Manufacturing

Streamlining It Operations And Ensuring Business Continuity For A Regional Manufacturing Firm

Client Overview

A mid-sized manufacturing firm specializing in industrial components for the automotive industry, with operations concentrated in a regional industrial zone. The company faced challenges with outdated IT systems, limited data backup capabilities, and frequent operational disruptions caused by system downtime and IT inefficiencies.

Challenges

1. Outdated IT Infrastructure:
   • Legacy hardware and software slowed production planning and resource allocation.
   • Frequent server crashes disrupted inventory management and delayed order fulfillment.
2. Data Backup And Recovery Risks:
   • Data was stored on local servers with no disaster recovery plan, leaving the company vulnerable to permanent data loss from power outages or system failures.
   • Recovery times after disruptions exceeded 8 hours, significantly impacting production schedules.
3. Operational Inefficiencies:
   • Manual tracking of inventory and production schedules led to errors, overstocking, and missed deadlines.
   • IT support was handled internally, resulting in the slow resolution of critical issues.

Axiom’s Solution

Axiom partnered with the manufacturing firm to modernize their IT infrastructure, implement robust backup solutions, and optimize operations:

1. IT Infrastructure Modernization:
   • Upgraded legacy servers to a cloud-based solution using Microsoft Azure, providing scalability and reducing hardware maintenance costs by 40%.
   • Installed Fortinet firewalls and mobile device management (MDM) for secure and seamless connectivity across multiple departments, ensuring uninterrupted operations.
2. Data Backup And Disaster Recovery:
   • Implemented data backup and disaster recovery (BDR) for automatic, real-time backups of production data.
   • Designed a disaster recovery plan to reduce downtime, achieving a recovery time objective (RTO) of under 30 minutes.
   • Migrated historical data to a secure cloud repository, eliminating reliance on vulnerable local servers.
3. Operational Efficiency Enhancements:
   • Deployed Workflow Wizard, an automation tool for resource allocation, production scheduling, and task tracking, reducing human errors by 85%.
   • Integrated Stock IQ for inventory optimization, cutting excess inventory by 25% and ensuring better alignment with production needs.
   • Provided 24/7 remote monitoring & management (iRMM) for proactive IT issue detection and resolution, preventing disruptions.

Results Achieved

1. Stronger Security And Compliance:
   • Reduced system downtime from an average of 8 hours per month to less than 30 minutes annually.
   • Achieved 99.99% uptime for critical systems, enabling uninterrupted production schedules.
2. Enhanced Data Security And Recovery:
   • Successfully backed up 100% of production and business data, with zero data loss incidents since implementation.
   • Reduced recovery time from 8 hours to under 30 minutes, minimizing the impact of disruptions on production.
3. Operational Optimization:
   • Increased production efficiency by 30% through workflow automation and inventory management tools.
   • Reduced order fulfillment delays by 40%, improving customer satisfaction and contract renewals.