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Ushering in a New Era for Connected Industrial Work with the Augie™ GenAI Suite

Discover how Augmentir’s Gen AI Suite and Augie transforms how manufacturers support frontline activities and personnel.

We recently unveiled a watershed moment in connected worker technology history with updates and expansions to Augie, our generative AI assistant for industrial work. This expansion drastically improves the breadth and reach of Augie’s capabilities, enhancing the already powerful tool even more and creating a generative AI suite of tools and assistants for frontline industrial work. This first-of-its-kind Augie GenAI Suite, redefines the future of manufacturing, empowering frontline workers everywhere with unmatched AI-driven tools.

But what does this mean for manufacturers and industrial organizations looking to improve their operations and how can Augie help you?

augie industrial generative ai assistant manufacturing

Basically, this suite of generative AI assistants includes dedicated capabilities for companies to enhance their Troubleshooting, Operations, Data Insights, and Content Creation; and even introduces a GenAI-as-a-Service option. This expands on Augie’s existing capabilities for advanced troubleshooting and real-time digital assistance to frontline workers and adds further abilities for advanced safety/risk mitigation, worker compliance, workforce development, knowledge management and training, quality management, and more.

Read below to learn more about the new Augie GenAI Suite, what it can do, what it means for the future of manufacturing work, and how it can help you.

Augie’s Expanded Suite of GenAI Assistants

The Augie suite transforms frontline manufacturing like never before – giving teams instant access to expert knowledge, next-level data insights, and seamless operational support. From troubleshooting to operations and content creation, the possibilities are endless.

Introducing a first-of-its-kind GenAI Suite for industrial work:

Augie Industrial Assistant 2.0

Enhancements include support for dozens of new content types, the addition of patented-pending prompt enrichment, and superior prioritization, resulting in increased accuracy and actionability.

Augie Content Assistant

Automatically convert existing digital content (Word Excel, PDF, etc.) into native Augmentir Work instructions, SOPs, OPLs, CILs, Checklists, etc., accelerating deployment. Generate Training, Checklists, and Quizzes from a wide range of source types including images, manuals, free-form tests, etc., to streamline worker training and onboarding.

Augie Data Assistant

Augie provides insights from any source of operational data, including standard data sets such as Skills, Standard Work, Safety, and Work Execution, as well as customer-specific datasets generated through Augmentir’s report configurator. Augie eliminates/reduces the need for “report writing” and, through its conversational interface, answers questions, performs math, and generates graphical reports, increasing responsiveness.

Augie Extensibility Assistant

The Extensibility Assistant increases the productivity of developers building new and supporting existing user-defined functions in Augmentir’s extensibility framework. Augmentir’s unique Platform-as-a-Service capabilities enable customers and partners to create unique capabilities to solve important business problems, a capability not available elsewhere in the market

Augie Industrial GenAI-as-a-Service

As an industry first, Augie exposes its GenAI capabilities as APIs in Augmentir’s extensibility framework, enabling companies and partners to utilize Industrial genAI within innovative, company or vertical-specific use cases. Commonly used APIs include translateText enabling on-the-fly translation of dynamic content, and imageQA, enabling direct comparison or summarization of images, supporting critical applications in Quality, Safety, and Operations.

This is a true game-changer for frontline manufacturing personnel, equipping them with expert knowledge, advanced tools, and intuitive support like nothing has before. But more than that, these are not just simple upgrades, this is the future of manufacturing, right at the fingertips of those who matter most – frontline personnel.

Advantages of Generative AI Assistants in Manufacturing

Generative AI assistants in manufacturing streamline production by automating repetitive tasks, reducing human error, and optimizing workflows. They enhance decision-making through real-time data analysis, leading to increased efficiency and cost savings. Augie is unique among other smart manufacturing assistants in that it leverages proprietary fit-for-purpose, pre-trained LLMs and generative AI, coupled with robust security and permissions, to help factory managers, operators, and engineers improve efficiency, resolve issues faster, and prevent downtime.

Through Augie, manufacturers can instantly:

  • Close skills and experience gaps with personalized support
  • Gain insights into Leader Standard Work
  • Gain new insights into skills inventories
  • Convert Tribal Knowledge into Digital Corporate Assets
  • Identify opportunities for continuous improvement
  • Forecast potential operational issues

The expansion of the Augie tool kit further enhances these capabilities, allowing for more advanced and adaptable functions such as those described above. With the Augie GenAI suite by your side, the potential for improved frontline support, optimized manufacturing operations, and the empowerment of frontline industrial workforces is limitless.

