Modern device strategy for Manufacturing

The digital landscape of manufacturing and production across the supply chain is transforming at an accelerated pace. Equipping workers with the best devices for their roles to enable secure connections and collaboration from wherever they work has never been more critical. From frontline plant operators to corporate execs, here’s how Surface devices can make that crucial difference.

 

Manufacturing plant operators

With a wide range of responsibilities, plant operators face a myriad of challenges in their daily work. They may have difficulty accessing real-time information from management and colleagues, such as change-of-shift notes, task assignments and operational updates. Paper-based manuals run the risk of being outdated, misplaced, or hard to read in low-light conditions. Plant operators may also lack practical communication tools to collaborate with other workers on the production floor or in the field, especially when repairing equipment or resolving unexpected issues.

 

Solution: Surface Go 3

 

 

Frontline workers need devices that are versatile, powerful, and secure. With Surface Go 3, plant operators can:

• Work productively all day thanks to a lightweight device, long battery life, and optional LTE Advanced connectivity. ¹
• Communicate with co-workers or customers at other locations using Microsoft Teams and high-quality speakers, mics, and cameras. Run desktop apps with Windows Pro OS and powerful processors to access and update information quickly.
• Sign in securely and conveniently with Windows Hello using facial recognition, a PIN, or MFA. Fill out digital forms or collect digital signatures using the PixelSense™ touchscreen and the Surface Pen.

 

Field technicians

One of the main challenges field and repair technicians face is the need for real-time access to information and resources while working onsite. This can affect their productivity, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. For example, they may need to access digital manuals and tickets to perform their tasks correctly and document their work. They may also need to check inventory, order status, and pricing to provide accurate quotes and estimates to their customers. Furthermore, they may need to collaborate with colleagues to troubleshoot issues and share best practices. However, accessing these resources can be difficult or impossible without a reliable and secure mobile solution that connects them to their back-office systems and team members.

 

Solution: Surface Pro 9 with 5G

 

 

Field technicians need reliable and versatile devices to handle any task, onsite or on the road. Surface Pro 9 with 5G enables field technicians to:

• Be more personal, polished, and powered on video calls with the Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which runs intelligent camera and audio effects on Surface Pro 9 without compromising battery life or performance.
• Connect to customers and experts back at the office wherever work happens with super-fast, secure 5G.² Download files instantly, stay connected on video calls when there’s no Wi-Fi, keep company data safe from anywhere, and keep going all day with up to 19 hours³ of battery life.
• Better protect sensitive data if your Surface Pro 9 is lost or stolen. Surface Pro 9 with Microsoft SQ® 3 uses Pluton architecture to secure sensitive data directly in the CPU, making it more difficult for attackers to access even if they have physical possession of a device.

 

Plant managers

One of the biggest challenges in the manufacturing industry is optimizing the workflow and productivity of different teams and roles. Plant managers often need help communicating, collaborating, managing, and accessing the tools and data required to perform their tasks efficiently. Whether on the plant floor, in the office, or on the road, they need a reliable and secure solution to handle their complex and demanding workloads.

 

Solution: Surface Laptop 5

 

 

Surface Laptop 5 is ideal for plant managers who need to work efficiently and collaboratively in any environment. With Surface Laptop 5, they can:

• Stay connected and productive wherever you work with a lightweight design, long-lasting battery, and fast Wi-Fi 6. Protect your data and identity with enterprise-grade security features and biometric authentication including a removable hard drive for data retention.⁴
• Run multiple apps smoothly and securely with powerful processors and Windows 11 Pro. Capture your ideas and feedback easily with keyboard, pen, or voice input options. Extend your workspace with multiple displays and accessories using Thunderbolt 4, USB-C and USB-A ports.
• Communicate clearly and confidently with Microsoft Teams, which works seamlessly with Surface cameras, microphones, and speakers. Impress your customers and colleagues with vivid touchscreen displays that let you view and share high-quality forecasts or product diagrams.

 

Product engineers

Product engineers are constantly challenged by the demands of their projects and clients. They must work with multiple tools and platforms, collaborate with different teams and stakeholders, and access and process large and complex data sets. They must also maintain their productivity and security when working remotely or on the go. These challenges require efficient and reliable solutions to support their workflows and enhance performance.

