In the field of manufacturing, your product, revenue, and customer satisfaction rely on streamlined and efficient operations to succeed.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, manufacturing holds the second-highest success rate, (48 percent) of all industries. If your goal is to increase productivity, below are suggestions you can implement to get you on the right track.
Evaluation
Before you implement changes in your business, you should first analyze your current workflow and determine any shortfalls. Your punch list may include:
- Employees
- Hardware used
- Physical components of production
- Workplace communication
- Raw materials, electricity, etc.
Lean Manufacturing Principles
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to devise a process; there’s already a proven system, (the Toyota Production System), known as the 5 S’s.
Creative Safety Supply describes 5S as, “A systematic form of visual management utilizing everything from floor tape to operations manuals. It is not just about cleanliness or organization; it is also about maximizing efficiency and profit. 5S is a framework that emphasizes the use of a specific mindset and tools to create efficiency and value. It involves observing, analyzing, collaborating, and searching for waste and involves the practice of removing waste.”
- Seiri – sort tools, parts, and instructions by their necessity (needed or unneeded)
- Seiton – organize tools and components so that they’re easy to identify and use
- Seiso – maintain a cleanly work area
- Seiketsu – create a schedule to conduct seiri, seiton, and seiso every day
- Shitsuke – always establish the first four S’s as an order to be followed
Tech Trends
Stay up to date with the continuous advancements in technology; some examples include:
- The Internet of Things (IoT)
- Machine Learning
- Augmented Reality (AR)
Employee Training
As technology steadily improves, keep your employees up-to-date with the latest tech trends to overcome labor shortages for skilled workers.
Purge
Get rid of unused machinery, tools, and parts that no longer serve your business.
Organize Your Workplace
It may not improve productivity per se, but indirectly it will keep your workers safe and working instead of injured and out of work.
Smart Inventory Management
Be smart about how much inventory you keep and buy. Too much will cost money to store and eat away your net profits.
Equipment Updates and Maintenance
To keep a steady flow of production, keep your shop’s equipment adequately maintained. Regular maintenance will lengthen the use of the equipment and reduce the cost of early replacements.
Teamwork is Crucial
Open communication is vital, especially when allowing employees a forum at which they can speak freely about issues, problems, or opinions.
In closing, manufacturing is the second most lucrative business today, but maintain a smooth, successful operation requires proactive measures. Evaluate your current process, practice lean manufacturing, purge old equipment and tools, organize your workspaces, manage inventory, and promote a healthy team environment.
Connect with the team at GSI – your source for highly skilled manufacturing craftsmen. We understand precision and performance matters. GSI employees not only arrive onsite with the proper skills, training, tools, and certifications, but we ensure that each one understands the safety guidelines and encourage everyone to have a safety mindset. Contact us today.