Supporting Frontline Workers with GenAI Assistants

Augmentir introduced Augie in early 2023, becoming the first software provider in the manufacturing sector to offer a generative AI solution focused on the industrial frontline workforce.

Since its launch, Augie has seen massive support from leading manufacturing organizations. It has been applied by these global leaders across all manufacturing and production types, helping prevent safety and quality issues at the point of work, driving operational efficiency, and giving frontline workers the tools, guidance, and support they need to do their best work.

Augie’s generative AI capabilities are built into the core of the Augmentir platform, so users can quickly and securely leverage the latest AI advances within the framework of digital collaboration, skills management, and work execution. This allows frontline users and other manufacturing personnel to leverage existing data, documents, applications, and their existing tribal knowledge, increasing their ROI.

Interested in learning more?

To learn more about Augie and how it has the potential to transform and augment your frontline workers and activities with patented AI-driven insights and to learn why Augmentir is trusted by leading manufacturers as a reliable digital transformation partner – schedule a demo with one of our product experts.

 

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How to Improve Manufacturing Shift Handover

Learn how to improve manufacturing shift handover with our downloadable template and AI-powered connected worker solution.

Improving shift handover in manufacturing involves implementing strategies to enhance communication, streamline processes, and ensure a smooth transition between shifts. These strategies can include creating a shift handover template (shift handoff template), implementing digital processes with a connected worker platform, and establishing standardized shift handover protocols.

shift handoff shift handover in manufacturing

Encouraging active participation and engagement from both incoming and outgoing personnel fosters a culture of accountability and collaboration. Regular training sessions and feedback mechanisms enable teams to continuously refine their handoff procedures and address any challenges. By prioritizing clear communication, standardized processes, and ongoing improvement efforts, manufacturing facilities can optimize shift handoff practices and maximize operational efficiency.

Read below to learn why shift handover is important, how to standardize shift handoffs for safer operations, examples of shift handover templates (shift handoff templates), and how to digitize shift handoffs with connected worker software tools.

 

Shift Handover Template
Free Template
Streamline the process of shift handoff with our free Shift Handover Template. Download our PDF template to get started, and learn more about digitizing your shift handover process with Augmentir.
Download Free Template
Pro Tip

You can now import existing PDF, Word, or Excel documents (just like the PDF above) directly into Augmentir create digital, interactive work procedures and checklists using Augie™, a Generative AI content creation tool from Augmentir. Learn more about Augie – your industrial Generative AI Assistant.

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Why are shift handovers important?

Shift handoff in manufacturing is a critical process where incoming and outgoing personnel exchange information, ensuring continuity and efficiency in production operations. During this transition, essential details such as production status, equipment condition, safety concerns, and any ongoing issues are communicated to ensure a seamless transfer of responsibility.

The consequences of improper shift handover communication and processes can be devastating. For example, a U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Identification Board investigation found that a series of shift communication mistakes beginning five days before an incident led to the release of nearly 24,000 pounds of methyl mercaptan, a toxic chemical. This caused not only OSHA fines over $270,000, but also the death of four employees who inhaled the toxic fumes.

Effective communication during shift handoff is paramount to effective daily management, enabling the incoming team to understand the current state of affairs, anticipate potential challenges, and maintain productivity levels. By prioritizing clear communication and thorough documentation, manufacturing facilities can enhance operational effectiveness and maintain high standards of safety and quality across shifts. Additionally, documenting key information facilitates future reference and aids in problem-solving.

Standardizing Shift Handovers for Safer Operations

Pen and paper shift handover reports and verbal handoffs are often ineffective due to a lack of structured communication between shifts, other departments/teams, and reports that lack crucial details. Data is often exchanged verbally, through emails, and physical notes that can be misinterpreted or misunderstood by the next person or by a later shift. This process can be streamlined through standardization, saving time and effort.

Standardized work is a core pillar of operational safety excellence, in essence, it is the process of completing repetitive activities in a consistent way to ensure optimal outcomes. Applying this concept to shift handoffs and shift handover reports creates efficient methods for communicating and collaborating across shifts ensuring smoother handovers, improved responses, and increased safety.

Shift Handover Template Examples

Regardless of industry, creating a shift handover template (shift handoff template) is a best practice that can have a big impact on productivity, satisfaction, and safety. The following is an example of a shift handover templates that can be modified to fit organizational needs:

 

Shift Handover Template
Free Template
Streamline the process of shift handoff with our free Shift Handover Template. Download our PDF template to get started, and learn more about digitizing your shift handover process with Augmentir.
Download Free Template

 

Not all shift handover reports will look the same, they will vary from industry to industry, department to department, and company to company. However, the example above captures the essence and key elements needed in a shift handoff report.

