JUNE 6, 2019 BY ROBBY PEDRAZA
How has productivity changed at your manufacturing plant in the last year? How optimally are your resources being utilized? Is your plan to increase productivity meeting goals as expected?
Manufacturing facilities, more than many other businesses, need to stay on their toes to keep processes efficient. This will not only improve productivity but also ensures equilibrium in the supply and demand cycle.
Driving improvement starts by examining the current practices and introducing improved processes proactively. Here are seven ways to help change the productivity game at your manufacturing facility.
Examining current processes and identifying pain points is the first step in improving productivity.
Don’t get caught up in jargon and vague answers. Answers like, “Our facilities are running well,” or “Our facilities are being used optimally” sounds great, but in reality, that statement does not offer data insights or actionable information.
Mistakes lead to great lessons – but only if you have done your Root Cause Analysis. Identifying the actual reasons that have caused issues or quality fluctuations is key to achieving better quality scores.
For example, if there is a rise in complaints about damaged packaging, then you need to find the root cause. Is it just because the people who are transporting the products were not being careful? Or could it be because the packaging material needs to be stronger?
There are various RCA analysis methods and tools for manufacturers. If you have been doing RCA just one way, maybe it is time to consider a different RCA approach for your business.
At times, pressures regarding production, client pressure, and strict deadlines can contribute to building unrealistic goals.
Machinery and technology upgrades help manufacturers stay competitive in the market. With better equipment, the work is done faster and result in higher quality.
Your workforce directly drives productivity. Make sure they remain highly skilled and up to date on best practices and safety methods.
Lean production principles focus on minimizing waste while also maximizing productivity. Sometimes common causes of waste are hiding in plain sight - unnecessary transportation, waiting time for material or people, and idle equipment.
Imagine you get an unexpected order of 200 crates of cans - and you don’t have enough raw material! It’s a big order - you obviously don’t want to miss out. But, your inventory is not in place, and you require extra aluminum immediately to start production. If you had those aluminum rolls at your site, you could have avoided both delay and additional cost of transportation.
You can manage unexpected orders by partnering with commercial storage solution providers. Renting shipping containers, for instance, can be used to store surplus raw material, to keep surplus machinery secure, or to store finished products. Solutions like portable shipping containers can help your business avoid delays and unnecessary transportation.
At Mobile Modular Portable Storage, we understand the importance of lean production and productivity. We have worked with numerous industries to create quick, exceptional experiences in delivering secure, commercial storage.
Our containers come in various sizes and are available for both rent and sale, and are typically delivered in one business day, thereby helping you save time - and money.
If you are looking for high-quality shipping containers for storage, office space and other applications, get in touch with us. Call 866-459-7600 or request a quote today.
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