NS Group is investing in data-driven production management across all of the group's companies. Production data, order tracking and accounting are brought together on a shared platform, giving group management and production teams a real-time overview. At the same time, integrations with customer interfaces have taken significant strides towards more real-time data exchange in both directions.
A unified view of group production
The key production indicators — on-time delivery, work in progress, open orders, forecast backlog and invoicing trends — are all available at a glance in the group's internal dashboard. Previously this information was scattered across separate systems, and forming a complete picture required combining several reports manually. Now the same data updates automatically and is also accessible on mobile devices.
A unified view makes it easier to react quickly to anomalies: if delivery schedules or production load show signs of strain, the situation can be addressed earlier than the rhythm of weekly meetings would allow. This strengthens the group's ability to keep its commitments to customers.
Customer interface integrations are advancing
The group's ability to integrate with customer-provided interfaces has grown significantly. The exchange of orders, forecasts and delivery data is increasingly moving to real-time electronic data transfer — both within the group and with customers and suppliers.
The aim is for visibility to flow in both directions: the group sees the customer's needs and changes in real time, and the customer can, when desired, get a real-time view of how their order is progressing. This reduces manual data exchange, improves predictability and frees up time for the actual development of production and cooperation.
AI supports an increasing number of assistive functions
The role of artificial intelligence in assistive functions has grown rapidly within the group. Evolving AI tools are used, among other things, for analysing reports, surfacing observations from data and generating development suggestions. Tools that are advancing at a remarkable pace continually offer new possibilities, which we intend to put to wider use in the future as well — always supporting people, not replacing them.
Continuous development
The development of data-driven production management is a continuous process within the group. New indicators, views and integrations are added together with the companies and customers as needs are identified. The direction is clear: more transparent, faster to react, and ever more closely connected to the everyday work of our customers.
For more information, please contact Jarno Surakka (jarno.surakka@nsgroup.fi).