Pro Tip

Shift handover templates need to be comprehensive yet to the point. Keeping it simple, asking for the relevant information, and refraining from lengthy or tedious forms will help ensure completion and participation from frontline workers.

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Digital Shift Handover with Connected Worker Software

Leveraging smart connected worker tools to create digital shift handovers is revolutionizing the traditional manufacturing shift handoff process. Using connected worker solutions manufacturers facilitate real-time communication, improved data sharing, and enhanced task management between shifts. By incorporating features such as mobile and wearable devices, cloud-based platforms, and GenAI assistants, digital shift handovers enable seamless information exchange regardless of location, improving accessibility and efficiency.

Augmentir’s connected worker platform and suite of connected worker tools help manufacturers standardize work and continually improve operations. Import existing PDF, Word, or Excel documents directly into Augmentir and create digital, interactive work procedures and checklists using Augie™, a Generative AI content creation tool from Augmentir.  Once digitized, workers can easily access shift reports, production metrics, equipment status updates, and safety protocols from mobile or wearable devices – ensuring continuity and transparency across shifts.

Moreover, smart connected worker tools facilitate proactive problem-solving and provide instant notifications for abnormalities or maintenance requirements, empowering teams to address issues promptly and prevent downtime.

Contact us to learn more about why Augmentir is trusted by leading manufacturers to transform their daily management and improve:

  • Issue and Activity Management and Tracking
  • Standard Work Audits and Scheduling
  • Smart Forms and Checklists
  • Smart Collaboration and Communication
  • Closed-loop Worker Performance Support
  • and more…

 

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Frost & Sullivan Names Augmentir the Leader on the Frost Radar™: Augmented Connected Worker Platforms, 2024

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The latest Frost & Sullivan Radar report recognizes Augmentir as the Leading Augmented Connected Worker Platform.

Augmented Connected Worker (ACW) solutions revolutionize manufacturing and industrial operations and Augmentir is leading the way!

The recent Frost & Sullivan Radar report recognized Augmentir as the Leading ACW Solution with our AI-powered connected worker platform. AWC is a concept that combines the methodologies behind connected worker and augmented worker initiatives to provide a clearer, more accurate picture of what the future of manufacturing work looks like.

augmentir named the leader in frost radar for augmented connected worker platforms 2024

Read below to learn more about Augmentir in the Frost Radar report and how ACW technologies benefit both manufacturers and their workers alike.

The Frost & Sullivan Augmented Connected Worker Radar Report 2024

The Frost & Sullivan Radar Report, or Frost Radar™, is an analytical tool that benchmarks the future growth of leading organizations across multiple industries. Through careful selection and research across criteria that encompasses 2 major indices and 10 evaluation criteria, analysts select organizations that will be able to successfully support users into the future.

This edition of the Frost Radar, ranked Augmentir #1 out of all the ACW vendors. Augmentir empowers organizations to embrace Augmented Connected Worker initiatives through a comprehensive platform that combines connected worker and AI technologies to connect and support frontline workers like never before.

frost radar augmented connected worker platforms

As manufacturing workers become more interconnected, they can use AI tools in conjunction with smart connected worker solutions to gain insights that pinpoint areas with significant potential for improvement, this allows them to truly augment their workforces equipping them with the knowledge and abilities to complete their work safely and competently.

For more information on the Frost Radar, and the evaluation methodology used by Frost & Sullivan, click here.

Augmentir Ranked #1 Connected Worker Platform, Most Complete Solution on the Market

Frost & Sullivan has identified nine functionalities that are essential for a complete ACW solution.

  1. Knowledge and data management. The solution serves as a repository of knowledge.
  2. Work assistance and productivity. It provides digital tools to enhance frontline workers’ tasks, such as digital work instructions, digital Kanban boards, and navigation guidance.
  3. Seamless experience. The solution must be easily accessible from available devices (phones, tablets, wearables) to integrate seamlessly into everyday operations.
  4. Skills management. This serves as an extension for learning management systems (LMS) and provides supervisors and plant managers the necessary tools to upskill the workforce.
  5. Channel for communication. The solution offers native features to enable collaboration across operations, such as remote assistance, multi-site or multi-team workflows, and news feeds.
  6. Reporting and analytics. This refers to pre-built dashboards with workforce and task execution data. The ACW platform can also provide tools for configuring custom dashboards and integrating data from other systems.
  7. Integrations. The solution comes with a variety of pre-built connectors and tools to easily build new integrations to common systems.
  8. Platform capabilities. NC and LC development environments allow the building of digital procedures, workflows, training programs, and dashboards. Standard templates are available to accelerate time to value and the default deployment option is cloud-based.
  9. Integrated AI. The solution leverages AI in one or more ways. AI-enabled features include predictive maintenance, automatic creation of workflows/digital work instructions/troubleshooting procedures based on video or worker input, automatic analysis and optimization recommendations for processes, AI-powered search engines, copilots, live translations, and more.

