesses in today’s ever-changing landscape. By adopting sustainable practices and prioritising supply chain resilience, companies can minimise their environmental impact, enhance operational efficiency, and mitigate risks. Moreover, the integration of advanced technologies and innovative solutions, such as DynamxMFG® and similar SaaS tools, has become imperative for factories aiming to achieve sustainable manufacturing and build resilient supply chains.

DynamxMFG® is a next-generation manufacturing platform that harnesses the power of machine learning and cognitive automation. With its cutting-edge capabilities, DynamxMFG® offers factories the infrastructure to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving manufacturing world. By utilising data analytics and automation, DynamxMFG® empowers manufacturers to optimise processes, reduce waste, enhance energy efficiency, and make informed decisions to drive sustainable manufacturing practices. The platform’s ability to provide real-time insights, automate workflows, and ensure seamless collaboration among stakeholders makes it a vital tool for enhancing supply chain resilience.

Through DynamxMFG®, factories can achieve sustainability goals by incorporating eco-friendly practices into their manufacturing processes. From energy-efficient production methods to waste reduction initiatives and life cycle assessments, DynamxMFG® supports implementing sustainable manufacturing practices. Additionally, by leveraging its advanced analytics and automation capabilities, DynamxMFG® enables factories to enhance supply chain resilience through improved visibility, streamlined operations, and effective decision-making.

In summary, sustainable manufacturing and resilient supply chains are vital for businesses in today’s dynamic landscape. The inclusion of advanced SaaS tools like DynamxMFG® enables factories to drive sustainable practices, enhance operational efficiency, and build resilient supply chains. By adopting these solutions, businesses can position themselves as industry leaders, contributing to a greener future while achieving long-term success in a rapidly evolving manufacturing world.

Get in touch with us for a 15min discovery call.

TotalControlPro™ collaborate with John Lewis Manufacturing for Social Distancing Measures

Total Control Pro Limited — 15/06/2020

Returning staff to work whilst adhering to social distancing measures may result in the disruption of usual business and production processes. This may be exacerbated by some employees still working remotely.

Now more than ever, manufacturers need a way to communicate and manage people, products and processes safely and effectively, whilst recovering profit loss and boosting productivity.

An inspiring case for TotalControlPro has been working with John Lewis Manufacturing. They faced restrictive communication challenges and reached out to TotalControlPro to provide the solution to facilitate getting their employees back to work quickly and safely.

Social Distancing Measures impacting manufacturers:

staggered shift patterns
preventing face-to-face working
remote working
new cleaning processes

Like all of our customers, John Lewis Manufacturing has access to the on-screen Job Notes function which allows them to send; targeted, team, department or even company-wide messages. This removes the need for long face-to-face debriefs; keeping their employees safe. Improved communications allow workers to improve their productivity by saving an average of 30 minutes per operation, per day!

Our Cloud-based system has enabled those who are still working remotely to stay updated quickly while effectively communicating with other on-site team members. If a production manager is off-site, they can send and receive messages both to and from the shop floor. Similarly, sales or customer service teams can remotely access job information tracking and provide real-time information to their customers, including the job status and production stage.

Stephen’s Catering has been a further success story during this time. They reached out to TotalControlPro with the need of updating their system to track workstation cleaning processes. Now they can track cleaning workflows and boost confidence within their workforce that they are maintaining staff safety.

What challenges are you facing? We are here to help. Get in touch and book a free personalised demo at www.totalcontrolpro.com/contact-us-demo

Productivity Hack #4: Employee Wellbeing

Total Control Pro Limited — 26/03/2020

Overall Tip: During tricky times, it is incredibly important to check in with your employees and they feel they are valued assets of the business. As employers and leaders, you have responsibility for the wellbeing of your workforce – if not then they will feel like a cog in a machine and part of only a team of individuals.

