Productivity in the manufacturing process is critical as low work levels equate to money lost. If your company's production output isn't aligning with the business hours, examine how to improve efficiency. Not only does quickening and organizing the workflow save time, but it also allows you to produce more goods to increase profits.
It's important not to cut corners as this will likely diminish the quality and lead to complaints or even recalls. Examining the current practices will help you discover what's slowing down the process. If you aren't sure what changes will enhance productivity, here are five factors to consider.
1) Upgrade machinery
Using outdated and slow technology will waste time and make it difficult to keep up with competitors. While purchasing new equipment is a big expense, it's worth the investment if your existing machinery has passed its peak. However, you can hire the equipment if there's not enough room in the budget to buy outright.
Stud welding is a popular system used across the manufacturing sector, which involves fusing fastenings to metal sheets. Upgrading to automated stud welding systems, which can weld up to 60 studs per minute and minimise errors, would quicken the process.
During the quietest times of the workday, schedule routine maintenance tasks to prolong the equipment's lifespan. Otherwise, you could face disruptive and costly breakdowns. Although, outdated models will require more upkeep than up-to-date machines, causing more repair costs.
2) Planning and scheduling
Creating an organized schedule with deadlines can increase efficiency as it avoids confusion around what tasks need prioritizing.
Also, arrange inventory deliveries in advance to avoid running low on stock and deliveries occurring at your busiest times.
Instead of manually managing admin duties, use online platforms and software to minimize mistakes and quicken the process.
3) Hire experienced employees
Recruiting skilled staff will help you achieve high-quality results quickly, with minimal mistakes. To attract experienced employees, offer a desirable salary and benefits.
If you hire employees with less or no experience, provide sufficient training to help them operate quickly and prevent costly and dangerous errors from occurring.
Continuously training staff, of all skill levels, on the latest technology will help you offer advanced services and stand out against competitors. All workers will need safety training, too.
Regularly communicate with your employees as well. Find out what they need to work more efficiently as they may have ideas on improving processes.
4) Set targets
Creating goals can help you keep track of your productivity levels and motivate your team. However, make sure the aims are realistic. Otherwise, you'll be setting up your staff to fail and cause disappointment and frustration. Also, factor in any peaks and troughs in demand that your company usually encounters.
When employees meet targets, celebrate and acknowledge the achievement to avoid demotivating your employees for future goals. Poor morale can hugely impact productivity.
To encourage your team further, offer incentives when they meet certain milestones, such as a bonus, extra annual leave, or prizes.
5) Organize the workspace
Optimize the layout so that staff can conduct tasks as quickly and smoothly as possible. Ensure all equipment is easily accessible and close to other relevant gear to minimize disruption from unnecessary movement.
Use labels and categories in storage so that stock and tools are easy to locate. If you lack space, remove any unused inventory or equipment, ideally by recycling or selling.
When mess accumulates, it can disrupt the workflow and become a safety issue if it blocks fire exits. Avoid clutter by hiring a cleaner of creating a staff rota for tidying the environment.
After implementing these changes, regularly review how they’re impacting productivity as you may need to keep updating the process to maximize efficiency.
