> The No Code

Revolution
What it Means for Your Shop Floor
 Table of Contents

Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………... 3

What is No Code? ……………………………………………………………………. 5

Why Manufacturing Needs No Code ……………………………………... 11

Benefits of No Code in Manufacturing …………………………………. 15

What No Code Looks Like on the Shop Floor ………………………. 19

Sample No Code Applications ……………………………………………….. 23

Conclusions ……………………………………………………………………………... 30
 INTRODUCTION

f you ask any process engineer about the challenges facing their shop floor, they’ll
I have no problem listing off areas for improvement. If you ask how they would
address those challenges, they’ll have an equally long list of solutions. No one knows a
factory’s processes better than those charged with improving them.

The same is true of operators, quality engineers, lean experts, IT integration specialists,
and everyone else working on the front lines. Those closest to manufacturing problems
understand them best.

This is the guiding philosophy behind the no code revolution. In the past five years,
flexible development platforms have empowered workers in every industry to design
solutions to the challenges they face every day, without writing a single line of code.

3
Perhaps more than any other industry, no code platforms have the potential to change
how manufacturers solve problems.

No code platforms can unlock new levels of efficiency, quality, and profitability. They put
the power to design flexible, scalable, customizable applications in the hands of
manufacturing experts. They enable better allocation of human and company resources.
They also make sure that organizations leverage process and domain expertise to the
fullest extent.

Most importantly, these platforms give control back to workers on the shopfloor.

This guide surveys how “no code” platforms are disrupting manufacturing. It covers
everything from basic definitions, to manufacturing specific use-cases, to tips for making
no code work for your factory.

4
 CHAPTER 1

What is No Code?
Defining No Code

“No code” refers to software tools that allow workers to design

applications without directly interacting with back-end
systems. This environment is usually called a “platform,”
meaning it provides a base upon which engineers can build
new applications and technologies. It’s software that lets users
write more software.

In short, “no code” refers to platforms that allow employees

without technical training to build fully-functioning,
enterprise-ready applications from scratch.

No code platforms provide, first and foremost, a visual

An example of a no code platform’s visual development environment.
development environment, usually in the form of a graphic
user interface. These interfaces let anyone drag and drop
elements into place, create rich functionality through
event-based triggers and if-then logic, and track performance
data as the app runs.

6
Benefits of No Code

The benefits to no code are immediate and substantial. They Ability to iterate and improve faster
include:
Until recently, development shuttled back and forth between
Better allocation of IT/engineer hours front line workers and IT. If workers wanted a new feature,
they made a ticket, and someone in a different department
If business users can design, build, implement, and iterate hard-coded the new feature on their behalf. There was lag.
without IT intervention, IT and software engineers can devote Mistakes or miscommunications could lead to weeks or
their time to mission-critical work. months of delay, as well as simmering frustrations on both
sides of the technical divide.
Solutions built in lock step with business problems
Now, no code eliminates this dance. Employees can make the
Because no code platforms enable customized solutions, no changes they need without enlisting IT support.
code developers can build solutions tailored to their problems,
with exactly the features and functionality they need.

7
Who is No Code For?

The short answer is: everybody. Since the advent of no code, commentators have settled on the
term “citizen developer” to describe the democratization of
Commentators commonly refer to no code as “democratizing development technology. Just as citizen scientists are vital to
development.” According to marketing materials everywhere, data collection and analysis on some of the world’s largest
no code is bringing power to the people. experiments, citizen developers leverage their hard won
domain expertise without being limited by technical barriers.
And there’s truth to the hype.
Gartner has written that no code is a key pillar of a broader
Just as Blogspot made it possible for anyone to be an author, digital strategy precisely because it broadens a company’s
and YouTube democratized video, no code platforms remove development base. Their argument is that businesses will
the technical barriers previously required to develop robust, succeed faster if they can radically shorten the development
production-ready applications. No code blurs the boundaries cycle by involving more business personnel in the development
between producers and users of software by creating an process. According to the research firm, “citizen development
infrastructure for further development. is fundamental to digital transformation.”

8
Low Code vs. No Code

These two phrases are often spoken in the same breath. Quite it for you. Low-code is still for developers and (as we have said
often, they’re used interchangeably. It’s worth stating this before) is still pretty complex, but it does offer a means of
clearly: low code and no code are not the same thing. making things faster for people who have tangible software
engineering skills.”
Low code still requires coding. It’s designed for developers,
and its core benefit, among others, is a faster, more agile That said, the difference in complexity does not mean that no
development cycle. code development can only produce basic apps. As one
commentator in Forbes has noted,
With no code, the name says it all.
“The number one misconception is that no code is only for
Adrian Bridgwater, a journalist writing for Forbes, has
simple apps.”
pointedly differentiated low and no code platforms:

“It’s important to remember that low-code is not the same as Forbes continued, “no code platforms have become extremely
no code. It’s not the same at all. no code is for sophisticated and support rich functionality in apps. It is now
businesspeople... and is really all about telling the system the possible to build most end-to-end enterprise applications on a
functions you want and knowing that the technology can build no code platform.”

