Last Updated on October 17, 2023 by Ossian Muscad
Stepping into the digital age, we traded our paper trails for pixel paths. The new norm—Paper on Glass—is a fancy term for viewing documents in digital form, commonly on shiny screens of tablets, computers, or mobile devices.
This trend is being embraced with open arms, particularly by the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, where meticulous documentation is the heartbeat of the production process. Yet, as we swap our binders for bytes, it’s crucial to examine if this digital dance is as smoothly choreographed as it seems. It’s time to uncloak the challenges lurking within this digital transformation.
What is Paper on Glass?
‘Paper on Glass’ is not about digitizing the ancient parchment into a futuristic pane, nor is it a new avant-garde home décor trend. Rather, it refers to the migration of paper-based documents to digital platforms.
Think of it as swapping your physical file cabinets for a sleek digital database. Instead of leafing through piles of paper, you simply swipe or scroll on screens—your computer, tablet, or mobile device.
This digital leap is particularly prevalent in industries like pharmaceuticals and medical devices, where stringent regulations necessitate thorough documentation at every step of the production process. ‘Paper on Glass’ offers the promise of a streamlined workflow, reduced clutter, and easy access to information.
But as with any transformation, it comes with its challenges. That’s when the digital dream can turn into a nightmare if not managed carefully.
Challenges of Paper on Glass
While it’s true that ‘Paper on Glass’ propels industries into the digital era, it’s not the complete solution manufacturers need. It’s crucial to understand that the challenges and requirements of manufacturing extend beyond digitizing documents. Here are five reasons why manufacturers need more than ‘Paper on Glass’:
Limited Interactivity and Functionality
‘Paper on Glass’ essentially replicates paper documents on a screen, which means it often lacks the interactivity and functionality that truly digital solutions offer. Manufacturers need more versatile digital tools like data analysis and real-time reporting capabilities.
Difficulty in Integrating with Existing Systems
Despite its digital nature, ‘Paper on Glass’ may not integrate seamlessly with other systems in a manufacturing environment. This lack of integration can lead to inefficiencies and data inconsistencies.
Lack of Offline Access
While ‘Paper on Glass’ requires online connectivity, manufacturing environments may not always have reliable internet access. This makes it challenging to access essential documents when it’s most needed.
Inadequate Compliance Management
In highly regulated industries like pharmaceuticals, compliance is king. ‘Paper on Glass’ might not offer the robust features required for compliance management, such as audit trails, electronic signatures, and automated version control.
Training and Adoption Challenges
Transitioning from traditional paper-based processes to ‘Paper on Glass’ can be a steep learning curve for some employees, leading to resistance and slow adoption. Adequate training programs and user-friendly interfaces are essential for successful implementation.
How to Overcome These Challenges?
Overcoming the challenges of ‘Paper on Glass’ is not just about choosing a flashy, feature-rich solution. It involves strategic thinking, understanding the unique needs of your organization, and ensuring that your ‘Paper on Glass’ solution is tailored to those needs. Here are some strategies to conquer the digital demons and successfully implement ‘Paper on Glass’ in your organization.
Invest in Comprehensive Digital Solutions
Avoid solutions that merely replicate paper documents on a screen. Look for comprehensive digital solutions that offer robust functionalities such as data analysis, real-time reporting, and automation. This will not only make your documents digital but also make your processes smarter and more efficient.
Prioritize Integration
Choose a ‘Paper on Glass’ solution that seamlessly integrates with your existing systems. This will ensure consistency in your data, promote efficiency, and minimize disruption during the transition. This solution allows you to streamline your processes and enhance productivity like never before.
Ensure Offline Accessibility
Ensure that your ‘Paper on Glass’ solution is accessible offline. This will allow employees to access essential documents even in unreliable internet connectivity, thus ensuring uninterrupted productivity.
Implement Robust Compliance Features
In highly regulated industries, compliance cannot be compromised. Thus, your ‘Paper on Glass’ solution should have features such as audit trails, electronic signatures, and automated version control to ensure adequate compliance management.
