- The purpose of this project is to evaluate supply chain automation by leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies. The identified technologies include Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) noted as critical for streamlining operations and obtaining value-for-money outcomes. This has been pursued by focusing on Wood Plc.
- To conclude, the generated findings of this report evidence WPC is today adopting the application of iSourcing in their procurement and supply management (PS&M).
- In the current project, through an evaluation of options for automation of the organization PS&M, the findings evidence the existence of different limitations hindering the success of their system. The issues of cost overruns, lack of collaboration, and inefficient supply chain as the organization is expanding its current operations have been noted to include limitations of their current sourcing.
- Success in the automation of their supply chain has been identified to lead to the following outcomes;
- Organisation achievement owing to automation of their supply chain, increased confidence and capability, talent management, and employee competency
- Improved stakeholders relations (a later section of stakeholders analysis) easing the change process. Through the iSourcing improvement, WPC would be in a position of harnessing technical and commercial evaluation processes.
- Increased and robust systems and policies which mitigate overall gaps in sourcing system transformation
- Today, only lower than 10% of the entire WPC resources are used to prioritize automation and IT integration successfully. Automation would improve the use of resources in their operations
Also, in this project, different tools and techniques have been referenced relevant for generating appropriate findings of the need for automation in WPC. Success in this project, would be tracked using a Gantt Chart with a detailed implementation plan established and recommended for PS&M in the WPC organisation.
From the identified gaps in this project, various recommendations can be suggested for WPC to improve the automation process of their supply chain. These recommendations include;
- Involve their IT and finance departments to ensure within a period of 6 months they
- WPC needs to consider embracing sustainable practices as part of investing in their Industry 4.0 technologies
- Through the adoption of automation, better communication systems backed by AI and ML would be introduced to achieve 70% increased communication effectiveness.
- It is important to increase this through increasing collaboration and alignment of all their interests holistically
- Partnering with institutions for the provision of capacity development opportunities for the PS&M teams and other organizations for the success of the automation process
- Expanding their sourcing of Industry 4.0 technologies. This is to involve highly reputable global companies hence efficient operations and integration of AI
- Source of support from the government to ensure that they are facilitated in terms of policies and appropriate regulations to guide the automation process.
