What are Smart Operations Management Systems?

Smart Operations Management is the science of applying technology, such as artificial intelligence, to the art of operations management.

Smart Operations Management (SOM) Systems refer to technologically advanced systems that use data, automation, and intelligent algorithms to monitor, plan, control, and optimize business operations efficiently and effectively.

Smart Operations Management Systems are the third generation evolution in industrial operations management beyond second generation ERP systems.

These systems integrate tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics to improve decision-making, reduce costs, increase productivity, and enhance overall operational performance.

Smart Operations Management, when applied to industrial organizations, represents a significant evolution in how companies handle their operational processes. It leverages advanced digital technologies to optimize efficiency, improve decision-making, and drive innovation.

Initially,  Smart Operations Management system are being used as an extension of ERP systems, to overcome their short comings. But eventually, it is believed that this third generation technology will, over time, come to replace the real-time operations management functions currently performed by ERP systems.

Applications of Smart Operations Management Systems include operations management, customer order processing, supply-chain management, and FDA regulated materials tracking and traceability.

In all these, and many other applications, smart operations management systems solve the problem of people spending too much time on "intelligent grunt work" which could otherwise be done by intelligent agents.