Q: What is the current state of business performance management in manufacturing?
A: There are some areas that are pretty obvious, such as the pervasiveness of quality programs — for example, Six Sigma. Standardization of work and process, and measurement of such, exists within the majority of manufacturing organizations we are exposed to.
Q: Which technologies are essential for improving operational and overall business performance?
A: Any technology that supports the organization’s activities and tracks that activity in order to measure performance can be considered essential. Almost all organizations at this point have connection — that is, e-mail, network, and Internet — and capture and calculation services — such as inventory and accounting. The next evolution of technology is to focus the activities and calculations on the processes being executed. This is essential to drive performance management across the organization because it breaks down departmental barriers.