Manufacturers invest heavily in technology, production equipment, and IT support—but is that investment actually improving efficiency and cutting costs?
Many companies assume their IT spending is optimized, but hidden inefficiencies in networks, hardware, and remote support models can quietly drain thousands of dollars per year. Without an on-site IT presence, these costs often go unnoticed.
At Griff Manufacturing, an on-site IT approach led to smarter infrastructure, better network performance, and real cost savings. By taking a hands-on, proactive approach, IT became a strategic advantage instead of just a support function.
1. A Disorganized Network = Wasted Time and Unnecessary Costs
When Adam, an on-site IT technician, arrived at Griff Manufacturing, one of the first things he noticed was a complete mess of a network.
“Wires were going everywhere, people were trying to connect to Ethernet that was cut halfway in the warehouse ceiling, and they had old switches slowing everything down. Being on-site gave me the ability to investigate and completely restructure their network.”
Griff’s network wasn’t just inconvenient—it was costing them money in lost efficiency and support costs. Every time someone called IT about a bad connection or lagging system, it was another hour billed or wasted on troubleshooting.
By redesigning the network to be modular, Adam made future connectivity changes easy for technicians and eliminated recurring IT problems that had been draining time and resources.
“Having remote support would have made this impossible or would have resulted in massive costs compared to having an on-site technician who could physically see and correct the issues.”
2. Redundant Servers Were Costing Thousands—And No One Knew It
Another major issue? Griff was paying for servers they didn’t even need.
“Being the only developer and database manager onsite gave me a complete understanding of how the software should function on a higher business level. That allowed me to identify redundant servers that were costing thousands of dollars per year.”
Many manufacturers don’t track their IT infrastructure closely enough, leading to outdated hardware running unnecessarily, racking up:
- Maintenance and security patching costs
- Energy costs from keeping old servers online
- Licensing fees for software tied to decommissioned equipment
A remote IT provider wouldn’t have been able to confidently make this call because they wouldn’t have full visibility into how the network, servers, and software interacted. That means thousands of dollars in avoidable costs would have continued to pile up.
3. Faster Issue Resolution = Less Downtime
In manufacturing, IT problems aren’t just annoying—they directly impact production. Every delay means lost revenue and inefficiencies that add up quickly.
“Users having to explain issues over the phone while a remote technician cannot physically see the issue can often turn a 10-minute fix into a 30-minute investigation before a resolution is achieved.”
When something breaks, manufacturing employees don’t have time to go back and forth describing the issue over email or phone calls. They need someone who can immediately see the problem and fix it on the spot.
“Being onsite allows me to work efficiently and effectively while making sure no other issues occur from my resolution after the fact.”
Compare that to remote IT support, where:
- Users struggle to explain technical issues over the phone
- A simple fix turns into a drawn-out process of troubleshooting and guesswork
- Technicians can’t verify if their fix has created new problems
These inefficiencies waste time, slow down production, and increase costs—all of which could be avoided with an on-site IT expert who works alongside your team.
The Bottom Line: IT Should Save You Money, Not Waste It
Manufacturers need more than a help desk that fixes problems when they happen—they need IT to be a strategic part of operations. Without on-site IT, companies risk:
✔ Higher costs from redundant systems and outdated infrastructure
✔ Longer downtime due to slow remote troubleshooting
✔ Recurring network issues that drain productivity
At KPInterface, we don’t just support IT—we embed IT into manufacturing to ensure:
- Stronger network infrastructure that eliminates inefficiencies
- Cost-saving IT optimizations that free up thousands in unnecessary expenses
- Real-time troubleshooting to minimize downtime and maximize productivity
If your IT strategy is reactive instead of proactive, it’s time to rethink your approach. Let’s talk about how on-site IT support can save your business time, money, and frustration.
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