Genre: Manufacturing

The Québec Government calls them “innovative manufacturers”. These companies have decided to lead a whole new industrial revolution. According to Dominique Anglade, Minister of Economy, Science and Innovation, an innovative manufacturer is one who highly prioritize computerization, automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies. Is this the case of your company?/p>

A factory 4.0, also known as a smart factory, has, over time, adapted to new technologies. Technology 4.0 consists of productivity growth, lower production costs and increased quality. Productivity is increased due to the availability of multiple new resources.

Why so many changes in production?

The factories 4.0 have screens everywhere. In fact, each worker has a screen at his workstation, on which the statistics and the stages of production yet to be accomplished are presented. By showing these statistics, the goal here is not to criticize workers. On the contrary, we want them to rely on the steps and to ensure that production is carried out effectively. This technique is used to avoid oblivion, since the production is sometimes quite complex. Moreover, the screens indicate whether the steps have been successfully performed, thereby reducing production errors. Companies can thus guarantee a higher level of quality than before.

Digital signage to improve internal communications

In addition to production advances, digital signage will help you automate your internal communications. Prevention messages, for example, could be displayed across your network of screens or in an area of your plant. Moreover, if you have a message to send to all of your employees, you can now do so from your workstation. Digital signage has many advantages in the manufacturing industry, click on this link to learn more on the subject.

What about the monetary aspect?

Of course, keeping up with technology means significant expenditures in the short term, which sometimes can make factory managers hesitate, especially the ones who have not yet made the 3.0 technology turn. A factory wishing to computerize and automate its technologies sees this expenditure as a long-term investment for several reasons: data flows are automated, steps are clearly communicated to the worker and operations are analyzed in order to maintain high quality. Here are some arguments that will convince you to take the 4.0 technology turn to increase the productivity and profitability of your factory.

Obviously, when companies decide to invest in 4.0 technology for their plants, they make a significant investment for their future. Indeed, the figures show that companies that have taken the 4.0 turn are increasing their turnover faster and hiring much more new employees than their competitors.

To financially help factories wishing to integrate 4.0 technology, the Government of Québec has decided to invest $ 825 million dollars over the next 3 years. In addition, several other financing options are available. Factories wishing to innovate and harness new technologies can also benefit from Investissement Québec’s Innovative Manufacturer Financing program. Now that you know that the resources are there and are accessible, all is left to do is request financing!

Manufacturing companies have experienced a bit of struggle in recent years. Globalization and instability in some parts of the world have forced them to get ahead of the game on the productivity level as well as staff management. However, getting ahead of the game or innovating, often entails high implementation costs and for this reason, corporate leadership can be reluctant to invest, afraid that the risk would not pay off. Therefore, it is important for business managers to analyze the different solutions offered in order to make an informed decision.

Are you familiar with digital signage? If not, check out this page of our website which clearly explains what it is.

Companies like Arcelor Mital and Domtar have chosen to make this technological turn and it might as well be a feasible solution for your manufacturing company. In this article, we will present you with the many reasons why this technology could help and allow you to innovate.

Data automation

In business, time is a rare commodity. Leaders are often running out of time and as a consequence, communication with the staff becomes almost inexistent. A digital display allows you to communicate multiple messages and performance metrics in an automated way. In fact, since your digital display screens are directly connected to your databases, it is possible to communicate, for example, the number of products delivered today in real time. Thus, anyone who does not necessarily have access to a computer will be able to see the results. Employees will be aware of their performance in real time without any human intervention.

Employee motivation at Domtar

Domtar, a Québec paper company, uses digital display screens inside its factory to broadcast personalized messages, to remind employees of the company’s culture and to show performance indicators. Domtar notes that digital signage plays an important role in the factory, as employees are more motivated and, as a result, more productive. Indeed, being aware of the periodic performance of the company, employees feel more involved and thus more motivated.

What relevant information and data should you display on your screens?

The data presented on your screens may seem trivial to you, but your employees like to see the concrete result of the work they perform day after day. An employee involved is certainly a more efficient one.

More dynamic communications

Here is a demo that shows what can be displayed on a screen

A digital display is much more dynamic than a paper display. Your screens will catch everyone’s eye because you can integrate colors, movements, videos, photos, etc. The possibilities are endless!  Given the speed, simplicity and easy updating, you will be able to change the content of your screens, as you deem necessary.