Frost & Sullivan ranked Augmentir as a Leader in both innovation and growth within the ACW solution landscape.

According to Frost & Sullivan:

Augmentir offers one of the most comprehensive ACW solutions in the market. Its new AI copilot sets it apart from most other products in the market by covering a variety of use cases. The company’s plans to leverage engagement data from the workforce is a unique initiative in the current market. All these factors contribute to making Augmentir the leader in the Frost Radar Innovation Index.

Augmenting Frontline Workers with an AI Platform for Connected Work

Manufacturing is uniquely situated as an industry to benefit from Augmented Connected Worker solutions leveraging AI-powered connected worker technology for process improvements, quality, management, enhanced training, and more. ACW initiatives facilitate faster onboarding, increased workforce flexibility, and the retention of essential knowledge.

augmentir connected worker platform

AI – including generative AI tools, software, and assistants – plays a crucial role in ACW initiatives, addressing overarching trends like skills variability and the loss of tribal knowledge within the workforce. It serves as the cornerstone for implementing data-driven improvements in operational performance and continuous enhancement.

At Augmentir, we believe that a connected worker platform’s purpose goes beyond just delivering instructions and remote support; it should continually optimize the entire connected worker ecosystem and augment the capabilities of frontline workers. With this in mind, we introduced Augie™ – our generative AI assistant for industrial work, in early 2023.

With Augie, manufacturers can unlock previously untapped potential in their frontline personnel and operations. Our recent expansion and enhancements now offer the first-ever suite of dedicated GenAI assistants for manufacturing enterprises covering anything from Troubleshooting, Operations, and Data Insights, to Content Creation and even GenAI-as-a-Service.

Interested in learning more?

If you’d like to learn more about Augmentir and see how our AI-powered connected worker platform enables Augmented Connected Worker initiatives to improve safety, quality, and productivity across your workforce, schedule a demo with one of our product experts.

 

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Why Quality is Important in Manufacturing

Learn why implementing quality in manufacturing is crucial for product creation, risk management, and more.

Quality in manufacturing depends on effective quality control (QC), a set of procedures used to measure and test products for compliance. The main function of QC is to ensure that all goods are free of defects, meet client expectations, and adhere to industry best practices.

Products have the potential either to increase customer satisfaction or to create legal and financial complications if deficiencies are found. In the current era where consumers are increasingly conscious of product safety and quality, it is paramount that manufacturers are doing all they can to ensure products meet all quality standards. Quality goods can affect a business’s success and advance its credibility to the public. They can also lead to fewer production costs and increases in profit.

With emerging digital technologies such as AI and connected worker solutions, manufacturers can improve quality control, decrease defects, and more. AI-powered connected worker platforms allow manufacturers to standardize quality control, resulting in fewer errors, reduced defects, and streamlined quality processes that are faster and more accurate.

Explore the following content to get a better idea of why quality is crucial and ways to improve it:

quality in manufacturing

Defining quality on industrial frontlines

Quality in the manufacturing realm is all about following procedures to meet product and compliance specifications. Once the standard for quality is set, the rest is about meeting product expectations through standardized procedures.

Quality in production can be broken down into three factors: design, quality control, and quality management.

Design: A product can be significantly improved by design. For example, goods should be made with the right materials to ensure functionality and a longer shelf life.

Quality control: The level of quality is improved when waste and product defects are reduced during the QC process.

Quality management: Completing production processes that follow regulatory standards is at the core of quality management.

Pro Tip

By digitizing quality control and quality assurance procedures, manufacturers can ensure a standardized approach towards inspections and quality data collection and improve overall compliance with quality standards.

Quality affects every facet of manufacturing

Production quality is more than just distributing products that people will trust and buy. Though that may be a key factor, quality affects every aspect of manufacturing, from workplace risk management to machine upkeep and inspection.

