The operation of any manufacturing facility can be complex regardless of the industry and geographical location. Fortunately, for companies that want to maintain a safe work environment video surveillance makes the daunting task more manageable.

Video surveillance technology has come a long way from just being able to capture images. This is largely due to the development and integration of Video Management Software (VMS).

Today’s video management software, (also referred as video management systems) enable manufacturers to transition from a reactive to a proactive security posture.
Video management software enable manufacturers to:

1. Integrate other security systems.
2. Secure business assets and property.
3. Support health and safety activities.
4. Monitor business operations.
5. Strengthen security awareness.

Video Management Software

When companies think about upgrading their current video surveillance they often focus on the features and benefits of security cameras. While cameras play an essential role in an organization’s security setup, the video management software is just as important.

Here are five key benefits that video management software offers manufacturers:

1. Integrate security systems

VMS empowers businesses with the ability to integrate video, access control, audio and other security systems into a single point of control, increasing effectiveness and enhancing security management.

Video management software enables access control and event notification such as intrusion detection systems to work together and enhance security. This is crucial for production facilities as they are exposed to both classic security concerns as well as emerging health and cyber-security risks.

2. Secure business assets and property

Warehouses and manufacturing centers play a critical part in our economy because they facilitate the flow and delivery of products and employ over 13 million workers. As a result, maintaining the safety and security of these facilities is critical.

Manufacturers with 24/7 operations depend on constant and reliable surveillance.
Some facilities may find value in receiving a daily summary video of their operations while others are more interested in license plate recognition for parking lot security. A high performing VMS can deliver both and many other important analytical insights.

3. Support Health And Safety Activities

Video management software has increasingly been used for solutions that go well beyond security. Considering the pandemic, more and more manufactures are looking for ways to integrate their VMS with temperature screening, mask detection and people counting solutions.

All of these functions will allow organizations to support their health and safety programs in a Post-COVID world. Video management software combined with access control creates a unified solution for efficient safety risk management.

4. Monitor business operations

In 2020, we learned many lessons. A circuital lesson for most businesses was the importance of remote access. Most cloud-based VMS allow authorized users to view and control camera feeds remotely.

Along with remote access, VMS facilitate actionable analytics. Security analytics enables organizations to make prudent and proactive decisions in real-time. These types of analytics can range from occupancy tracking to motion detection searches for suspicious people to developing situations that require immediate attention.

5. Strengthen security awareness and reduce incidents

In 2020, there was a global increase of warehouse and facility theft. A recent report recorded losses of over $2 million in a single day in the greater Los Angeles area. That should not come as a major surprise as California typically leads the United States in terms of the proportion of cargo thefts.

Security awareness is instrumental to the overall safety and security of any facility. VMS can be used to review and analyze recorded footage. This is an empowering feature that enables security teams to review footage, assist in investigation and monitor operations in real-time.

Selecting the best VMS

Selecting the best VMS for your business depends on many factors. Three important considerations to keep in mind before purchasing are:

  • Desired analytics and important features: VMS often come with lots of bells and whistles, so it is important that you know what analytics and features are most important for your organization.
  • Integration with other security systems: Although a professional security integrator should be able to assist in this matter it is important that you consider your current security systems and account for cloud storage space.
  • Budget constraints: Prices vary greatly and costs range between $590 to $3,650 per initial software license plus additional connection fees may also be included.

The pandemic significantly impacted the manufacturing industry. As businesses look to ramp up production, they will need to make good use of effective security tools such as video surveillance cameras, access control and video management software to remain vigilant during these turbulent times.

For more information, visit getsafeandsound.com