Perdix Software Blog: Steven L Smith

MOLI MedTech Walkthrough

Feature-level demo relevant to manufacturers in the medical device supply chain.

NYS Manufacturing Now Podcast: Talking Training and Factory Automation with Steven Smith of Perdix Software

Improving Your Manufacturing Process: Ways, Tools, and Methods

As the CEO of Perdix Software, I'm frequently called upon by our customers, to make recommendations about how they can improve their processes.

After all, the worst thing you can do, when you implement a new software package, is to automate a bad process.

So, working with a few members of our implementation team, I've come up with a list of simple places to look for bad processes: a place to start — whether you're working with us, or another firm.

Setting Up - For Failure?
Look in your shop for processes requiring "setup". If you're a plastics company, I'm talking about mold setups. If you're an embroidery shop, I'm talking about loading files onto your machines, and bobbin changes. It's different for every industry. Once you've identified your setup steps, document them. And then read your document. Does it make sense? Are there opportunities to share setup time between jobs? Are there opportunities to move the tools used for setup, to a more logical place, and thus save time in the setup process?
Training - Or "Baptism by Fire"?
How do your employees train? Is it standard? Is it auditable? How do you know if an Operator is trained? What about when the instructions change? How are the changes conveyed?

Even if you're not looking at ISO 9001 certification, wrapping your head around training is a crucial step towards improving quality. Software with a focus on Electronic Work Instructions, such as MOLI, can help with this.

And when someone's out sick, having a program in place to cross-train employees — can save the day.
Fixing what's actually broken
One of your injection molding machines isn't cycling. Why?
The machine is low on oil. Why?
There is a leak in one of the lines. Why?
The tubing cracked. Why?
The preventative maintenance schedule isn't being followed.

As you can see, if you stop asking "Why?", you'll end up just putting oil in a leaky machine, and won't address the root cause of the problem. Often referred to as the "5 Whys", this technique of root-cause analysis was pioneered by Sakichi Toyoda and was used within the Toyota Motor Corporation during the evolution of its manufacturing methodologies. The specific number of "Whys" isn't important: only that you don't stop asking "Why" until you get the *real* answer.
Get Help from Tim Wood
Many people get mired in the details of Lean / Six Sigma, and forget the whole point of the exercise: minimizing waste without minimizing productivity. No matter how much you dress it up, the core thrust of Lean Manufacturing is TIMWOOD:
- Transport
- Inventory
- Motion
- Waiting
- Overproduction
- Over Processing
- Defects

Each of these 7 Wastes represent opportunities to improve quality and cut costs. The specifics are, of course, unique to every company. Take a look at your process and discover which apply to you. Then, pick one per quarter to focus on improving.
Good Software
What software do you use to run your business? Excel? Quickbooks? Enterprise software like Microsoft Dynamics, Infor SyteLine, or Netsuite?

If you're like most companies, the answer is complicated. The typical firm uses dozens of pieces of software -- most of which don't really talk to each other.

Working with a technology partner, such as Perdix Software, to help you identify opportunities for integration and streamlining of your disparate systems, is the essential first step in making your software work for you -- rather than the other way around.

Perdix Software to Present at HTR LaunchPad Demo Day

Perdix Software will be among 11 Rochester-based companies to present at High Tech Rochester's 2015 HTR LaunchPad Demo Day at Geva Theatre Center in downtown Rochester.

"We're thrilled to have this opportunity to share our story with an audience of prospective clients, employees, and investors," said Steven Smith, CEO of Perdix Software. "HTR LaunchPad has been fundamental in clarifying the direction of our company."

HTR LaunchPad Demo Day 2015
Tuesday, June 9, 2015 from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Geva Theatre Center
75 Woodbury Boulevard
Rochester, NY 14607

Registration is requested, and can be done through EventBrite.

About Perdix Software

Perdix Software, LLC, established 2014 by Steven L Smith and Jacob R Weidert, is a Rochester, NY-based software company that is creating subscription-based, cloud-hosted business process automation software, and value-added services surrounding the implementation and customization of this software.

Perdix’s flagship product is the Multi-Operation Lean Intelligence System, or MoLi Sys. MoLi can be thought of best as an expert system. By collecting all data about your business in one place, MoLi can help you understand it better, and ultimately make better decisions.

More information about Perdix is available at www.perdixsw.com

About High Tech Rochester

High Tech Rochester is a nonprofit whose mission is to be a catalyst for entrepreneurship and innovation-based economic development. We do this by applying business expertise and network connections to aid in the formation and profitable growth of companies in the Rochester area and the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York.

HTR provides a suite of services, including technology commercialization for very-early-stage opportunities, business incubation for high-growth-potential startups, and growth services for existing manufacturing companies seeking to improve their top- and bottom-line performance.

More information about HTR is available at www.htr.org

###

UPDATE 7/14/15: VIDEO NOW AVAILABLE.

Perdix Software Selected for HTR LaunchPad

Perdix Software has been selected by High Tech Rochester to participate in the 2015 HTR LaunchPad program. The program, modeled after the highly-acclaimed Lean LaunchPad program developed at Stanford University, is funded locally by a grant from the Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation. HTR LaunchPad is for software and web-based startups and entrepreneurs developing new software applications.

"We're thrilled to be a part of High Tech Rochester's LaunchPad program," said Steven L Smith, CEO of Perdix Software. "Their program will help us with our mission to create the next generation of business process automation software, and provide us with the resources we need to be successful."

About Perdix Software

More information about Perdix is available at www.perdixsw.com

About High Tech Rochester

More information about HTR is available at www.htr.org

###