Productivity doesn’t just happen naturally. In a competitive environment, the success of your business largely depends on how much production you can squeeze out in a period of time. If unexpected shutdowns and reactive maintenance are making it impossible for you to improve production, there are some recommended practices you can adopt to increase throughput and productivity and decrease downtime while maintaining quality. Here are 5 things you can do to improve productivity at your manufacturing facility:
1. Analyze your existing workflow
You can bring efficiency and improved productivity to your manufacturing floor only when you know how things are really working at your facility. Your equipment, people, technology and processes are four fundamental areas you should carefully analyze in order to identify factors hindering productivity and operational efficiency.
Do you have the right people with the right skills in the right places? Have you clearly defined your business objectives? When was the last time you analyzed your production processes? What are the pain points? Do you have a competent maintenance team to look after your critical equipment?
These questions will help you understand the quality of your existing workflow and areas that can be improved. When making changes to your existing workflow, think long-term.
Develop a sound preventive maintenance strategy
Benjamin Franklin says, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. One of the major reasons why manufacturing facilities don’t produce intended desired results is the absence of an effective preventive maintenance program. In order to ensure equipment reliability and operational efficiency, it’s inevitable to create and implement a practical preventive maintenance plan.
For this purpose, you need experienced and well-trained operators who specialize in maintenance and troubleshooting procedures. From lubrication processes to identifying potential mechanical issues, a comprehensive preventive maintenance plan encompasses a number of activities.
Update technology
Manufacturing is an industry in which your productivity is directly proportional to your manufacturing technology. Innovative machines are completely reshaping the way manufacturers produce products. CNC machining and 3D printers are examples of how technology is helping manufacturers dramatically improve their production capabilities.
It might require a large budget to replace outdated machines with advanced manufacturing tools. Nevertheless, you have to upgrade your machinery in order to stay competitive in the long run. Also, it’s important to update your business processes along with the technology.
Examine your manufacturing facility in terms of technology, people, and business processes in order to identify bottlenecks. Don’t forget to pay due attention to maintaining equipment so that you face less downtime. If you’re not sure how to develop a good maintenance plan or don’t have resources to do so, consult an engineering company that provides preventive maintenance expertise.
About Quality Millwright
Quality Millwright is a rapidly growing industrial engineering company in Edmonton where we provide services from machining and fabrication to preventive maintenance and rig servicing. For more information, please contact us!
