Unless you’ve been in hiding, you will have noticed that there are increasingly more conversations in the manufacturing industry about how we become more sustainable across all manufacturing (and indeed all businesses) in the UK.
In some cases, you may well already be moving towards that target, but in recent surveys, it has been shown that whilst a large number of manufacturing companies are indeed planning to get to net zero, less than half of these are doing something about it.
We understand that this feels like a massive task, so in this blog, we’re looking at some of the steps you can take by working with what you already have as a SyteLine or CloudSuite Industrial user.
Make a plan to become sustainable
Yes, this is obvious, but… If you’ve not started on this task, then now is a good time to make a plan. Whilst 2050 sounds like a lifetime away, it’s not. To be on track, we need to start working on this now. So, start looking at what data you need to gather at a high level. Remember, this is not just about the production line but the business as a whole, so the plan needs to include everyone!
Look at the quick wins
What are the quick wins on your list? For many businesses, the quick wins are likely around energy providers, so switching to greener tariffs and looking at people in their supply chain. Are you using suppliers who are already more energy efficient? By looking more closely at your suppliers, you can start to look at where you can make changes; working together with them is likely to reap benefits for you both.
Look at what you can already report on
Are you using tools such as APS for planning? On the face of it, this may not look like it could make any great gains in your journey to being sustainable, never mind net zero, but it can. By looking closely at your planning data, you can see where there are hot spots that need addressing. Check out our blog here if you want to see how you can tighten things up in APS. For even more of a reason to tighten up on your APS data, Stephanie talks about how there is already information in SyteLine APS for the start of your ESG journey here.
Can you make more use of SyteLine functionality?
Reducing carbon emissions is not always about the obvious energy consumption, such as machinery or heavy plant. It can be about the smaller things such as computer usage and time taken to perform activities. You are probably already aware of the fact that we are massive fans of automation. This one easy step saves you a lot of time, equating to energy in your business, leading to greater efficiencies in both business and carbon emissions. If you’re taking your first steps in automation, check out our blog here, based on our popular talk from this year’s SyteLine User Conference.
Not only can you look at automation, but you can also investigate using AI as part of your business. Coleman AI is a great option provided by Infor, which has already been used to great effect by SyteLine users.
If you’re looking for inspiration, Combilift have featured a new Infor video about using Workspaces to streamline their business.
Ask for help
One thing we are sure of is that there will be lots of manufacturers who are in a similar position to you. They may be a little further down their sustainable journey, or they may not have even started yet. But by working together with other businesses in your network or seeking help from experts, you’re much more likely to get to where you need to be.
Depending on your circumstances, you may also be eligible for funding to support you on this sustainable journey, so it’s worth checking both the government website and any local business support agencies.
This blog has been a quick look at some of the things you can start to review to help you get to net zero and could be used to start looking at ESG reporting if you’re required to do this if you’re part of a supply chain.
Of course, there is so much more you can do than this when it comes to running a business that is sustainable. If you want to start looking at how you can maximise your use of SyteLine or CloudSuite Industrial to minimise your carbon emissions, please get in touch! We’d be happy to help.