The renewed content will contribute to the enthusiasm of your audience. Your employees won’t get tired of seeing the same image when entering their department, on the contrary. They will be much more receptive to your messages because they will be dynamic and ever changing.

Reducing your ecological footprint

By using digital display screens, you will inevitably reduce your ink and paper consumption. This will help reduce your company’s ecological footprint.  Most companies want to go green for a multitude of reasons. For many, a green shift is synonymous with modernity and contributes to the well being of society. Reducing paper consumption as well as the use of other natural resources is part of that initiative. For others, it is a long-term economic investment. Of course, digital signage requires a greater investment to get started. However, it does not require buying new equipment later on to make your screens work.

Prevent costly work accidents

According to IRSST (Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail), a work accident costs on average $ 35,000 to a company. Consequently, it is important to procure a safe work environment to prevent work accidents. By using digital signage screens, you can spread prevention messages that can help reduce the number of work accidents in your factory. Remind your employees of the basics of safe work and always show them new ways to work safely an efficiently. Show them videos on a variety of topics (such as how to lift a heavy load). It will also allow you to quickly communicate an emergency message across the factory through your display network.

Don’t hesitate to include a chart with the number of days since the last work accident occurred in the factory. This will motivate your employees to be more careful in order to increase accident-free workdays on the chart. It’s a healthy competition and everyone is a winner!  

Read our full article on injury prevention at work

Finally, just like all communication tools, the purpose of digital signage is to convey information. Whether you want to use your screens to motivate your employees, dynamize your communications or reduce your company’s ecological footprint, digital signage can help you innovate and make you stand out from your competitors! So tell us, which technology are you using to innovate on a communication level with your staff?

Feel free contact us to discuss your digital signage project. We would be pleased to answer any questions you may have!

By phone (toll-free): 1 866 553-5462 ext.: 251

By email: Click here

Too often, we hear reports about work-related accidents in the media. However, the government has intensified efforts in the past, just think of its advertising campaign with Claude Legault. Despite all this, many companies don’t do enough to prevent accidents in the workplace. With all means available to prevent these tragic events, it is unfortunate to note that still far too many people come home injured at the end of the day, or even worse, simply never come back.

Work-related accidents statistics[1] :

Last year in Quebec, no less than 224 workers were injured every day, almost 82 000 workers have been victims of an accident at work during the year and 69 of them died. In addition, 127 workers died from occupational diseases. It is easy to believe that many of them could have been saved with more effective prevention in the company.

First we will see how to use digital dynamic display within the company, then, how to ensure that the content has an impact on employees, and finally, how to make this tool even more efficient, thanks to the display of production data in real time.

A great way to do prevention among your employees

CNESST (standards, equity, health and safety at work commission) never says it enough; prevention is the key to prevent most accidents. But what is the best way to disseminate information related to prevention? The use of digital dynamic display screens is a very attractive solution to meet this need. You can show information related to the importance of safety at work to employees using productivity data in the enterprise, messages that you want to transmit instantly in the work environment, and much more.

With a strategic arrangement of screens, employees will be exposed to the broadcast content and it will be much easier to do prevention with a picture, a video or an educational capsule. The digital display gives a quick and easy way to communicate within the company. It is also much more attractive than some sign on the wall.

How to ensure that the monitors don’t fall into oblivion?

To ensure that the content presented on the screens is viewed and understood by employees, several aspects must be considered. You must obviously choose information that directly concerns the workplace, but you have to look further to optimize the use of digital dynamic display. In this sense, you need to wonder if weather has to appear on the screen, or if you would like the news to scroll at the bottom of it. Perhaps it will be by presenting sports news that you will attract employees looks on the monitors. Of course, the arrangement of all the visible content on the screens must be done very well for it to be pleasant to watch.

By knowing your employees, you will be able to capture their attention to increase the frequency with which they peak at the information you want them to know. On the other hand, you have to make sure that the main message occupies the largest place on the monitors. In short, by choosing a revealing primary content and embellishing it with additional information, you have a tool in digital dynamic display that will make its place quickly in the daily routine of your employees. So make sure to have a good content strategy before launching your digital display project.