9
This is a drum analysts, researchers, and advocates have For Brinker, the effects of no code have been surprising. With
beaten over and over. “Citizen development” does not mean a more powerful, flexible set of tools available to everyone, job
“toy” applications without significant business utility. In fact, descriptions in marketing are more fluid than ever. The same is
entire industries have shifted toward a no code model. Writing true in web design, data analysis, and countless other
of the creep of “applications” and “citizen technologists” into industries and job functions.
marketing, Scott Brinker writes,
And, as you’ll see in the next chapter, this is especially true in
“And I don’t mean mobile apps, or at least not just mobile manufacturing.
apps. That’s certainly one kind of app that can be built on
aPaaS (application-based platform-as-a-service)-like
platforms. But app building also encompasses business
process apps, web apps, chatbot and messenger apps, etc.
These are all different cases of the things citizen developers
can create.”

For manufacturing, the list of applications is longer, nearly

endless. They are as varied as factories themselves and,
without indulging in hyperbole, limited only by an engineer’s
creativity.

10
 CHAPTER 2

Why Manufacturing Needs No Code

Why Manufacturing Needs No Code

No code platforms have the potential to be especially

disruptive in manufacturing. When you outline the main
benefits of no code development platforms (flexibility, speed,
iterability, democratization), it should come as no surprise why.

Still, it helps to outline exactly why manufacturing needs the

no code revolution. It boils down to two core points:

1) Existing manufacturing software systems are expensive,

hard to customize, and difficult to update

2) Manufacturing is physical. Engineers need a way of

coordinating humans, machines, and materials in real-time.

12
No Code Overcomes Software Rigidity

If there’s one word to describe traditional manufacturing And this is just MES. There’s also the ERPs, CADs, stand-alone
software, it’s “rigid.” This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. CNC software, inventory management software,
Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) can coordinate, Manufacturing Operations Management, among many other
execute, and track a factory’s processes, producing tangible software systems a factory may enlist for its day-to-day
improvements in quality, efficiency, and visibility. They’re rigid operations (which, it should be added, add complexity in
because they control such a varied and extensive range of integration, not necessarily rigidity).
processes, and an unvalidated change can be catastrophic.
Further, rigidity runs against the grain of recent trends in
But MES are built for IT, not for shop floor personnel. They’re manufacturing. More than ever, manufacturers are expected to
difficult and expensive to customize (unless you’re getting a produce customized products, and production lines need to
custom-built MES, you’ll need to change your workflows to fit accommodate numerous variations upon core products. New
the MES); slow to implement (according to Gartner, average product introduction cycles are shorter than ever, and margins
implementation time for an MES is 15-16 months); difficult to thinner. And short product life cycles means there’s no room
update as operational needs change ( requiring significant for mistakes. As Vention.io CEO Etienne Lacroix reminds,
development support to do so); and they aren’t keeping up “Saving two months of development lead-time on a product
with the pace of technological development. with a two-year lifecycle has an enormous impact on the
product’s ROI.”

13
Manufacturing is Physical

Software is eating the world. In the last 20 years, software Nevertheless, the job of the modern engineer has increasingly
solutions have colonized nearly every aspect of our personal required software engineering skills.
and professional lives. Many non-technical job functions now
have an entire tech stack supporting their work. As a result, engineers need some way of connecting,
improving, and understanding their operations that takes into
Until the advent of no code, this was not the case in account this core fact. They need a platform that allows them
manufacturing. Why? to excel in the process-improvement area of their work without
miring them in a sea of proprietary software languages or
The main reason is that manufacturing is physical. No matter slow, hard-coded updates.
how technologically advanced factories become,
manufacturing will always involve physical processes and solid
No code augments the abilities of the modern manufacturing
materials.
engineer, giving them the power to connect the digital and
physical worlds without significant programming experience.
This means that engineers will always have to be out on the
shop floor, monitoring machines, humans, and output. It’s
unlikely “manufacturing engineer” will be a desk job any time
soon.

14
 CHAPTER 3

Benefits of No Code in Manufacturing

Benefits of No Code in Manufacturing, a Closer Look problems, it encourages rapid iteration, decentralized decision
making, smaller value delivered more often, and faster
So how do the benefits of no code (flexibility, speed, iterability, response to change.
democratization) translate to manufacturing? Here’s a closer
look.