Mental Wellbeing of Workers

The physical and mental wellbeing of employees should be paramount to any business, if workers do not feel they are valued then their productivity will be vastly inferior to those with a good sense of workplace wellbeing. Wellbeing is all about creating conditions in which people thrive; it’s quality of life and prosperity, positive physical and mental health and sustainable thriving communities of unified people.

The mental wellbeing of workers drastically controls the way that they perform in work, which is to be expected considering people are less inclined to do something that they do not actively want to be doing. Therefore, it is important to make sure that your employees feel comfortable and happy. But most importantly they need to feel as if they are an asset to your business, opposed to another cog in the machine.

In manufacturing, it may take some time for information to circulate throughout the shop-floor. Productivity becomes measured by word-of-mouth, opinion-based gossip, rather than clear statistics and data. Consequently, misinterpretation on employee productivity can be made, leading to incorrect or misplaced blame for lack of productivity.

Misplaced blame can stem from management being in the dark about real-time productivity data. This can be the difference between an employee feeling valued in the workplace or not. TotalControlPro™ can shed light on this problem, enabling extensive employee job tracking, delivered straight to management. TotalControlPro™ is all about removing complications and providing the information at the time to the people. Giving management clearer visibility of what is really happening on the production floor brings an end to incorrect judgements.

Additionally, a sense of unity is very important in the workplace, you cannot expect a group of individuals to work as one if you do not strive to unify them as a team. Feeling part of a team can add to a sense belonging, thus increasing productivity dramatically. Karl Marx conceptualised a theory that described the isolating, dehumanising and unfulfilling effects of working within a workplace that does not celebrate the individual as part of a larger team, this is called “alienation”. Feeling alienated in your job can decrease levels of enthusiasm and productivity, so avoiding this altogether is the goal, especially here at TotalControlPro™.

Having a close-knit team also leads to minimised confusion when it comes to workloads. People will be more likely to communicate if they feel as if they are part of a team, which constantly reinforces job roles and helps employees understand what needs to be done, not just as an individual but as one collective.

We must also give attention to the current outbreak of COVID-19 evoking fear amongst our workforce. With increasing businesses facing closure and workers unable to travel to work, there is a genuine fear of the productivity amongst manufacturers.

Something we have been able to provide our customers, who share these concerns, is a way to reduce the need for management to travel from plant to plant. Through our cloud-based service, we offer customers full visualisation across multiple factory floors. Reducing this travelling helps reduce the potential spread of infection and contamination. Distance and travel restrictions should not hinder your productivity or ability to predict future outputs. Amrod, are based in South Africa and we have deployed a fully integrated system into their process entirely remotely and offered online support.

TotalControlPro™ are committed to reaching anyone, anywhere and bring accessibility to businesses on a global scale, even during times of unpredictability.

George Welford_Marketing

Total Control Pro's solution for Siemens

Total Control Pro Limited — 19/07/2019

Read the full article

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Keys to success

● TotalControlPro™ could be implemented into the factory easily and efficiently within the production budget.

● Seamless integration with Siemens in-house protocols and systems.

● Flexibility of scanning model allowed for adaptation for all different team working conditions.

● Scalability of the application enables expansion from trial to full service implementation.

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UK Manufacturing Sector – Are you embracing these opportunities?

Total Control Pro Limited — 13/08/2020

As a forward-thinking company that aims to empower manufacturers to unleash their full potential, TotalControlPro™ believe that now is the time to start looking at the opportunities to build a new economy that facilitates the UK manufacturing sector to thrive. Despite the challenges and uncertainties of a global pandemic, manufactures have proved to be resilient and adapted to demand. Many have forged new innovative ideas to keep them operating and secured staff employment. Innovation need not stop there. Why not embrace the opportunities of a renewed manufacturing sector now?

1. Supply Chains

There is no doubt manufacturing supply chains have been significantly challenged from the pandemic. We have seen disruption of global logistics and transportation of goods; Factory closures across the globe to protect workers; Air transport has been strictly limited, preventing the delivery of goods and materials; Limited sea freight transportation has delayed delivery times and shutdown economies.

