Manufacturing waste is one of the most costly issues a manufacturing business can face. If left unchecked, it can cost a business a significant amount of money. From quality defects to unnecessary movements of staff and goods, inefficient product lines can lead to increased costs that could have been avoided.

In this regard, mobile computing has transformed the way companies conduct business. As a manufacturer, you need visibility into your operations from the production line to the loading dock. You also need accurate data in your inventory and order management systems. Mobile computing solutions can deliver both.

Mobile computers are small, handheld computing devices that can be used to improve daily workflows across a wide range of industries. Manufacturing is one of them.

Keep reading to find out how mobile computers  can help make your manufacturing workflow more efficient and effective.

Why Do You Need Mobile Computers?

Businesses don’t lift productivity for the sake of it. Higher productivity leads to better financial performance, and specifically to greater profit margins.

In a manufacturing workflow, every second counts. The 21st century production line is all about speed and no waste. Customer expectations are also increasing, the supply chain is transforming and technology continues its unrelenting evolution. On top of this, there’s the pressure to increase throughput, reduce inventory cycles, hit increasingly tougher targets, and generate even higher profits.

Against this backdrop of ever-escalating internal and external demands, it’s paramount that your manufacturing operation is performing optimally. But, productivity has many facets and brings on many challenges.

Reducing waste opportunities, faults in reporting, mis-shipments, job performance deficiencies are just some ways mobile computing technology can help to increase your business revenue through the stronger intel provided for making critical decisions.  

Mobile computers are designed to help businesses increase their productivity and efficiency. The loss of valuable productive time is nowhere comparable to the manageable costs of ownership for mobile computers. Spending more on durable and reliable mobile computers is an investment worth both in the short and long term .

How Can Mobile Computers Help Your Business Workflow?

Mobile computers can be used in multiple ways. Here are three examples of how mobile computers can improve your manufacturing processes:

1. Faster Data Entry

Data entry can be a quick one-step process when mobile computers are paired with barcode and RFID scanners. These mobile technologies speed up the manual processes that would otherwise take unnecessary time out of your employees’ schedule.

For example, entering the details of each item is a waste of time. Scanning the same information with mobile computers takes a fraction of the time and allows you to optimize your labor for more value-adding activities.

The results for your business are evident. You can greatly improve workflow efficiency and cut down on task completion time.

2. Advanced Tracking

You can improve your company’s supply chain visibility by using mobile technology alongside inventory management software. This way, you can view up-to-date information on inventory databases to thoroughly assess your manufacturing needs. A clear inventory of where products and components stand throughout the production process is essential to maintain the efficiency of your manufacturing workflow.

Mobile computers ensure that every piece of the production process has full visibility and traceability. For example, mobile computers featuring barcode scanners or wireless radio frequency identification (RFID) tag readers can accurately keep track of the status of materials, items, and products found across the wide array of part bins and assembly lines.

In addition to the above, mobile technology can also provide you with details of each inbound and outbound order. Mobile computers can be used to display detailed information, such as the location of packages and the estimated arrival time. Mobile technology can also help the shipping department to verify the order and print bills laden with all the customer shipping information.

3. Order Picking

Human errors due to inefficient order picking can lead to significant inventory problems, wasted labor, and additional manual work needed to solve the issue.

When mobile computers are incorporated in a manufacturing setting, order picking issues can be resolved by requiring items to be scanned. Rather than allowing workers to take products away from where they’re stored, a handheld mobile computer with a built-in barcode scanner can ensure that each item is traced and accounted for as it makes its way to the next destination.

This simple implementation means that more items get picked correctly. Inven

tory problems are reduced, as it is the need to physically count items when issues arise.

Mobile computers can also be deployed to help all employees follow highly efficient workflows. From a manufacturer’s perspective, this is one of the main ingredients of a recipe to grow your business operations. 

Mobile computers also play a major role in validating shipping. After scanning an item, a mobile computer can communicate with a wireless label printer to create a shipping label in a fully automated process. Scanning labels can also update backend inventory management systems for accurate inventory tracking and detailed analytics.