Quality affects many aspects of production. Examples include the following:

  • Risk management ensures products are safe to use by customers and follow safety protocols. Smart, connected worker solutions are able to improve risk management through standardization and optimization of quality checks.
  • Regulatory compliance is a key component of quality and can help prevent delays in production and fines. With digitized processes in place, manufacturers are able to ensure workers have access to the correct procedures and that tasks are performed in a standardized manner to avoid errors and promote improved compliance.
  • Waste reduction is possible when material resources are conserved and used accordingly in production processes. AI-powered analytics in conjunction with smart, connected worker solutions allow for improved, streamlined processes that are able to reduce waste and improve yield through optimized production.
  • Errors and defects are reduced when procedures are standardized using efficient QC processes to troubleshoot problems. With connected worker solutions and digitized quality control processes such as layered process audits, mistakes can be identified as they happen, protecting the production process.
  • Machine upkeep and inspection can be strengthened when industry best practices are implemented. Digitizing machine inspection standards and upkeep notifications and connecting frontline workers via smart, connected worker platforms gives operators the ability to practice preventative and autonomous maintenance and improves overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and reduces unplanned downtime.

How to Improve Quality in Manufacturing

Quality improvement in manufacturing is vital to ensure a business is performing at its best. Here are some ways to boost quality with real-world examples:

Step 1: Practice lean manufacturing.

Lean manufacturing is the practice of reducing waste in production processes. Waste is defined as anything that does not bring value to the customer. This method requires an examination of your current practices to see which work and which leads to greater waste. The rise of digital technology is making it easier and more practical for manufacturers to connect and digitize their operations and drive further improvements and enhance lean manufacturing strategies.

Real-world application: An injection molding machine was found clogged with mold and was producing products with damaged seams. After resolving this issue by cleaning the machine, the company had less wasted plastic and fewer product malfunctions. With digitized notifications, real-time collaboration, and smart, connected worker solutions, situations like the above can be solved quickly and with reduced impact on production.

standardize and digitize quality assurance procedures

Step 2: Implement total productive maintenance.

Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) focuses on the idea that every employee should do their part to maximize equipment effectiveness. The objective is to create a culture where every worker adjusts and maintains machinery over the course of each shift. Through a combination of digital work instructions and real-time collaboration tools, manufacturers can better implement and improve TPM initiatives. This allows operators to independently complete maintenance tasks at peak performance and improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

Real-world application: Both operators and maintenance staff can perform routine maintenance to check for errors or deficiencies. By implementing connected worker solutions organizations can improve the quality, transparency, and efficiency of maintenance and repair procedures and minimize machine downtime and reduce overall maintenance costs and impact.

Step 3: Embrace statistical process control.

This method involves detecting production issues by studying data anomalies to get rid of root causes before they ruin entire assembly lines. With connected frontline worker solutions that are integrated with enterprise quality management systems, organizations can improve statistical process control by optimizing data collection and inspection procedures through their frontline workforce. This essentially transforms frontline workers into quality sensors that further enhance and empower overall quality efforts.

Real-world application: Tracking the number of defective goods on each production line can help with identifying the root of any issue and taking corrective action. Smart, connected worker technology improves tracking ability, optimizes data collection, and identifies issues faster, reducing the risk of product recalls, and preserving consumer trust.

Digitizing Quality in Manufacturing with Augmentir

Companies are adopting innovative new technologies, processes, and methods to improve quality, productivity, and collaboration efforts across the industrial arena. Guaranteeing quality in manufacturing boils down to standardizing processes. Every procedure should contribute to product value and be carried out in a unified way. Implementing smart, connected solutions and coupling them with AI-powered analytics opens new paths for manufacturers to step forward and improve how they approach quality in the production process and beyond.

By digitizing analog paper practices, you enable better quality control and standardization of inspection procedures which, in turn, strengthens your overall manufacturing operations. Augmentir can help with the digitization and transformation process. We understand the need for effective quality control, and we have demonstrated success in helping manufacturers improve quality on the production floor.

Check out our quality use cases, and request a live demo today to learn for yourself why companies are choosing Augmentir to help standardize and digitize quality control procedures.

 

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How to Digitize Layered Process Audits with Connected Worker Technology

Learn how connected worker technology can help you standardize and digitize layered process audits for improved accuracy and better quality results.

