IT Support for Manufacturing Companies
Exodesk supports manufacturers in Christchurch, Dunedin and across New Zealand with IT for office teams and agreed factory systems. We plan support, access, backup and changes around the applications and production work that depend on them.
The scope identifies the work Exodesk does, the responsibilities of your equipment and software suppliers, and how issues are escalated between teams. Support hours, on-site attendance and project work are agreed before service starts.
Supporting New Zealand businesses since 1989
What is manufacturing IT support?
Manufacturing IT support is the support and management of agreed IT across a manufacturer’s office and operations: the computers, servers, networks, business systems and backups that scheduling, production and dispatch depend on.
The scope defines the systems covered, the suppliers involved, service hours and who owns each type of fault. Machinery, controllers and their programming stay with the equipment owners and their specialists, while Exodesk supports the IT and network environment around them. The commercial inclusions of the base arrangement are set out on our managed IT services page.
Exodesk has supported New Zealand businesses since 1989. Today, our Christchurch and Dunedin teams support businesses nationwide, with on-site attendance at other locations agreed for each site.
What our manufacturing IT support covers
The service can include user support, managed computers and servers, network support, application access, account security, backup monitoring and restore testing. Factory-network work is scoped with the equipment owners and suppliers.
Office and business systems
Help for staff, managed devices and support for the hosting, access and connections behind scheduling, stock, dispatch and finance systems.
Factory and office networks
Switching, firewalls and separate network zones for office, production and guest traffic, with the connections between them agreed.
Backup and planned change
Backup monitoring and restore testing for agreed systems, and changes planned with operations and suppliers around production.
An internal IT team can keep selected tasks through a co-managed arrangement. We record who handles failed backups, account changes, network faults, supplier access and escalation during an interruption.
Supporting ERP and business systems
We support the agreed IT environment around your business systems and work with your software and equipment suppliers where responsibilities overlap. The scope identifies who manages infrastructure, application faults, integrations and production equipment.
For ERP, MRP, scheduling and stock systems, that covers the servers or hosting, devices, user access and network connections they rely on. Product faults, configuration changes and integrations are coordinated with the software vendor rather than assumed to be included.
We identify critical licence services, databases and connected systems during scoping and include the agreed dependencies in support and recovery planning, so a licence server or database is not forgotten until the day it stops an application starting.
Factory networks and supplier access
Production and office systems can be placed in separate network zones, with approved communication paths between them. The design reduces unnecessary access while preserving the connections the plant needs. It does not remove every cyber or availability risk.
We start with the connections each system needs, then separate office traffic, production connections and guest internet. Our network security and IT infrastructure work covers the switching, firewalls and cabling behind those zones.
Approved suppliers reach their equipment through a single controlled route that Exodesk sets up with the equipment owner, with authorisation for the named supplier and task, multi-factor sign-in, logging and removal when the work ends. International guidance on secure connectivity for operational technology, published with NCSC New Zealand, recommends this kind of centralised, time-limited access.
Planning changes and recovery around production
We plan changes with your operations team and relevant suppliers, including expected interruption, checks and a fallback. Some work can be staged; other changes require a maintenance window. Equipment-specific updates and recovery are agreed with its owner.
An ERP or network fault may block scheduling, scanning, dispatch or a dependent production task without stopping every machine. Mapping those dependencies shows which systems need the highest recovery priority and which suppliers need to be involved.
Older production equipment can stay in use while replacement is planned, with restricted network access as a temporary control. Its owner and vendor review support status and risk; network controls do not make unsupported equipment safe indefinitely.
- Backup coverage. Data, applications and configurations agreed with their owners, through our backup as a service or your existing arrangement.
- Restore checks. Recovering files and recovering a production application are different tasks, so each is tested on its own terms.
- Recovery roles. Who restores each system, which licences and vendor steps are needed, and who confirms it is ready for use.
How manufacturing IT support is delivered
Onboarding records the people, sites, systems and suppliers in scope before ongoing support begins.
Map systems and suppliers
Record users, sites, business systems, network connections, the suppliers for each and the tasks that cause delays today.
Agree responsibilities
Set who handles infrastructure, application faults, integrations, equipment and escalation, and how production-affecting changes are approved.
Protect access and backup first
Account security, supplier access and backup coverage are prioritised by risk before larger network or system changes.
Support and review
Ongoing support follows the agreed hours, shifts and on-site arrangements, with scope reviewed as systems and suppliers change.
If you want a review of your current setup first, our IT assessment looks at systems, networks and backups before any service decision.
What affects manufacturing IT support cost?
Cost depends on users, sites, systems and service hours. The proposal separates ongoing manufacturing IT support from equipment, licences, upgrades, migrations and specialist work.
- Recurring support. Users, devices, servers and the support hours agreed.
- Shift cover. Shift-based or out-of-hours requirements, agreed explicitly.
- Network projects. Zoning, switching and firewall work, quoted as project work.
- Hardware and licences. Shown separately from support.
- Specialist work. Vendor or equipment work arranged with the responsible supplier.
Manufacturing IT support questions
What is manufacturing IT support?
Manufacturing IT support is support for agreed IT across the office and operations of a manufacturer. The scope defines the systems, suppliers, service hours and responsibilities, including where specialist equipment work sits.
Does Exodesk support machinery and controllers?
Exodesk supports the network and IT environment around them, including the zones and connections production systems use. Machine repair, controller programming and equipment-specific changes stay with the equipment supplier or an agreed specialist.
Do you support ERP and MRP systems?
We support the servers or hosting, devices, access and network connections they depend on. Product faults, configuration and integrations are coordinated with the software vendor rather than automatically included.
Does network segmentation prevent every cyber incident?
No. Separating office, production and guest networks reduces unnecessary access. Approved connections and shared dependencies still need protection, monitoring and review.
Can suppliers access equipment remotely?
Yes, where the equipment owner approves it. Exodesk sets up a single controlled route for a named supplier and task, with multi-factor sign-in, logging and removal when the work ends.
Can older production equipment stay in use?
Its owner and vendor review its support status and risks. Restricted network access can help while replacement is planned, but it cannot remove the risks of unsupported equipment.
Can changes happen without stopping production?
Some changes can be staged; others need a maintenance window. We agree the window, supplier involvement, checks and fallback with your operations team before a production-affecting change.
What needs to be backed up in a manufacturing business?
Data, applications and configurations agreed with their owners, such as ERP databases, scheduling systems and file shares. Recovery may also need licences, compatible equipment and supplier assistance, so the relevant recovery tasks are tested.
What affects the price of manufacturing IT support?
Users, sites, systems, service hours and scope. The proposal separates ongoing support from hardware, licences, upgrades, network projects and specialist work.
Do you provide on-site and shift-based support?
Our Christchurch and Dunedin teams support businesses nationwide. Site attendance, support hours and out-of-hours or shift arrangements are agreed for your location and requirements.
Discuss your factory and office IT
Tell us which systems your production work depends on, which suppliers support them, when the site operates and what is causing delays. We can then discuss a manufacturing IT support scope that fits your business.
Talk to us about your site
Tell us about your office, your production systems and the suppliers involved, and we will be in touch to arrange a time that suits.
Prefer to talk?
Christchurch
Level 1, 85 Riccarton Road
Christchurch 8011
03 343 3124
Dunedin
Level 3, Bartons Building
2 Stafford Street, Dunedin 9016
03 479 2941