In manufacturing words, productivity means creating more output per unit of input. That is to say, productivity is money. Further, competition in global markets increasingly requires higher productivity from manufacturers.
So, if you want your business to stay afloat (and maybe even thrive), it’s important to keep an eye on productivity and find ways to increase it. There are a number of ways that you can increase productivity in your manufacturing business.
Table of Contents
1. UpSkill Your Employees
Productivity in manufacturing can be greatly increased by upskilling your employees. By ensuring that your employees have the necessary skills and knowledge to do their jobs effectively, you can create a more efficient and effective workplace. There are a number of ways to upskill your employees, such as providing training courses, on-the-job training, or hiring new employees with the necessary skills.
2. Streamline Your Processes
By eliminating unnecessary steps and tasks, you can make your workplace more efficient and reduce the amount of time your employees spend on each task. In addition, streamlining your processes can help you reduce waste and improve quality control.
One way to streamline your processes is to use lean manufacturing principles. Lean manufacturing is a system of manufacturing that emphasizes eliminating waste and improving flow.
Some lean manufacturing techniques that can help you increase productivity include:
- Value stream mapping: This is a technique that can help you identify areas of waste in your processes.
- Kanban: This is a system that helps you control the flow of materials and information through your manufacturing process.
- 5S: This is a system that helps you organize your workspace for efficiency.
- Standardized work: This is a technique that can help you eliminate waste and improve quality by standardizing your manufacturing processes.
3. Apply Digital Manufacturing
Digital manufacturing technologies including 3D printing, computer-aided design (CAD), and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) are revolutionizing the manufacturing industry by providing new ways to increase productivity.
These technologies can be used to create virtual prototypes of products which can be tested for manufacturability and performance before any physical prototypes are created. This allows for potential problems to be identified and fixed before production even begins, saving time and money.
Additionally, digital manufacturing technologies can be used to create customized products more quickly and easily than traditional manufacturing methods. This is because each product can be individually designed and then produced using a computer-controlled manufacturing process.
4. Invest in New Manufacturing Technology
Technology is always advancing, and new manufacturing technologies can help increase productivity in your factory. If you don’t keep up with the latest technology, you’ll fall behind the competition.
By investing in new equipment or software, you can improve the efficiency of your workplace and make it easier for your employees to do their jobs. In addition, new technology can help you automate tasks and processes, which can further improve productivity.
5. Create a Positive Work Environment
Creating a positive work environment is another important factor in increasing productivity in manufacturing. If your employees are happy and motivated, they will be more likely to work harder and be more productive. There are a number of ways to create a positive work environment, such as providing good working conditions, offering competitive salaries and benefits, and fostering a culture of teamwork and cooperation.
6. Improve Communication
Communication is essential for any business, but it is especially important in manufacturing. This is because manufacturing is a complex process that involves numerous people and departments. If communication breaks down, it can lead to errors and delays. Therefore, it is important to invest in communication tools and strategies that will help keep everyone on the same page.
One way to improve communication in your manufacturing business is to invest in project management software. This type of software can help you keep track of tasks, deadlines, and progress. Additionally, it can help you assign tasks and communicate with team members.
Another way to improve communication is to invest in a customer relationship management (CRM) system. This type of software can help you keep track of customer information and manage your sales pipeline. Additionally, it can help you automate tasks, such as email marketing and customer service.
7. Target Waste
In order to increase productivity, manufacturers need to target waste and find ways to eliminate it. Waste can come in many forms, including:
- Defects or errors in the manufacturing process
- Excess inventory
- Excessive motion or travel by employees
- Waiting time for materials or equipment
- Unnecessary processing or handling of materials
Once the waste has been identified, manufacturers can work to eliminate it through process improvement initiatives. Common methods for eliminating waste include:
Automation: Automating manufacturing processes can help to eliminate many forms of waste, such as defects, excess inventory, and motion or travel by employees.
Process redesign: Redesigning manufacturing processes can also help to eliminate waste. For example, process redesign can reduce the number of time employees spends waiting for materials or equipment.
Lean manufacturing: Lean manufacturing is a methodology that helps manufacturers eliminate waste through a variety of techniques, such as just-in-time production and continuous improvement.
8. Implement Quality Control
In order to ensure that your manufacturing process is as efficient as possible, it is important to implement quality control standards. This will help to ensure that every product that leaves your facility meets the highest standards of quality. There are a number of different ways to implement quality control standards, so you will need to decide which method is best for your manufacturing process.
One way to implement quality control standards is to use a checklist. This checklist can be used to check each step of the manufacturing process to ensure that it is being done correctly. This will help to ensure that no steps are being skipped and that all products are being made to the same high standards.
Another way to implement quality control standards is to use a software system. This system can be used to track the progress of each product through the manufacturing process. This will help to ensure that all products are being made according to the same schedule and that they are all meeting the same high standards.
9. Monitor Utilization Rates
One way to increase productivity in manufacturing is to monitor utilization rates. Utilization rates refer to the amount of time that a machine or operator is actually working on producing products, versus the amount of time that could be spent working.
By monitoring utilization rates, you can identify areas where machines or operators are idle for long periods of time. Addressing these areas can help increase productivity by ensuring that machines and operators are being used as efficiently as possible.
There are a number of ways to monitor utilization rates. One common method is to use data from production tracking systems. These systems can provide detailed information on the amount of time that each machine or operator is in use.
Another method is to simply observe production operations and track utilization rates manually. This can be done by recording the start and end times for each task and then calculating the percentage of time that was actually spent working.
Once you have identified areas with low utilization rates, there are a number of ways to address them. One option is to rearrange the production process to make better use of available resources. Another option is to add additional resources, such as additional machines or operators, to increase capacity.
Ultimately, increasing productivity in manufacturing requires a holistic approach that considers all aspects of the production process. By monitoring utilization rates and taking steps to address areas of low utilization, you can help increase productivity and improve overall efficiency.
