Navigating compliance as a manufacturer
Navigating compliance as a manufacturer comes with a host of challenges that extend far beyond driving productivity and guaranteeing a quality product. Ethical, compliance and regulatory requirements have never been more complex and it’s important that manufacturers understand the multitude of compliance factors that need to be implemented and managed in 2020 and beyond.
Compliance is changing manufacturing…
- Workplace safety
- Operational best practice
- Business continuity and disaster recovery processes
- Data security
- GDPR protocols
Employing large numbers of staff in varying hands-on and high-risk roles across several locations means heavier regulation than most other industries – a reality that you’ll be well accustomed to. Being awarded contracts and maintaining accreditations has always been dependent on meeting certain regulatory requirements but today, nothing can be taken for granted.
Rapidly advancing technology means that there’s always new equipment and processes for staff to get to grips with, and safety protocols to meet on your part. Meanwhile, digital transformation and cyber attack prevalence has changed the landscape of business continuity and data security, leading to tighter contract requirements.
Manufacturers are now under persistent and increasing pressure to keep up with the pace of change, demonstrate ever-more precise compliance evidence and hold specific certifications in order to sustain business, remain competitive and avoid fines.
Our ERP and IT specialists
Our team are experts in preparing your IT landscape for change and ensuring that it’s ready for ERP demands. We have worked to ISO27001, ISO9001, ITAR, ITIL and Prince 2 standards for many years and are unique in being a managed IT service provider with specialist, hands-on ERP knowledge too.
So, how can manufacturers intelligently manage this risk?
Compliance is first and foremost about safety. But it’s also synonymous with competitiveness. Add these three important steps to your 2020 plan to ensure you’re not left behind – or left with a nasty bill.
- Draft in a compliance expert to audit your operation – and we don’t just mean ticking boxes on a sheet. A consultant should go to great lengths to understand the Inner workings of your business and should have considerable IT experience. They’ll help you to implement a strategy that focuses on using IT to help meet safety requirements and achieve process improvements.
- Invest in cyber security and continuity: The manufacturing sector is exceptionally vulnerable to cyberattackers looking to cause maximum disruption (in the hope of ransom), or to access the reams of valuable data and money circulating your IT systems. To maximise the opportunities of technology and to remain a relevant player, you must have effective cybersecurity and disaster recovery (DR) in place.
If you’re unsure about where improvements can be made, check out our manufacturing IT golden rules or read our 5 point guide to DR in manufacturing here.
- Get ISO27001 and ISO9001 certified: Achieving ISO27001 and ISO9001 will help to give customers and prospects the confidence to give you their business and tick non-negotiable boxes in formal contracts – which are very much the standard. Without these two certifications, you’ll face serious obstacles in winning orders and likely lose tenders.
Today, the only way to make the grade Is to demonstrate resilient and reliable business continuity and disaster recovery plan, watertight data security and stringent GDPR measures in addition to more traditional performance metrics such as quality, delivery and safety.
If you want to review your compliance measures, book a no-obligation audit with us today.
Speak to Sentis Managed Solutions on 0345 862 2930 or click here, or for more about IT in manufacturing, download our free IT Guide for Manufacturers.
