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A lot of manufacturers and warehouse operators think that as long as their products are shipped on time and the customers stay happy, their operation is as efficient as it needs to be. However, this isn’t always the case! Most industrial businesses could use some form of reorganization to improve efficiency, and yours may well be one of them. If you’re wondering how your industrial business can be pushed to its full potential, here are some great tips for improving the efficiency of your operation.
Profile Your Orders
Like pretty much every other industrial venture, the demand on your business is probably going to change with the seasons. Because of this, you should take the time to re-slot your factory or warehouse to accommodate for the constantly changing model of your business. After achieving a system that’s performing as efficiently as possible, you should establish a routine evaluation that happens at least twice per year. This will ensure that the materials necessary for all your most pressing orders are where they should be, minimizing any unnecessary travel time or other work you were previously relying on. Using a reputable warehouse management system such as this: http://www.theaccessgroup.com/ can be a big help here. Many of these programs come with a dynamic “slotting” feature designed to maximize productivity.
Evaluate your Storage Equipment and Ensure It’s Being Used Properly
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The storage equipment you use for your industrial operation might seem like something so basic that it couldn’t possibly hold any real sway over your productivity. However, if you’re not applying all the resources you have in the best possible way, you could be cheating yourself big time! For example, placing slow-moving and low-cube items in bin shelving, while keeping your faster-moving items in pallet and carton flow, can really improve storage density and worker productivity. Take a walk around your factory floor, and think about how efficiently your storage equipment is being used. If anything could be utilized better, make those changes as soon as possible.
Create a More Productive Atmosphere
Of course, no matter how many technical things you change around, no business is going to reach its maximum productivity if the workforce is resenting every minute they have to spend there! Your efficiency is going to hinge heavily on your employees, and their work is going to hinge heavily on their mood. Make sure everyone has enough room to work in, has all the equipment they need, and that their environment is as pleasant and comfortable as you can achieve. If the guys in your head office are being distracted by all the noise, get some acoustic curtains from a supplier like this: www.amcraftindustrialcurtainwall.com/products/acoustic-curtains/ . If you’re not seeing many smiles around the factory floor, think about creating a more pleasant rest area for your workers. There are all kinds of little changes you can make to create a more productive atmosphere. This may not be your most pressing concern, and it’s true that there’s no real way to measure employee engagement. However, a more pleasant working atmosphere can’t hurt!