Driving Efficiency: How Digital Signage Optimizes Workflow in Manufacturing Plants

It’s easy to see why digital signage is rapidly becoming one of the most sought-after solutions for both customer and employee communications for companies in all industries, but when you think about manufacturing facilities, the increase in digital signage makes even more sense.

In a world of information overload and short attention spans, eye-catching digital signage has stand-out appeal and gets the message across quickly and efficiently. But digital signage really comes into its own as a remarkably effective business communications tool in manufacturing plants, where employees frequently have no access to other company information channels like email, intranet, or even mobile phones.

In manufacturing, efficiency reigns supreme, safety is paramount, and crystal-clear communication is crucial for ensuring smooth production process, minimizing downtime, and meeting deadlines.

Traditionally, factories relied on posters, static whiteboards, and even written paper instructions to disseminate information to workers on production lines.

However, these methods were inefficient, cumbersome, and prone to errors. Now, digital signage solutions such as the Poppulo Harmony Digital Signage Cloud are transforming communications and workflow efficiencies in some of the world's most sophisticated, top-end manufacturing companies.

For example, take Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) an American multinational aerospace and defense technology company with over 100,000 employees. To solve twin communication and operational challenges, NGC chose Poppulo’s digital signage software solution for its “Space Park” facility in Redondo Beach, California.

The company wanted to empower floor managers and technicians with real-time, data-driven information and ensure employees and visitors could easily navigate the 110-acre NGC campus.

One of the primary goals of our digital signage project was to improve situational awareness through better communication, freeing up time for both floor managers and technicians. I’m happy to say we accomplished that.
—Oscar Castillo, Factory Modernization & Digital Transformation Project Manager, Northrop Grumman

You can find out more here about how Poppulo’s digital signage software enabled Northrop Grumman Corporation’s manufacturing communications and efficiencies.

While large companies like NGC account for almost 60% of the 13 million manufacturing jobs in the US, manufacturers of all sizes are becoming increasingly aware of how digital signage is a must-have solution for operational and workflow efficiencies. This is not surprising when you consider the range of use cases and challenges digital signage can solve.

• Real-Time Information Sharing: Digital displays can deliver live updates on production schedules and quality metrics. This ensures that employees have access to the latest information, enabling them to make informed decisions and respond promptly to changes on the factory floor.
• Performance Dashboards: By displaying key performance indicators (KPIs) and production metrics in real-time, digital signage enables employees to track their progress and identify areas for improvement.
• Enhanced Employee Engagement: Digital signage is not a one-way communication channel. Interactive features allow employees to engage with the content, access additional information on demand, or even provide feedback. This can foster a sense of ownership and involvement, leading to a more engaged and motivated workforce. Additionally, highlighting employee achievements and team successes on digital displays can boost morale and create a positive work environment.
• Safety Alerts and Reminders: Digital signage can broadcast safety alerts, emergency procedures, and compliance reminders to ensure that workers remain vigilant and adhere to safety protocols at all times. This proactive approach to safety helps prevent accidents and minimizes downtime due to injuries or incidents.
• Reduced Downtime and Improved Response Times: Real-time data visualization on digital signage allows for quicker identification of potential production issues. By having immediate access to critical information, employees and supervisors can react quickly to resolve problems and minimize downtime. Additionally, digital signage can be used to display maintenance schedules and alerts, ensuring proactive equipment upkeep, and preventing unexpected breakdowns
• Improved Inventory Management: Signage can play a crucial role in inventory management by providing real-time visibility, enhancing communication, and streamlining processes, such as high-visibility awareness of stock levels and product availability, and supply chain shipments

Of course, while digital signage could be described as an almost peerless communications tool in a manufacturing plant setting, it is even more effective when it’s integrated with other comms channels on a single platform, as the global manufacturing construction company Roeslein & Associates has proven with its use of the Poppulo Harmony platform.

While navigating frequent mergers and acquisitions, the company recognized the need for a consolidated communications platform to reach and engage with its manufacturing plant employees and in-office workers. They choose Poppulo Harmony for its fully integrated omnichannel platform, capable of delivering communications across digital signage, email, and intranet.

Also key to Roeslein & Associates decision to choose Poppulo Harmony was the platform’s powerful analytics, governance, and scalability. You can read more here about how Roeslein & Associates have benefitted from Poppulo’s digital signage, email, and analytics capabilities.

If you would like to learn more about how Poppulo could transform efficiencies and optimize workflows in your company, we’d be delighted to help, and you can contact us here.