The manufacturing sector, a cornerstone of Western NY’s economy, is evolving rapidly with advancements in technology and stricter regulatory standards. Manufacturers in Rochester, Buffalo, and Syracuse need proactive IT support to stay competitive and compliant. In this blog, we explore the most effective IT support solutions for the manufacturing industry and highlight how they can drive efficiency and compliance.
IT Solutions to Help Your Manufacturing Company Grow
Manufacturing companies today face many challenges—economic upheaval, a tight labor market, rising costs, ongoing supply chain issues, and increasing cyber-attacks. It’s a tough environment, but partnering with a managed IT service provider can make a big difference in staying competitive.
As the industry advances, many manufacturing companies are investing in digital technologies to boost supply chain efficiency, resilience, and innovation. A managed IT service provider can help you create an effective IT roadmap and navigate these advancements smoothly.
Main Benefits of Outsourcing IT
Outsourcing IT provides several key benefits that can significantly impact your manufacturing operations:
- Enhanced Security: Keep your data and systems safe from cyber threats.
- Scalability: Easily adjust your IT resources as your business grows.
- Proactive Maintenance: Avoid downtime and costly repairs with regular system checks and updates.
- Advanced Technical Support: Access to specialized expertise and round-the-clock support for complex technical issues.
- Compliance Support: Stay on top of industry regulations and avoid penalties with compliant manufacturing IT support.
Minimizing Downtime
A healthy IT infrastructure can boost productivity and profitability. Downtime is costly in any industry, especially in manufacturing. When production stops, the costs add up. The average manufacturer faces 800 hours of equipment downtime per year—more than 15 hours per week.
The average cost of downtime across all industries has historically been about $5,600 per minute, depending on factors such as the industry and size of the business. Common causes of unplanned downtime include machine breakdowns, supply chain issues, unresponsive technology, and poor network connectivity.
How IT Providers Help Prevent Downtime
IT providers can implement several strategies to help prevent downtime:
- Regular System Checks: Conducting automated and manual system checks regularly helps identify potential issues before they cause significant disruptions. By keeping all systems and machinery in peak condition, you can avoid unexpected breakdowns and maintain smooth operations.
- Internet Failover Solutions: Implementing internet failover solutions ensures that your operations stay connected even if your primary internet connection fails. This automatic switch to a backup connection minimizes disruptions and keeps your production line running without interruption.
- 24/7 Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of your IT infrastructure detects anomalies and issues in real-time. With 24/7 monitoring, IT providers can address problems immediately, preventing minor issues from escalating into major downtime events.
- Recovery Plans: Having a disaster recovery and backup plan in place is crucial for quick recovery after an incident. These plans ensure that your data is safe and can be restored rapidly, allowing your operations to resume with minimal delay. These plans include:
- Local and Offsite Data Backup Centers: Storing backups in multiple locations ensures your data is protected and can be quickly restored, even if one site is compromised.
- Comprehensive Disaster Planning and Recovery Strategies: Detailed plans outline the steps to take in the event of various disasters, ensuring a swift and organized response.
- On-Site Evaluations to Minimize Downtime and Prevent Data Loss: Regular evaluations by IT professionals help identify vulnerabilities and implement solutions to prevent potential downtime and data loss.
By addressing these common causes of downtime and implementing these IT solutions, you can keep your manufacturing processes running smoothly, enhance productivity, and ultimately increase profitability.
Cybersecurity Challenges in the Industry
Production grinds to a halt when your data is hijacked and held hostage by cybercriminals. Digital transformation brings numerous benefits, but it also introduces significant cybersecurity risks.
Critical infrastructure, complex supply chains, and high-value data make the manufacturing industry a prime target for cyber-attacks. According to Verizon’s 2024 Data Breach Investigation Report, the top cybersecurity challenges facing the industry include:
- Ransomware
- Use of stolen credentials
- Phishing
- Privilege abuse
- Human error
- Exploited vulnerabilities
With AI, vulnerabilities in the cloud, and a growing reliance on digital solutions, manufacturers need to be prepared for cyber-attacks—not only for their own sake but also for compliance. Sitting idle is no longer an option.
Even if you already have an in-house IT team, they’re often too busy keeping daily operations running, and cybersecurity doesn’t get enough attention due to other responsibilities or lack of expertise.
By working with an IT company like Just Solutions, which specializes in cybersecurity, you don’t have to question if you’re doing enough to protect yourself and meet industry regulations. You can focus on your business, knowing that your cybersecurity is in expert hands.
Achieving Manufacturing IT Compliance
Many manufacturers rely on older systems that may not support modern security measures, making compliance with new standards challenging. Not being compliant can lead to cybersecurity risks, potential fines, and reputational damage.
Keeping up with evolving regulations and standards, such as the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), requires ongoing adjustments to security practices.
Major Compliance Laws Guiding Your Cybersecurity Initiatives
Several key compliance laws should guide your cybersecurity initiatives:
- Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)
- NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
- ISO/IEC 27001
- NY SHIELD Act
Partnering with an IT company like Just Solutions can help guide your manufacturing business through these many compliance requirements and ensure your network is protected against cyber threats.
The Future of Manufacturing Technology
We’re excited to continue witnessing the manufacturing growth that is happening locally. All industries face cybersecurity challenges and growing network complexity. That’s part of doing business on the Internet.
However, with the right technology support, you can create a more flexible and responsive production environment. Investing in IT support can drive resilience and innovation, making your business more competitive.
Comprehensive Managed IT Services
Although this seems overwhelming, even smaller manufacturing companies can maintain a healthy IT infrastructure. Managed IT services can help even a small team keep up with changing technology.
Our managed IT services for manufacturing cover key services like:
- Proactive IT network monitoring with 24/7 response times.
- Gap assessment and compliance guidance.
- Advanced cybersecurity services.
- Full technology and network support.
- Comprehensive data backup and disaster recovery planning.
- Growth management and advisory services on efficient IT spend.
Secure Your Manufacturing Future Today
Investing in IT support is essential for manufacturing companies looking to improve efficiency, comply with regulations, and stay competitive. By implementing smart factory solutions, navigating evolving regulations, minimizing downtime, and addressing cybersecurity challenges, manufacturers can ensure smooth, secure operations. Contact Just Solutions today to learn how we can support your manufacturing operations.