Predictive analytics in manufacturing: The competitive edge

In today’s data-driven world, the manufacturing industry is undergoing major changes. Market demands are shifting rapidly, supply chains are growing increasingly complex, and cost pressures are intensifying. In this context, predictive analytics in the manufacturing industry has emerged as a critical capability for businesses seeking to operate more efficiently, reduce waste, and enable smarter decision-making.

Predictive analytics is more than just a buzzword, as it allows manufacturers to move from reactive to proactive operations. By identifying trends, patterns, and potential disruptions before they happen, predictive analytics allows companies to stay ahead of the curve. And while ERP platforms like Infor M3 play a foundational role in capturing and organizing enterprise data, true transformation lies in what you do with that data.

Whether you’re a CIO navigating digital transformation, a VP of operations looking to enhance throughput, or a plant manager exploring automation, this blog unpacks how predictive analytics is shaping the future of manufacturing.

Taking predictive analytics beyond the ERP

When it comes to predictive analytics, the real game-changer isn’t just the insights—it’s the data platform behind it all. That’s where Fortude comes in. Before you can dive into forecasting trends or building AI models, you need a solid data foundation, and that starts with the right strategy. We help you set up that platform so your internal data scientists can focus on what they do best exploring and predicting, while we handle the heavy lifting. Predictive analytics is the goal, but the data platform is the launchpad. And with Fortude as your partner, we set you up with the platform to grow and scale the smart way.

Our Data & AI practice empowers manufacturers to:

• Build intelligent data platforms that centralize and contextualize enterprise-wide information.
• Use machine learning to uncover hidden insights and make faster, better decisions.
• Enable predictive maintenance, inventory optimization, and demand forecasting at scale.

Our strength lies in connecting data from systems like Infor CloudSuite with IoT devices, production floor equipment, customer feedback systems, and external data sources. The result is a cohesive and intelligent analytics framework that fuels strategies designed to act before problems arise.

How predictive analytics works in the real world

Predictive analytics in manufacturing goes beyond theory. Here are practical applications delivering measurable ROI:

Predictive maintenance

Predictive analytics can monitor equipment health using real-time sensor data to forecast when machines are likely to fail. This lets you schedule maintenance before things go wrong, cutting down on expensive downtime and helping your equipment last longer. This immediately solves the problem of unplanned downtime which is the silent killer of making profits.

Demand forecasting

Manufacturers can use historical sales, seasonality, and external factors like economic indicators or weather patterns to better predict demand. Accurate forecasting helps align procurement, production, and distribution, which cuts down on inventory costs and improves customer satisfaction.

Inventory optimization

By analyzing consumption patterns, lead times, and supplier performance, predictive analytics helps businesses maintain the right level of stock. This ensures raw materials are available when needed without locking up capital in excess inventory.

Sustainability & energy management

Data-driven models can also identify energy usage trends and recommend the best times to cut back during peak periods. For manufacturers looking to meet global sustainability goals, this is a powerful capability.

Why Fortude?

While many organizations have access to data, few know how to use it effectively. Fortude offers the deep industry knowledge and technical expertise needed to unlock the full value of your data through:

1. Data strategy & governance

We help you lay the groundwork for analytics success through our digital transformation advisory practice. We assess your data maturity, recommend tools and frameworks, and align your analytics goals with business outcomes.

2. Advanced analytics platform development

Fortude builds scalable, cloud-native analytics platforms that unify data from across your enterprise. This includes structured and unstructured data from ERPs like Infor M3, MES systems, IoT devices, and third-party platforms.

4. Process automation

Our Automation practice, integrated with analytics, enables manufacturers to embed intelligence into workflows. This means that predictive insights aren’t just analyzed—they trigger actions automatically. For example, a predicted equipment failure could auto-schedule a service order in your ERP.

5. Tailored industry solutions

We bring deep domain experience across industries like food and beverage, fashion, automotive, and discrete manufacturing. This allows us to build predictive models and dashboards that align with industry-specific KPIs and compliance standards.

Supporting Infor M3, but not limited to it

For manufacturers running Infor M3 or Infor CloudSuite, Fortude extends the power of your ERP with embedded analytics and pre-built integrations. We help you:

• Transform raw ERP data into dynamic dashboards and self-service insights
• Seamlessly connect Infor with external data sources and visualization tools
• Deploy industry-specific accelerators to fast-track analytics adoption

However, our capabilities are not limited to any single platform. Whether you’re running Infor, SAP, Oracle, or a homegrown system, we provide the strategy, tools, and support needed to make predictive analytics actionable.

Getting started with predictive analytics

If you’re ready to future-proof your manufacturing operations, here are the key steps to consider:

1. Start with a Data Health Check: Assess the quality, completeness, and accessibility of your existing data.
2. Define business goals: Align predictive analytics initiatives with measurable objectives (e.g., reduce downtime by 20%, improve OTIF delivery by 15%).
3. Choose scalable tools: Work with partners like Fortude to implement flexible platforms that grow with your needs.
4. Invest in training: Ensure teams across operations, IT, and finance are equipped to interpret and act on data insights.