Here\u2019s a roundup of the best advice we\u2019ve published on the DYNAMIC FUTURE website over the past year. Our expert tips will help you make better use of available technologies, and make your work more efficient. Discover why dynamic simulations are becoming essential for accurate planning, and how you can overcome the common limitations of using Excel in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even though Excel has been used by companies for many years, and is irreplaceable in many ways, modern technologies such as dynamic simulations and digital twins are beginning to show its limits. A tool traditionally used for a wide range of tasks, Excel boasts versatility, but when it comes to more complex predictions and process modelling, it cannot compete with more advanced simulations. These more modern tools offer better time management and less simplification<\/strong>, leading to more accurate results<\/p>\n\n\n\n Petr Jal\u016fvka says: \u201cExcel still remains much more popular than simulations. Actually, it\u2019s possible to carry out simulations in it to some extent. However, in principle, it requires a lot of simplifications and, most importantly, it can\u2019t work with time management.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n To better illustrate, the DYNAMIC FUTURE Company Representative uses an analogy with cars:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPreviously, the driver had to control a lot of things while driving, there was no automatic choke, shifting, opening, safety features. Today, all you have to do is press the right button, turn the steering wheel, and increase or decrease the speed.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n In Petr Jal\u016fvka\u2019s opinion, what is the situation in the field of education simulations at universities? In the interview, which you can find on our blog, he states that it\u2019s gradually improving, but the market still feels the lack of qualified simulation specialists<\/strong>. \u201cTeaching is challenging, but at the same time, key to the future needs of the market<\/em><\/strong>,\u201d he states<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emphasis is placed on adapting educational programmes to better reflect the current needs of industry and technological progress. It\u2019s important that schools not only teach the basic principles, but also provide students with hands-on involvement in simulations and modelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c<\/em><\/strong>WITNESS<\/em><\/strong> is taught today at most universities in the Czech and Slovak Republics. We meet with their graduates who, as managers of various companies, approach us saying that they want to buy a simulation tool because they know it from school<\/em><\/strong>,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> says Jal\u016fvka. And when asked why there is a lack of people capable of working with dynamic simulations in companies, he says: \u201cHonestly, they are often in the company, but in reality, they\u2019re also given a lot of other tasks than working with simulations. Then they don\u2019t simulate anything new for a year, and that\u2019s bad. One loses that expertise, loses contact with reality, and the company loses the money it invested in acquiring digital twins. It\u2019s like they bought a luxury car and then only went to the garage to polish it<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Excessive complexity and digitization of processes in companies often lead to the creation of many systems and subsystems, which opens the door to errors and complications in tracking data flows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe more creative people are in companies, and I don\u2019t mean that in a bad way, the more systems and subsystems they can invent. This creates a huge space for errors and, moreover, no one can find out where, how, and why the data is created,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> Jal\u016fvka explains.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n A major problem, he points out, is data \u201cdating,\u201d where employees manipulate information without a clear understanding of its purpose or ultimate recipient. At the same time, many of these actions could be automated, leading to more efficient and accurate data processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe often hear that working with data is historically given. So, someone transcribes something into a notebook, someone else has to sign it, then the data is entered into the computer, the outputs have to be printed, signed again, and copies saved. And the same needs to be written into Excel and some information system. One beep of the reader would be enough,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> Jal\u016fvka adds.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n This situation also increases the risk of \u201coptimizing\u201d data according to stated goals, which can lead to wrong decisions and a loss of trust. As Jal\u016fvka states, many managers are not aware of\u00a0how much time employees spend unnecessarily transferring data<\/em><\/strong>, which is inefficient and counterproductive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jan \u0160lajer, Company Representative of DYNAMIC FUTURE, and an expert in the implementation of warehouse management systems (WMS), emphasizes the importance of thorough planning before implementing these systems. He explains that while WMS systems are not cheap and are often chosen mainly on the basis of price, they can take months, or even years, to successfully implement and finetune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet\u2019s face it, WMS is not cheap. Nevertheless, it is often chosen based on the price. And its introduction and tuning are not just a matter of weeks, but rather of months, and sometimes even a year,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> \u0160lajer says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n He emphasizes that the key to success is an understanding of current processes and a clear vision<\/strong> of their future direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf [WMS] is to improve processes, you need to know how they are currently working for you before actually implementing it. You need to know not only the target state, but also the starting state. That\u2019s why we always recommend doing a study of existing processes, then a vision of where I want to move them and, based on this information, choose a system,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> he says. This approach ensures that the WMS will effectively serve its purpose, and improve the efficiency and productivity of warehouse operations<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n In the blog, Jan \u0160lajer comments on the case of a company that faced problems when expanding production. The business in question didn\u2019t take into account the dynamic simulation outputs, resulting in production and deliveries in lower volumes than planned, and significantly limiting the room for growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe first major problem was that [the customer] asked us late for help. The second was that he ignored our recommendations. Someone estimated something off the table, and calculated a fictitious return on investment in the new hall and its equipment. During implementation, he discovered that the estimate was not correct, and he couldn\u2019t count on the original return. But there was no time for changes and modifications,\u201d<\/em><\/strong> \u0160lajer explains<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n According to \u0160lajer, these problems could have been avoided if the outputs of the simulation model had been properly considered and possible solutions proposed, such as renting an external warehouse. By ignoring these suggestions and with overly ambitious plans, the company faces blocking its future development, and limiting economic growth. \u201cThe company paid the price for an overly ambitious plan and wearing blinders by blocking future development and, of course, economic growth,\u201d <\/em><\/strong>\u0160lajer adds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Here\u2019s a roundup of the best advice we\u2019ve published on the DYNAMIC FUTURE website over the past year. Our expert tips will help you make better use of available technologies, and make your work more efficient. Discover why dynamic simulations are becoming essential for accurate planning, and how you can overcome the common limitations of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2869,"featured_media":6683,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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The market suffers from a lack of experts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Creativity brings mistakes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Successful WMS implementation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Ambitious plans with blinders on <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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