Digitized Layered Process Audits (LPAs) are important in manufacturing for establishing and enhancing process standardization, quality management, multi-level workforce engagement, risk mitigation, and quality standards compliance. The primary function of a Layered Process Audit is to focus on observing and validating how products are made to ensure process and product quality. This effectively protects manufacturers and frontline manufacturing personnel from defects and process issues before they can do any damage.

digital layered process audits

Many crucial manufacturing processes are still carried out using outdated pen-and-paper methods; and as the industry continues to evolve, digitization is essential to remain competitive and maintain proper quality and safety standards. Layered Process Audits are no exception, with digitized layered process audits now a necessity, rather than a luxury, for organizations looking to keep pace, elevate their audit processes, and meet the demands of the evolving industry.

Learn more about how to streamline LPAs with connected worker technology, implement digital LPAs, and the benefits of AI-powered analytics for digitized LPAs and overall quality management excellence in manufacturing below.

Benefits of a Digitized Layered Process Audit

Connected worker platforms allow manufacturers to replace paper-based audit forms (like a layered process audit) with digital checklists that can be accessed and completed on mobile devices, allowing for:

  • Standardized audit formats and best practices across audit layers
  • Real-time data collection and improved audit tracking
  • Mobile access to information and knowledge including relevant documents, procedures, and historical data
  • Automated audit scheduling and notifications for consistent audit frequency across layers and reduced administrative burden
  • Real-time issue reporting and escalation for faster response and issue resolution
  • Improved data analytics and reporting to generate and apply insights as well as identify recurring issues and root causes
  • Overall system integrations with things like ERP, MES, and CMMS

These abilities offer a significant boost to manufacturers in terms of operational efficiency, risk mitigation, workforce development, and cost reduction.

Implementing Digital Layered Process Audits

Manufacturers can digitize LPAs and streamline their quality management processes through AI-powered connected worker technologies, improving data quality and driving faster, more effective quality improvements across the organization.

layered process audit framework

Implementing digital Layered Process Audits (LPAs) involves several steps, from selecting the right platform to engaging the team and ensuring proper integration with existing systems. Below is a step-by-step guide to implementing digital LPAs effectively:

1. Choose the right Digital LPA Platform

Research and select a digital LPA platform that meets your organization’s needs. Consider factors like:

  • Ease of use (especially for mobile devices)
  • Customizability (to fit your audit checklist and process requirements)
  • Integration with existing systems (e.g., ERP, quality management systems)
  • Reporting and analytics capabilities
  • Scalability for future needs

2. Develop and Digitize Audit Checklists

  • Standardize Audit Checklists: Create or review the audit checklists for each layer of the audit process. Ensure they are aligned with your goals, operational requirements, and industry standards (e.g., ISO, IATF).
  • Digitize the Checklists: Input these checklists into the digital platform. Ensure that they are tailored to different levels of the audit process, from shop floor employees to higher-level management.
  • Customize Alerts and Criteria: Set up criteria for success/failure and alerts for non-conformance. This can include conditional triggers where a failed audit automatically prompts corrective actions.

digitized layered process audit LPA with augmentir quality control checklist

3. Integrate with Other Systems

  • Link to Quality Management Systems (QMS): Integrate the LPA platform with your existing QMS, ERP, or other relevant systems to streamline data sharing and analysis.
  • Automate Corrective Action Processes: Ensure that non-conformance findings in the audit automatically trigger corrective action workflows, and link them to task management or follow-up procedures.

4. Monitor, Analyze, and Improve

  • Track Real-time Results: Use the platform’s dashboards and analytics features to monitor performance metrics, such as audit completion rates, non-conformance trends, and the time taken to close corrective actions.
  • Conduct Regular Reviews: Hold periodic review meetings with the audit team and management to discuss audit findings and trends. Use this information to drive continuous improvement in processes.
  • Make Adjustments: Based on the insights from the audits, adjust the audit checklists, procedures, and corrective action plans as needed.

5. Foster a Culture of Continuous Improvement

  • Encourage Engagement: Foster a culture where employees see the value in LPAs and actively participate in the process. Offer incentives or recognition for high levels of engagement or process improvements resulting from audits.
  • Regularly Update the System: Keep the digital platform and audit processes updated to reflect changes in standards, regulations, or internal processes.
  • Leverage Advanced Analytics: Over time, use advanced analytics and machine learning (if available) to predict potential non-conformance areas and further streamline corrective actions.

By following these steps, you can effectively implement a digital Layered Process Audit system that enhances visibility, accountability, and process control across your organization.

Driving Continuous Quality Improvement with Digitized LPAs

Excellence in quality management drives success in manufacturing. Digitizing and updating old processes with AI, connected worker platforms, and even simple digital layered process audit software allows manufacturing organizations to better identify and prevent defects at their source and protect against rework, customer complaints, costly product recalls, and reputational damage.