Invest in Training Programs
Lastly, invest in comprehensive training programs to help your employees transition smoothly from paper-based processes to ‘Paper on Glass.’ A user-friendly interface can also go a long way in easing this transition and promoting adoption.
Transition to Digital Work Instructions
Beyond merely digitizing documents, organizations should consider transitioning to fully digital work instructions. Rather than simply transferring what’s on paper to a screen, digital work instructions can provide a more interactive, engaging, and error-proof way of guiding operators through manufacturing. This includes real-time annotations, embedded videos or 3D models, automated quality checks, and instant feedback loops.
Benefits of Upgrading to Digital Work Instructions
Progressing beyond Paper on Glass, upgrading to Digital Work Instructions promises a potent solution that caters to the complex demands of today’s manufacturing industries. It’s not just about digitizing paper; it’s about enhancing workflow through smart, interactive, and integrated systems. Here are six compelling advantages of upgrading to digital work instructions:
- Increased Efficiency: With digital work instructions, manufacturers can streamline their processes, reducing manual effort and minimizing errors, thereby increasing overall operational efficiency.
- Enhanced Accuracy: Digital instructions allow for precise guidance with interactive multimedia aids, which significantly reduces the risk of errors and ensures the production of high-quality products.
- Improved Compliance Management: Digital work instructions come equipped with sophisticated features like audit trails, electronic signatures, and automatic version control, making compliance management more robust and efficient.
- Real-Time Updates and Communication: Enabling real-time updates and digital instructions ensures the entire team can access the most recent and accurate information, fostering better communication and coordination.
- Seamless Integration: Unlike paper on glass, digital work instructions can integrate seamlessly with other systems in the manufacturing environment, thereby eliminating data inconsistencies and enhancing overall productivity.
- Enhanced Training and Learning: Interactive and visually engaging digital instructions facilitate easy understanding, making the training process more effective and accelerating employee adoption rate.
Leveraging Low-code Platforms for Digital Work Instructions
As technology advances, so do the tools available to manufacturers. One such tool is low-code platforms, which allow for the rapid development of customized digital work instructions without extensive coding knowledge and resources. These platforms offer several benefits, including:
- Faster Deployment: Low-code platforms enable rapid prototyping and testing, allowing manufacturers to deploy digital work instructions quickly with minimal disruption to production.
- Cost-effectiveness: With low-code platforms, manufacturers can develop digital work instructions without a team of dedicated developers, thereby reducing costs significantly.
- Flexibility and Scalability: Low-code platforms allow for easy customization and updates, ensuring that digital work instructions cater to the specific needs of each manufacturing process. This flexibility makes it easier to scale and adapt to changing production requirements.
- Enhanced User Experience: With intuitive interfaces and interactive features, low-code platforms make digital work instructions user-friendly for all employees, regardless of their technical expertise.
By leveraging low-code platforms, manufacturers can overcome the barriers of ‘Paper on Glass’ and adopt advanced digital work instructions that cater to their unique production processes.
Why You Should Try DATAMYTE
DATAMYTE is a quality management platform with low-code capabilities. The DataMyte Digital Clipboard is a low-code workflow automation software that features a checklist and smart form builder. This tool lets you easily create and deploy digital instructions, leveraging multimedia and interactive features to enhance user experience.
DATAMYTE also lets you conduct layered process audits, a holistic assessment of critical process steps, focusing on the areas with the highest risk of failure or non-compliance. By conducting LPA with DATAMYTE, you can effectively identify and correct defects before they become major quality issues.
DATAMYTE is the complete package for manufacturers looking to upgrade from paper-on-glass to digital work instructions. Book a demo with our team today to learn more.
Conclusion
Transitioning from ‘Paper on Glass’ to digital work instructions is essential in modern manufacturing. By embracing this technological shift, companies can reap substantial benefits, including enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and compliance management. Leveraging low-code platforms for these digitized instructions can further accelerate progress and encourage widespread adoption.