While the idea of localised component sourcing within the UK solves the issues of transportation delays, it is both unrealistic and often financially inefficient to have the manufacture of internationally outsourced components brought back to the UK. So how can we make supply chains more resilient in the future?

The answer is by diversifying manufacturing suppliers and ensuring that you have multiple suppliers available to you instead of relying solely on one. When you have a “plan B” or even a “plan C” supplier available in various locations, it will drastically minimise the impact of a problem with your “plan A” supplier.

2. Embracing Digital Manufacturing – Industry 4.0

The fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) is bringing an end to uncertainty with powerful cloud-based solutions like the TotalControlPro™ system. Smart Manufacturing software helps shine a light on the entire manufacturing process including the people involved in them; allowing you to push forward making smarter, faster, better decisions. Say goodbye to manufacturing that’s based on assumptions and guesswork about inventory amounts or when it will need replenishing. You will have the ability to act quickly on insights directly from your data and even impress your customers by offering full traceability of your products from start to finish, all-the-while establishing product authenticity.

3. Funding – Manufacturing Made Smarter Challenge

The objective of the Manufacturing Made Smarter Challenge is to help the UK’s manufacturing industry become more productive, resilient and sustainable through innovation and the adoption of these insightful digital technologies.

UK registered businesses can apply for funding towards an industrial research project in digital technologies to transform supply chains in UK manufacturing. This funding is from the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

The challenge closes on Wednesday 7 October 2020 at 11:00am so click here to start your application now!

Becoming an apprentice during a global pandemic

Total Control Pro Limited — 16/03/2021

Back in March 2020, Total Control Pro hired Laura Hobson as a Digital Marketing Apprentice who was joining the company as the UK went into its first national lockdown.

Laura admitted, “I had concerns about how it would be possible to learn new skills without someone physically there as a guide.” She realized these worries were for nothing after receiving plenty of support from the rest of the team.

Laura’s role is to communicate with manufacturers, so she had to learn a lot about the industry, and fast! She asked questions when she was not sure of something and was encouraged to stay curious.

Total Control Pro has been supporting several other apprentices in various roles during the pandemic too.

Jack Hooper is an Apprentice Infrastructure Technician who admitted that he found the adjustment to working from home challenging at first. He said, “with some great coaching from my team here at Total Control Pro I have since refined my skills to reduce distractions at home and improve my productivity which has left me with plenty of time to relax in the evenings.”

Lewis Burlington is an Apprentice Software Developer who wanted a practical learning environment to develop the skills needed to progress in his career. He said, “I've learned a lot with the responsibilities of the business pushing me forward than I could have imagined, and with the assistance from other members of the team it has been an extremely beneficial opportunity.”

Arnas Overlingas is a Sales Apprentice who joined the company at a time when the government was encouraging people to gain new skills. Arnas shared that it’s been surprisingly easy to build working relationships with people virtually, “we have morning meetings and afternoon meetings which we share, praise or discuss anything we have done during the day, it keeps us connected. I look forward to the years to come.”

Total Control Pro offers manufacturers a Smart Factory software solution, that can be built one module at a time. Their USP has always been that they put PEOPLE at the forefront of their software. They believe if businesses want to capture a best practice on the shop floor and use this to improve overall business performance, one must learn to embrace change and engage the whole team. That way disruption of the digitalization journey is minimal. Their work with apprentices in 2020 has taught them well and reinforced their commitment.

Made Futures was created to encourage people to get jobs in manufacturing, in support of those who have lost their jobs over the course of the 2020 pandemic. There's still time to sign up and be part of the exhibition by registering here.

Watch Laura Hobson's interview with Made Futures Live on 'Becoming an Apprentice During a Global Pandemic'.

Total Control Pro Limited

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