Recent innovations in AI technology and applications caused an explosion of growth all across the world and in various industries. Manufacturing is uniquely situated to adopt these technologies for massive growth. One valuable use case is the use of AI to optimize quality management, specifically to optimize audit processes like LPAs for drastically improved results and insights that simply weren’t possible previously.

AI analytics combined with connected worker technologies digitize and streamline layered process audits allowing manufacturers to capitalize on data capture for:

  • Trend analysis across different audit layers, departments, and locations
  • Automated population of audit forms with relevant data
  • Seamless creation of digital work instructions from audit findings
  • Application of cobots, generative AI assistants, or AI copilot technologies to support auditors and workers alike.

But this does not stop there, according to a study by McKinsey & Company, companies that prioritize quality management achieve higher levels of employee engagement. Engaged employees are more likely to be committed to producing high-quality products, resulting in increased productivity and customer satisfaction. The addition of AI to capitalize on connected worker data and feedback to generate insights, support enhanced decision-making, and create better processes offers manufacturers a path forward into the future with a better-equipped and supported frontline workforce.

Interested in learning more?

If you’d like to learn more about how Augmentir streamlines and optimizes quality management processes like digital layered process audits and more, schedule a demo with one of our produce experts.

 

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Duracell Joins Augmentir’s Customer Advisory Board

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Duracell, the world’s #1 consumer battery manufacturer, is now part of Augmentir’s Customer Advisory Board, joining Colgate-Palmolive, Sargento, Graphic Packaging, and Hunter Industries.

When it comes to high-performance batteries, there’s one brand that everyone knows and loves – Duracell.

We are excited to announce that the world’s #1 consumer battery manufacturer is now part of Augmentir’s Customer Advisory Board. Duracell’s collaboration and expertise are a major leap forward in our mission to transform industrial work and empower frontline workers worldwide with AI-driven connected worker solutions.

augmentir welcomes duracell to customer advisory board

Duracell’s commitment to innovation and excellence aligns perfectly with our vision of leveraging connected worker and AI technology to augment and transform the industrial workforce. With Duracell on board, we are set to supercharge our innovation and advance our impact on the connected worker market and manufacturing arena.

Our Customer Advisory Board was announced last September and consists of leading manufacturers from a wide range of industries who understand the importance of today’s unique industrial workforce challenges. Duracell joins other leading manufacturers including:

  • Colgate-Palmolive
  • Graphic Packaging International, LLC
  • Hitachi Energy
  • Hunter Industries
  • Sargento

This powerhouse lineup underscores our commitment to addressing the evolving needs of the industrial workforce. With Duracell and our other board members actively helping guide and shape the development of our AI-powered connected worker platform, we’re making sure it meets the industry’s needs head-on.

Collaborating for AI-Driven Connected Worker Innovation

Our AI-driven connected worker platform stands out by providing frontline workers with unparalleled personalized, real-time assistance and insights – enhancing productivity, skills management, workforce development, and operational efficiency. Unlike other platforms, ours was purpose-built to leverage advanced AI to continuously learn and adapt to each worker’s unique needs, offering tailored support and proactive guidance.

Recently, we were named the market-leading solution in the connected frontline workforce application space by LNS Research, highlighting us as the industry’s Most Complete Product. Augmentir was also named 2023’s “Connected Worker Company of the Year” by Frost & Sullivan, as well as named a “Cool Vendor” for Manufacturing Operations by Gartner.

“We are honored to welcome Duracell to our Customer Advisory Board,” said Russ Fadel, CEO of Augmentir. “Their expertise and forward-thinking approach will provide invaluable insights, helping us to continue delivering cutting-edge solutions that drive operational efficiency and workforce productivity.”

Duracell’s participation on the board involves sharing industry best practices gained from their extensive experience in manufacturing and supply chain management. They will provide critical feedback on new features and enhancements, ensuring that our AI-powered platform meets the practical needs of the industrial workforce. Additionally, Duracell will collaborate with us and other board members to develop innovative strategies to address common challenges in the industrial sector, such as improving safety, increasing productivity, and reducing downtime.

This partnership underscores our shared dedication to empowering the workforce of the future by harnessing the power of advanced technologies. With the input of our customer advisory board, we aim to create more intuitive, effective, and user-friendly solutions that help companies optimize their operations and support frontline workers to achieve next-level performance. Together, we are confident that we can drive meaningful change and set new standards for excellence in the industrial world.

Interested in learning more?

If you’d like to learn more about how Augmentir and our AI-powered connected worker solution is transforming industrial frontline work, schedule a demo with one of our product experts.