Improved Agility
Agile methodologies aren’t just for software developers any
more. Organizations across industries and verticals are
harnessing the ideas behind agile for their transformational
benefits. To listen to the experts, Agile Manufacturing is the
future.

Those familiar with agile methods might have recognized that

the benefits of no code are much the same as the benefits of
agile.

Because no code places control back in the hands of the

engineers and operators closest to the manufacturing

16
Better Allocation of Resources

Given the way commentators laud how no code “liberates” "Of course if our developers had time, they could have come
business users from IT, you might expect there to be some up with solutions. But we didn't have time, and if we'd waited
antagonism between the two units. This isn’t entirely true. for the developers, we'd be out $1 million."

Because no code allows each side of the technical divide to do This is also true in manufacturing. When rolling out a new line
what they do best, it leads to much better allocation of of food products, manufacturer of smart kitchen technology
valuable IT time and engineering resources. Chefsteps, a company with many capable software
developers, faced a make or buy decision: should they divert
In many cases, this means faster time-to-market, and more engineering resources to build manufacturing applications, or
secure systems overall. purchase a no code solution?

Perhaps counterintuitively, no code solutions are just as

Ultimately, they decided to use Tulip’s no code platform, and
valuable for companies with deep benches of developers as
the benefits were immediate. As Chefsteps software engineer
they are for those without significant engineering resources.
Jeremy Shaffer noted, “From an ROI perspective, our
As the deployment manager of one technology and marketing
investment in building apps in Tulip is far less than the
solutions company noted of her decision to use a no code
opportunity cost we would incur by building our own custom
platform:
software.”

17
 One commentator made this point well when he argued that:

“The platforms that empower citizen developers —

application-platform-as-a-service (aPaaS) — are a great
example of a centralized technology (the platform) that
enables decentralized innovation (the apps), balancing the
freedom to create with lightweight governance and
guardrails.”

No code platforms lower the opportunity cost for innovation by

ChefSteps uses Tulip’s no code platform to streamline their shipping
decreasing the distance between ideas and execution.

Decentralizing Innovation
An unintended consequence of hierarchies is that they are
slow to innovate. The more layers and approvals an idea has to
traverse before it can happen, the more hands involved in
bringing it to life, the slower it will move. By decentralizing
development--by removing the barriers preventing business
users from experimenting and testing--no code platforms
encourage innovation.

18
 CHAPTER 4

What No Code Looks Like

on the Shop Floor
What No Code Looks Like on the Shop Floor

No code development begins with a platform and a business

case.
Common Use Cases for No Code Apps in Manufacturing:
In manufacturing, the use cases for no code applications are
many. Common ones include visual work instructions, inline ● Custom, digital work instructions
quality assurance, machine changeover, tool tracking, and root ● In-line quality assurance
cause analysis. The list could go on forever. ● Tool tracking
● Line clearance
● Machine changeover
Once a manufacturing engineer identifies a use case, they ● Analytics dashboard
brainstorm what steps it would take to address their problem. ● Root cause analysis
Once these steps have been outlined, they use the platform to ● Time studies
turn an abstract set of steps into a concrete solution. ● Digital andon
● Poka Yoke

Engineers design their applications using the platform’s visual

editor. Within the visual editor, they embed media, add text,
and drag and drop elements to match their desired layout.
Through software like Powerpoint, most individuals have

20
extensive experience designing slides and other visual response if they meet certain conditions. Conditional, if-then
presentations. Manufacturing application platforms are no logic allows manufacturers to create branch logic, so that one
different. If you’ve put together a deck, you can build a set of actions occurs given a specific input, but not others.
manufacturing app. And, like most software, these applications store the data they
collect while they run. This gives manufacturers
Unlike presentation software, however, manufacturing unprecedented visibility into their factory’s processes.
applications can be programmed for a much wider range of
functions. Their increased functionality comes from their ability Manufacturing apps differentiate themselves from other
to incorporate conditional logic into applications. solutions through Internet of Things connectivity. Simple
plug-and-play connectors let engineers create apps that
Whereas presentation software follows a linear, stepwise communicate with machines and devices in real time. Now,
progression through a deck, no code manufacturing engineers can design applications that connect people and
applications can respond to inputs from people, machines, and machines into a responsive, dynamic whole.
ambient conditions in real time. To be truly functional in a
manufacturing context, no code applications need more than a
drag-and-drop interface. They need IoT connectivity,
responsive logic, and control over multiple variables.

With advanced no code solutions, manufacturers can program

responses to specific inputs. These inputs can trigger a

21
 Applications coordinate people and processes, and response
to certain pre-programmed conditions while recording and
delivering data in real time. This is a revolutionary step from
the past, where teams of developers could take days to scope,
write, and push minor developments.

If this still sounds abstract, it’s not your fault. We tend to

understand objects better than ideas. A few example
applications should clear up any remaining confusion.