Improve your employees’ commitment with the display of real-time data

Another way to keep the attention of employees is by broadcasting production data in real time (number of shipped orders, completion percentage of monthly targets, accurate statistics, etc.). In addition to keeping their motivation level high, it increases their commitment to their work. Whatever the business, one cannot overlook the importance of motivation. Digital dynamic display offers the possibility to place the employee at the center of his achievements and make his work more meaningful. Indeed, you can ensure to give concreteness to the tasks performed. Take the example of a factory specializing in manufacturing auto parts. In this case, it’s much more interesting for an employee to be able, in real time, to know how many parts have been designed in the last week or even in the current day. If, however, he does his job without knowing what happens with the final product, he may feel less involved in the success of the company.

Consult our complete article on how to increase employe commitment with dynamic digital signage

With the real-time display, you show transparency with the employees by presenting information that is judged relevant. Moreover, you gain a lot of time with this approach, considering that the data is known to the minute. Therefore, there is no need to call people to a meeting, for example, to inform them of things that can be disseminated instantly in the work environment. It is a technology which truly allows better communication with employees and helps in the prevention of work-related accidents by educating and placing the staff at the center of the company’s activities.

Nowadays, people are on the lookout for different technologies and can be easily stimulated by a well-designed digital content. Of course, we won’t eliminate all workplace accidents through prevention done with the digital dynamic display. Nonetheless, it is certainly an effective way to take a big step forward in the change of mentality that we want to see within companies.

[1] http://www.cnesst.gouv.qc.ca/salle-de-presse/Documents/Jour-de-deuil-2016.pdf

Dynamic digital signage in factory represents a flexible and fast tool of communication. Further more, it can also automate the communication. Since the messages are easily modifiable, you can adapt them to the time of day, work shift, or the screen’s location. We therefore ensure that the right information is sent to the right people at the right time. This article present 5 good reasons to use dynamic digital signage in a factory.

Here is a demo that shows what can be displayed on a screen

Real-time performance and quality indicators

The use of digital signage allows organisations to embed any of their database, from ERP for example, then automatically display real-time information that is relevant and easy to understand. For instance, it can display:

More on why it’s important to display your key performance indicators to your employees.

The figure below shows a concrete example of what could be displayed on a screen.

OHS prevention

Dynamic digital display can help your company improve its occupational health and safety (OHS) by displaying dynamic digital sign, prevention videos and important messages. You can:

• Inform about risks and dangers.
• Convey safety rules.
• Call for vigilance.

Since the messages are easily modifiable, you can adapt them to the time of day, work shift, or the screen’s location. We therefore ensure that the right information is sent to the right people at the right time.

More on how dynamic digital signage can improve health and safety at work (HSW).

With a touch screen, you can signal sudden and temporary risks directly on the screen and quickly inform everyone of the danger. For example, if a worker sees an ice slick, he can immediately flag the danger on the screen to share the information with his colleagues.

The image below shows a concrete example of what can be shown on screen for prevention purposes.

Human resources communications

There is a lot of important information to communicate in factories, which is why there is often one or more bulletin boards. Those are overloaded.

With digital signage and a good content strategy, you can display your information attractively and efficiently:

• New positions to fill;
• Birthdays;
• Upcoming events;
• Union information;
• Company history;
• Internal culture;
• The cafeteria’s weekly menu.

More on how dynamic digital signage can improve employees commitment.

Training

To ensure that your employees remember their last training properly, you can use digital display for simple reminders.

For more interactivity, it is also possible to setup touch screens so employees can receive training or consolidate their learning. For example, through videos that show how to use specific tools.

Communicate changes and spontaneous information

Communicating a change in a factory can be a perilous task for many reasons, since the following situations will probably happen:

• Employees don’t have access to their email;
• Employees don’t have access to phones;
• Employees are not working the same shifts;
• Employees are not looking at the bulletin board.

Poor communication leads to issues of efficiency and security. Incidentally, poor communication during a period of change tends to increase unwanted behaviors by 42%. [1] Dynamic digital can broadcast information quickly, visibly and instantly. You are certain that everyone is up to date and aware of the latest modifications to regulations and goals at the same time.

Finally, dynamic digital signage simplifies and reinforces your communications.

More on how dynamic digital signage can improve internal communication.

[1] http://www.slideshare.net/ldickmeyer/cost-of-poor-internal-communications-912