Cloud technology: How it can protect your manufacturing process
Operating within any sector of healthcare is a resource-intensive practice. Anyone developing and manufacturing industry products is going to be aware of the meticulous detail that must go into every aspect of a project.
Exceptionally high standards and demands rest on everything from data management to workplace efficiency. When the result of your work relates to patient care, getting tasks done the right way is utterly essential.
The result? You need to always look for ways to better protect your organisation from problems that might impact workflow. Success and development in the industry are often down to hitting targets and improving performance while remaining compliant with regulations and restrictions.
But what steps can you take to secure your business against problems and simultaneously improve performance? Cloud-based technology is a potential factor to consider. Offering new solutions to old problems, such as streamlining fax transmissions through online faxing, cloud-based solutions can transform your manufacturing operation in several ways:
Comprehensive access
The production and manufacturing of healthcare products require a lot of important documentation, tools, systems and software. These are located in one of two places:
As a specific file or executable program on a computer
Held in physical form in a physical location
While it might seem mundane, this can be a major issue when it comes to workplace efficiency. For example, a paper file held in a specific location is only accessible from that location. So, if you aren't in the same place as said file — or you don’t know where your file is — you cannot access it. Not only does inaccessibility create time sinks, but it also hampers the possibility of effective remote work.
Remote work has been shown to have numerous benefits for the manufacturing industry, with over half of employees in the sector seeking more flexible work options. But current practices don’t facilitate such demand — and the low figure of just 9% of manufacturing organisations offering such flexibility attests to this.
What’s worse, if you are unable to reach the location of the required file or system — perhaps somebody else is using the computer for a more urgent task, or what you need is housed on another site — you may find tasks become impossible to complete.
Effective work within healthcare manufacturing requires the removal of these kinds of limitations — and that is exactly what cloud technology does.
Cloud technology offers instant use of files, software and other solutions from multiple access points. As long as the technology is compatible with a device — be it a computer, tablet, smartphone, etc. — you can use it wherever you are. You don’t need to travel to a specific location or have accessibility limited to one place. By incorporating cloud technology into your manufacturing process, you sever restrictive ties associated with location-based accessibility and ensure task completion.
Avoid internal IT problems
Internal computer problems may be the bane of your organisation’s existence, but you aren't the only ones suffering. £35 billion is lost every year, thanks to IT problems. From outages and down systems to lost data and corrupt files, issues with your network or computer software can cripple anyone’s ability to work effectively.
Cloud-based technology, however, offers a reprieve from such disastrous situations. All elements are managed externally by developers, whose sole purpose is to ensure their particular cloud product remains active and supported. So, the risk of experiencing IT problems reduces drastically. By accessing their systems through online portals, you remove all your internal responsibility of keeping your IT processes operating smoothly. Instead, it is entirely in the cloud developer’s control.
The result is this: providing your network connection remains stable, you’ll very rarely experience anything in the way of IT nightmares. If IT problems are something you find occur regularly, the introduction of cloud-based technology can drastically reduce workplace downtime.
Avert disaster
A true workplace disaster is something you never want to experience. When something goes majorly wrong, it doesn’t matter where in your organisation the problem started; it can have massive ramifications for your entire operation.
Cloud-based technology cannot reduce the risk of every potential major problem that could befall a healthcare manufacturer. But it does have plenty of potential to support better practices that can minimise the chance of experiencing one widespread and particularly damaging disaster:
Loss of data
Loss of data can occur due to all manner of problems, from intentional theft to misplacement of physical files. The causes may be different, but the outcome is the same — major consequences in terms of:
Downtime caused by re-acquiring data or slowdowns caused by an inability to access important files and documentation
Potential legal and financial ramifications of breaching data protection compliance laws relating to any healthcare clients you may have.
Negating the chances of data loss is critical to the avoidance of legal problems and the continuation of efficient work. Both can put a significant strain on overall operational performance.
Cloud-based technology can support these goals. Software and online portals accessed over the cloud are often designed with effective data management in mind. Using the right solutions can mean:
Data is always backed up and accessible, even when lost or damaged
Files are kept on computer servers, reducing the chance of physical file loss or theft
Information is held behind cloud-based security for better data protection compliance.
Moving away from more traditional working practices and incorporating cloud-based technology into your manufacturing business can have dramatic effects on stability and sustainability. Protect yourself from common risk factors now and you’ll reap the rewards long into the future.