22
 CHAPTER 5

Sample No Code Applications

Visual Work Instructions

Paper work instructions are difficult to follow, easy to damage,

and prone to misinterpretation. For factories with high-mix
assemblies, high turnover, of rapid product cycles, they are
inadequate to the task. Further, they provide no mechanism for
proving that operators executed assemblies as indicated.

No code platforms let engineers design media rich, visual work

instructions. IoT connectivity responds to operator actions in
real time, and guarantees that instructions are followed to the
letter. Conditional logic lets engineers design work instructions
that are responsive to even the most complicated,
customizable assemblies.

24
Fishbone Diagram (Root Cause Analysis)

When problems happen, engineers need to be able to isolate

the root cause, fast, to implement a corrective action and
prevent future occurrences. Often, root cause analysis is a
paper intensive, manual task, requiring significant data
collection, aggregation, and analysis.

Using a manufacturing application platform, engineers can

design customized, paperless root cause analysis that
automatically document root causes. Engineers can use no
code logic to create custom root cause pathways, making it
easy to get to the bottom of problems.

25
Visual Quality Inspection

Quality non-conformances happen. When they do, it’s critical

to catch them at the source, before they move downstream.
Quality issue caught early mean less scrape and fewer hours
spent on rework.

By connecting to IoT devices, like cameras, to a no code visual

quality inspection app, engineers can error proof their lines.
Such apps use cameras identify and document quality issues
where and when they happen, and conditional logic
automatically the appropriate action sequence when
something goes wrong. For factories with highly variable
production schedules, no code lets engineers make changes
for every product without creating an IT ticket.

26
Tool Tracking

For many manufacturers, machine tool inventories can easily

number in the hundreds, if not thousands. Between CNC tools,
molds, and others, even small manufacturers could have a
large number of tools in circulation at any given time. Tracking
these tools is a labor intensive, highly manual process.

Tulip’s no-code platform lets manufacturers design apps for

tracking tools across the shop floor in real time, without errors.

Using IoT connected devices like barcode scanners, RFID

sensors, cameras, and break beams, Tulip records the location
of tools in real-time, letting operators locate the exact tool they
need, when they need it. Whether ready in the tool crib,
attached to an asset in a workflow, or in use in a rework loop,
Tulip provides full visibility into the location and status of tools
so that no time is wasted locating a drill bit or a mold.

27
Line Clearance

Line clearance ensures that equipment and work areas are free
of products, documents, and materials from a previous
process. As it stands, complex machine changeovers and
paper-based process validation result in slow turnaround
times. Without real-time visibility, it’s difficult to reduce line
clearance time or complexity.

For manufacturers who rely on quickly moving between

processes, a Line Clearance app can centralize SOPs and
equipment documentation, making line clearance easier to
navigate for all involved. Digital, media-rich work instructions
guide users through standard processes, reducing operator
inefficiency, and IoT connected devices can be programmed to
automatically adjust to standard settings for different
processes, ensuring accuracy every time. Electronic signatures
and validations simplify compliance, and step-based logic
records the time it takes to complete processes, giving
engineers more granular data about process execution. With
Tulip, operators can view and update the status of machine
and work areas, reducing downtime.
28
Real Time Analytics

Maximizing value production requires up-to-the-minute

understanding of manufacturing processes. Many factories,
however, still rely on manual data entry. No matter how far we
are into Industry 4.0, it’s still common to see clipboards and
stopwatches on the shop floor.

No code applications let engineers aggregate data from human

and machine performance into a real-time analytics
dashboard. No longer do manufacturers have to wait as data is
recorded by hand or pulled from a database, cleaned, joined
into workable tables, transferred to excel, and finally analyzed
and displayed. With no code, manufacturers can see custom
KPIs at all times, making the ideal of continuous, responsive
improvement a reality.

29
 Chapter 6

Conclusions
No Code is Here to Stay

The signs that no code platforms are here to stay are clear.
There aren’t enough software engineers to meet demand.
Business cycles are moving faster than ever. And there’s a
greater need than ever for customized business applications.

There are equally as many signs that manufacturers can

benefit from no code platforms.

No code platforms return control to front line engineers. They

give IT time to focus on critical systems and security initiatives.
And they’re flexible enough to rise to manufacturing’s
toughest challenges.

31
Tulip, the Manufacturing App Platform, is empowering the world’s leading manufacturers
to improve the productivity of their teams, the quality of their output, and the efficiency of
their operations. With Tulip’s no-code platform, manufacturers can empower those
closest to operations to digitally transform their shop floors and gain real-time visibility
into the people, machines and processes involved in production--all in a matter of days.

Learn more and try Tulip risk-free for 30 days at tulip.co.