How Can Urovo Help Your Business?

We at Urovo have spent over 15 years designing, developing, manufacturing and improving a range of mobile computing devices for businesses worldwide.

Each product has a set of features that make them an ideal solution for nearly any use in transport, retail, and logistics environments. The Urovo mobile computers and enterprise tablets are designed to combine extreme mobility with a powerful performance and industrial-grade resistance. Here below we will introduce the key features of one product for each category.

Urovo Mobile Computers:

The Urovo DT40 is a flagship enterprise mobile computer equipped with a 4’’ screen, an octa-core high-performance processor, and the latest Android 9.0 operating system. Its full keypad with easy shortcuts can make your operations even faster and more efficient. Its optimized speaker is designed to provide robust sound for all your indoor operations. Read 1D/2D codes in milliseconds, even if they’re worn, wrinkled, warped, curled, ripped, stained, or damaged.

The Urovo DT40 supports an 802.11AC high-speed WiFi protocol, 802.11r fast roaming, and real-time voice multi-frequency band WiFi for seamless and smooth performance. Don’t worry about its durability. This Urovo enterprise mobile computer passed several tests (Including IP67 sealing, dustproof, 1m waterproof, 1-5m drop test) to prove its comprehensive protection and unbeatable resistance. Don’t worry about its daily operation span, either. Thanks to its 4500mAh battery, the Urovo DT40 can be used daily for 8-10h straight.

Urovo Enterprise Tablets:

The Urovo P8100 is an enterprise tablet that is designed for unbeatable endurance and unmatched performance thanks to its removable 3.8V 10000mAh polymer battery, an octa-core high-performance CPU, and Android 10.0/9.0 operating system . Its 10.1" full-fit TFT color screen has enough display area to allow you to view more information at a glance.

It passed all the tests applicable to harsh industrial environments, including IP67 sealing, shock resistance, and 1.2 m drop test. Scanning even the most stained, damaged, and warped 1D/2D codes is completely hassle-free with its high-end scan engine.

This Urovo enterprise tablet ensures convenient mobile operations. Indeed, its RTK accuracy positioning feature places the Urovo P8100 on another level compared to other enterprise tablets equipped with general GPS systems.

The Urovo P8100 is particularly indicated for professional applications in in manufacturing workshops, logistics warehouses, government inspection sites, or health care organizations.

How Our Products Can Improve Your Manufacturing Workflow:

Both our mobile computers and enterprise tablets can help streamline and optimize your business workflow management. Our products are designed to allow each member of your team to receive correct instructions, immediate feedback, and follow unified processes.

With the Urovo mobile computers and enterprise tablets, you can greatly improve the efficiency and accuracy on your production lines. We at Urovo deeply understand the daily challenges of businesses like yours. We design and innovate our solutions with your business needs in mind.

For this reason, our solutions are designed to offer your business the following benefits (and more):

l Real-Time Material Data Control – Your employees can use the Urovo DT40 and P8100 to scan the materials they need, especially when dealing with complex and homogeneous production materials. You can also check whether the material selected matches the worker’s defined task.

l More Efficient Production Line Management – With the help provided by Urovo’s innovative solutions, it is easier to make your business processes much simpler and more accurate. Your employees can scan the material codes with the Urovo mobile computers and tablets to check the accuracy of the operation. Our devices will record the timeline when abnormalities occur, which can effectively help workers to check the real-time production progress.

l Better Control Over Your Work Blueprint – If your team has to arrange complex operations and rigorous processes, the P8100 enterprise tablet can provide each employee with detailed product flows and instructions at any stage of the manufacturing workflow. Therefore, it is easier for your employees to complete each task effectively and reduce the occurrence of mistakes.

l Faster On-Site Maintenance & Equipment Checking – With the Urovo mobile computers, you can quickly retrieve real-time information about your materials and equipment. This helps you identify and quickly solve any possible maintenance issue.

Contact us to learn more on how the Urovo mobile computers and enterprise tablets can help streamline your operations workflow and boost your manufacturing productivity.