Efficiency
and effectiveness are terms which will be known to any small, medium or large
business. Finding a balance
between the two
is
crucial for success and profitability. Without high-quality efficiency in
business, money can easily be wasted and time squandered. However, without
being effective, mistakes can be made and energy directed into the wrong tasks.
Without a healthy balance between the two, organisations can easily fail.
For
manufacturing, the speed of the production process is key and must always be a
priority. Without being efficient, profits can slip and clients may be let
down. Many new manufacturers simply don’t know how to make the most out of the
materials and space they have available to them. To give you a helping hand,
we’ve created a list of some tips which include using the right storage
solutions and embracing technology. Read on to find out more.
Storage Solutions Greatly Increase Efficiency
and, Therefore, Maximise Profit
Installing
the best storage solutions for your manufacturing business is vital for the
efficiency of your operations and, therefore, your bottom line. Manufacturing
businesses live or die by the quality of their efficiency and organisation, so
getting this right first time is critical. You should have a clearly defined
storage area, or areas, which help to keep production flowing.
First and
foremost, storage solutions, like industrial shelving and storage containers,
will help manage the transit of products through the manufacturing process.
Materials should be stored when they first arrive, then placed in another
storage solution after the first stage of manufacturing and so on until the
final product is ready when it will be stored again ready for delivery. The
organisational structure of this process hinges on having the right type of
storage for each step in the process and using it effectively.
As well as
being vital for the efficiency of the manufacturing process, storage solutions
can also increase workplace productivity. By reducing clutter in a factory or
warehouse, professional storage solutions provide a more work-friendly
environment. Similarly, the reduction of clutter will reduce the chance of
slips and trips and, therefore, reduce employee downtime.
Choosing The Right Location is Vital
Before you
start manufacturing, choosing the right location can have a huge impact on the
success, efficiency and profitability of your business. Finding an affordable
factory or warehouse is, of course, important, but price should not come above
suitability. Growing your manufacturing business, improving efficiency and
profitability relies heavily on having good-quality infrastructure.
You’ll need
to be near transport links to get your products to where they need to be and
for your raw materials to arrive in good time. As well as this, you should look
for a location which will have the kinds of people you need working for you.
Without these vital elements, your manufacturing business could stutter and
fail.
Once you
have an idea of the optimal location, you’ll then need to find the right
premises. Again, this choice is crucial and will depend on the type of product
you are manufacturing. If you require plenty of floor space to operate, this
must factor into the choice of premises. If you expect to grow and will require
storage solutions to accommodate that growth, then this should be factored in
so that you won’t have to relocate any time soon.
Embrace Technology
Improving
the technology on your factory floor can have a positive impact on efficiency
and revenue growth. By performing an audit on your current processes, you can
assess where you can tighten up your operation. This audit process will then
give you a clear picture of which technology might be suitable.
For example,
have you discovered that a lack of communication is hampering your
manufacturing and creating duplicate work? If so, a central communications hub
may help to reduce this issue. Has your review found that lots of time is being
spent on administrative duties? There is plenty of tech out there which can
automate many of these processes and, therefore, increase your productivity.
Hire The Right People To Work With
A business
in any industry is only ever as good as its employees, and that’s no different
for manufacturing. When going through the hiring process, you’ll need to keep a
keen eye on the skill and experience of candidates. You should be searching for
strong communications skills, the ability to think critically, technological
literacy and attention to detail. By ensuring you hire the best people, you’ll
naturally increase the productivity and efficiency of your business.
Plan Ahead
Having a
coherent and well-thought-out plan should be your very first step as a budding
manufacturer. Having a detailed road map for the direction of your business
will help you to identify everything you need. This plan can help you estimate
when you will reach a certain level of productivity and, therefore, have to
make changes to your factory to accommodate further demand. It will also help
you understand how many employees you can afford to hire and when you will
begin seeing a profit.
Being able
to estimate critical points in your business’ lifetime will ensure nothing
comes as a surprise. This foresight provides you with the ability to plan for
efficiency and productivity improvements when they are required later down the
line.
Have Enough Space To Expand
If you operate
your manufacturing business effectively, at some point, you’ll need to expand.
The more you expand your client base, the higher demand you will need to meet.
This means more machinery, more staff and more storage solutions. If you’ve
bought a facility which is ready-made for that expansion, you’ll save huge
amounts of money in the long run.
By planning
for expansion, you won’t need to go through a costly relocation and will be
able to seamlessly increase your production and remain competitive. Ensure you
have plenty of floor and vertical space. Vertical space can be exploited with
the installation of a mezzanine floor to maximise space.
Don’t Lean on One Supplier
Fostering
great relationships with suppliers is vital for any business. However, it’s
also important not to lean too heavily on one supplier. Having a network of
great suppliers will ensure that you are never left without raw materials.
Having a range of suppliers to turn to for different materials helps you
continue buying at the lowest price possible and future-proofs you if any of
your suppliers happen to go under. It’s important not to play them against each
other, but having access to a pool of suppliers will only ever be positive.
Have The Capacity For Further Productivity
Similarly to
having the space to expand your business, it’s also important to have
additional production capacity. If you get a huge order out of the blue, you
need to be able to deal with it. That means operating at under 100% capacity
for most of the time, which gives you that extra headroom when you need it.
Doing this means you won’t lose out on any contracts and can increase your
business efficiency.
Racking + Shelving: Affordable Storage
Solutions In Northern Ireland
Operating a
factory or warehouse can be a challenge, especially when the business is going
through a period of growth. Rather than being forced into a costly relocation,
installing intelligent storage solutions can save you time and money. Utilising
effective industrial shelving systems, like warehouse racking, will provide you
with additional space to manage growth.
Here at
Racking + Shelving, we’ve been providing professional storage solutions,
industrial shelving and storage cabinets to clients across Northern Ireland for
many years. As part of our service, we will visit your site to perform a survey
and examine ways in which we can help you optimise space, improve safety and
increase workplace productivity. Updating your storage solutions can help you
to achieve these goals and, ultimately, increase your revenue.
To find out
more, please feel free to contact us today. You can find us at 10
Fergusons Way,
Kilbegs Business Park, Kilbegs Road, Antrim,
Northern Ireland, BT41 4LZ. Alternatively, call us on 028 9442 9037 or email us
at
info@rslni.com.
