Embracing efficiency: exploring a robotics and automation framework

Automation is more than a trend for businesses that rely on logistics and manufacturing — it's a strategic must.

A robotics and automation framework gives you a clear, step-by-step way to add automation to your business. It will help increase your productivity and efficiency. Let's explore the framework's key components and how they can transform your business.

Adopt a minimalist design philosophy

The first step in the framework is to set your baseline with simple process flows. Calculate current and target Takt times and design manual procedures with a focus on the entire process. This step ensures you’re not automating bad processes. This means optimizing time management and resource allocation from the start.

Evaluate your improvement options

Once you have clearly outlined the basic processes, the next step focuses on identifying areas where there are deficits in productivity. This involves listing all process improvement options and targeting specific tasks and other activities. This exercise can help you find the best places for automation and make sure the solutions are both useful and relevant.

Consider automation possibilities

To evaluate automation options, apply an automation decision framework. This step is essential as it establishes an iterative process that assesses your automation possibilities and revisits earlier steps to continuously refine your approach. This ongoing evaluation helps you fine-tune your automation strategy to fit your unique business needs and constraints.

Refine and design your business case

The next phase involves improving the design and developing a business case for potential automation strategies. This step requires you to work with vendors to test automation using proof of concept or pilots before issuing requests for proposal (RFPs). You can then outline the end-to-end system plan and obtain business case approval.

Implementation and savings tracking

At this final stage, your plan is ready for execution. Develop test scripts, set performance goals and record your insights in the automation decision framework. You can't just focus on the technology; you need to make sure it works well with the whole operation. Adjust based on how your setup works in an operational environment.

Continual improvements keep your operation up-to-date

Your framework will undergo ongoing improvement. It’s implementation is an iterative process that identifies gaps, evaluates opportunities and informs automation improvements. This makes your solution dynamic and adaptable to your changing business needs and the advantages of the latest technological developments.

To boost productivity and efficiency, businesses like yours need to apply a robotics and automation framework. This methodical process ensures thoughtful, well-integrated automation investments that deliver tangible operational improvements. Not only does this framework support immediate upgrades, but it also lays the groundwork for continuous innovation and efficiency enhancements.

Contact us and discover how NTT DATA's Supply Chain Operations practice can transform your supply chain. We'll help you adopt robotics and automation, bringing your organization the latest breakthroughs and unleashing its potential. Our top supply chain talent, enabled by proven, leading-edge digital assets — tools, methods and content — delivers actionable insights and measurable outcomes to some of today’s largest and most complex supply chains.