 

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Augmentir: New Look, Same Powerful AI and Connected Worker Solution

You may have noticed that our website and brand look a little different. Augmentir has a new look, but under the hood, its the same powerful AI that is helping to transform the industrial workforce of the future.

You may have noticed that our website and brand look a little different. Well, that’s because behind the scenes for the past few months, we’ve been under construction (no pun intended).

Augmentir was founded in 2018 with the vision to use AI to empower the industrial frontline workforce to perform at their best. This was a continuation of our rich history – our founding team has been at the forefront of three of the most important of these software technology revolutions in manufacturing over the past three decades – Wonderware Software in 1987, Lighthammer in 1997, and ThingWorx in 2008.

A lot has changed since then. The world we live in today is not the same as it was 4 years ago. And in the last two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the stability of the workforce and drastically magnified some of the industry’s top workforce challenges, which stem from the unprecedented levels of dynamism in the areas of skills diversity, reduced tenure, and increased churn from the “Great Resignation”. Unlike the stable and predictable workforce of the recent past, today companies have to live in the new normal where workers are hard to find, hard to engage, and hard to keep.

These top challenges of today have only reinforced the need for an AI-powered, data-driven approach to empowering frontline workers.

This data-driven era we’re entering into is one of continuous learning and development with tools like remote collaboration and digitized work processes truly integrating frontline workers into the fabric of the business from a collaboration standpoint whereas they may have been overlooked before.

Augmentir’s AI-powered connected worker platform provides the tools to not only survive in this new normal but to thrive.

You can’t build a truly modern, connected workforce without AI

The term “connected worker” has become a recent buzzword in the manufacturing world, and is now considered a tool that the new generation of workers expect to work with. But true connected work means using AI to allow frontline workers to have access to internal and external resources that are appropriate for when and how they need them.

Augmentir isn’t your typical connected worker platform. Our platform was built from the ground up on an AI foundation. AI algorithms are ideal for analyzing large amounts of data collected from a connected workforce. AI can detect patterns, find outliers, cleanse data and find correlations and patterns that can be used to identify opportunities for improvement and create a data-driven environment that supports continuous learning and performance support. Our connected worker platform utilizes AI to help train, guide, and support today’s frontline workers in a dynamic workforce by combining digital work instructions, remote collaboration, continuous development and advanced on-the-job training capabilities.

This approach aligns perfectly with the dynamic, changing nature of today’s workforce, and is ideally suited to achieve and sustain effective on-the-job performance.

As the world’s only AI-powered connected worker platform, we decided it was time to refresh our brand identity to accentuate our strongest feature and the thing that makes Augmentir unique – AI. We’re still the same AI-first connected worker platform that you know – just with a new look.

Empowering Your Frontline Workers to go the Extra Mile with Augmentir

Augmentir, a data-driven, AI-powered Connected Worker solution ensures that your frontline workers can go the extra mile every day by providing training, guidance, and support through the combination of digital work instructions, remote collaboration, and advanced on-the-job training.

In 2009, the Extra Mile America Foundation, a foundation promoting action and empowering positive change, first celebrated the “Extra Mile Day”.  Fast forward to 2014 and 527 US cities declared November 1st as the official “Extra Mile Day”. This day is designated to living life to your full potential, having a positive influence, and always striving to make the world a better place. At Augmentir, we believe in positive change, living to your full potential, and going the extra mile every day. In 2018, our founders decided to continue their journey of creating some of the most important software technology revolutions in manufacturing (Wonderware (1987), Lighthammer (1997), and ThingWorx (2008) by focusing on the most important asset, the frontline workers.

We recognize that today’s industrial workforce is different, and the old way of supporting workers just doesn’t work anymore. The static “one size fits all” approach used in the past, no longer applies to this generation of workers.

Augmentir, is a data-driven, AI-powered Connected Worker solution that ensures that frontline workers can go the extra mile every day by providing training, guidance, and support through the combination of digital work instructions, remote collaboration, and advanced on-the-job training.  

As your workers become more connected, companies have access to a new rich source of activity, execution, and tribal data, and with proper AI tools they can gain real-time insights into areas where the largest improvement opportunities exist. Artificial Intelligence lays a data-driven foundation for continuous improvement in the areas of performance support, training, and workforce development, setting the stage to address the needs of today’s constantly changing workforce.

When it comes to our frontline workers, let’s enable them to go the extra mile, not just on November 1st, but every day, by empowering them with the only AI-powered Connected Worker solution.