 

Solution: Surface Laptop Studio

 

 

Surface Laptop Studio is our most powerful Surface device, featuring quad-core Intel processors and 32GB RAM to handle the most complex engineering software and workloads. With Surface Laptop Studio, engineers can:

• Run the most intensive, business-critical desktop software like Adobe® Premiere® Pro, Photoshop®, Lightroom®, Autodesk® AutoCAD®, Dassault SOLIDWORKS™ and more.⁵
• Look and sound great on every Microsoft Teams call thanks to 1080p HD video and dual Studio Mics. Level up your camera and mics to studio quality with the optional AI-powered NVIDIA® Ampere architecture from NVIDIA RTX™ A2000 laptop GPU.⁶
• Work quickly and securely. Log in securely in seconds with Instant On and password-free Windows Hello. Plus, touch the screen to wake in stage mode and studio mode. With in-depth protection, Microsoft maintains every layer from chip to cloud, from hardened firmware to the operating system, through to cloud management.

 

Corporate teams

Corporate teams are essential for any organization that wants to improve product quality and grow the business. However, working together can be challenging, especially when team members are located in different places, have different customer needs, and use other tools and platforms.

 

Solution: Surface Hub 2S

 

 

Surface Hub 2S is a powerful and versatile collaboration tool, certified to work with Microsoft Teams. With Surface Hub 2S, corporate teams can:

• Connect with colleagues in dispersed locations through video conferencing and share their ideas in real-time. Present sales figures and other data on a screen viewable for large groups.
• Modernize customer experiences and services using the Surface Hub 2S as an interactive kiosk to help showcase their products, provide information, and collect engaging and innovative feedback.
• Collaborate on marketing campaign plans, HR documents, and other Microsoft 365⁷documents using real-time pen and inking capabilities on a large, high-resolution screen supporting 4K quality images.

 

Advanced Deployment and Management

Surface devices are purpose-built for zero-touch deployment and optimized to provide the most straightforward, friction-free, and powerful interoperability with the diverse collection of Microsoft 365⁷capabilities. Every Surface component, from firmware to Windows 11 policy settings, can be managed by Microsoft Intune⁸ and updated via Windows Update for Business. The Surface Management Portal is a centralized solution for IT admins to self-serve, manage, and monitor Surface devices at scale in Intune.

 

Surface and Sustainability

We know that Surface plays a key role in helping the company achieve the commitment to be carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste by 2030⁹, which is why we have clear strategies and goals for embedding sustainability within our devices and our supply chain, making sustainability a core part of our product promise and design language. At Surface, we aim to create devices that reduce carbon impact across their lifecycles, reduce waste, and are built with integrity. We also developed a tool for our Commercial customers called the Surface Emissions Estimator¹⁰. The tool makes it easier for Commercial customers to understand the estimated emissions associated with a Surface device or accessories based on use and locations.

 

Whether your next phase of digital transformation is with information workers or frontline workers in your company, Surface for Business has a versatile device portfolio that will help you to power Microsoft Cloud products and services.

 

Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing

Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing is designed to deliver capabilities that support the core processes and requirements of the industry. These end-to-end manufacturing cloud solutions include released and new capabilities that help securely connect people, assets, workflow, and business processes, empowering organizations to be more resilient. To learn more, please visit Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing | Microsoft.

 

To learn more about Surface for Manufacturing, visit Industry Solutions - Microsoft Surface for Business.

 

References

* Sold separately.

1. Service availability and performance subject to service provider’s network. Contact your service provider for details, compatibility, pricing, SIM card, and activation. See all specs and frequencies at surface.com.

2. 5G not available in all areas; compatibility and performance depend on carrier network, plan and other factors. See carrier for details and pricing.

3. Battery life varies significantly based on usage, network and feature configuration, signal strength, settings and other factors. See aka.ms/SurfaceBatteryPerformance for details.

4. Customer Replaceable Units (CRUs) are components available for purchase through your Surface Commercial Authorize Device Reseller. Components can be replaced on-site by a skilled technician following Microsoft’s Service Guide. Opening and/or repairing your device can present electric shock, fire and personal injury risks and other hazards. Use caution if undertaking do-it-yourself repairs. Device damage caused during repair will not be covered under Microsoft’s Hardware Warranty or protection plans. Components will be available shortly after initial launch; timing of availability varies by component and market.

5. Sold separately.

6. Available on specific SKUs.

7. Microsoft 365 subscription required. Sold separately.

8. Sold separately. Software license required for some features.

9. 2021 Environmental Sustainability Report | Microsoft CSR.

10. The Microsoft Surface Emissions Estimator is only available in certain markets and only applies to Surface devices currently for sale. Contact your Surface seller for more details.