If you work in the manufacturing industry, you would know how much of a threat downtime is. If one area of a manufacturing plant backs up, it can derail the rest of the areas waiting for the completion of prior processes to deliver the necessary parts to them. The longer it takes to complete a process and finish a product, the more money it costs to deliver those products promptly. It’s necessary to reduce the amount of time that it takes for machines and people to be idle Here’s how to cut down on downtime in manufacturing:
Update your manufacturing equipment
Outdated equipment can severely slow down the manufacturing process. That’s why it’s important to replace obsolete equipment as soon as possible. This can improve the speed and performance of the machine, thus reducing potential manufacturing downtime. Install new equipment with the latest technologies which can also increase productivity. Take, for example, a busbar bending and punching machine which combines two common manufacturing applications into one. All you have to do is change certain components to switch from bending to punching effortlessly. Machines that can do two things at once can significantly expedite the process.
Improve communication between staff
Managers and employees should be able to relay information to each other quickly and efficiently in order to reduce downtime and confusion. Managers should strive to keep employees happy and engaged since that is key to increased productivity. Motivated employees are known to do a better job of working hard towards the goal to work quickly and reduce downtime.
Set attainable goals
Daily and quarterly incentives and goals can encourage people to improve productivity and reduce the likelihood of errors. This can lead to a significant reduction in downtime. Motivated employees who work with a single purpose in mind are more efficient and productive. This can increase morale and speed.
Arrange regular staff evaluations
Hold meetings and evaluations with your staff to get their opinion on what can be done to reduce downtime and to help them work more efficiently. You won’t know what problems your manufacturing plant has unless you actually work there day in and day out, which is what your employees do. They can be honest and straightforward, and provide you with the feedback you need to improve operations. This is also good for morale and keeps employees motivated.
Schedule regular equipment maintenance
Equipment that frequently breaks down or jams can cause significant downtime and can throw off the entire plants’ schedule. You should schedule regular monitoring, inspecting, updating, and repairing manufacturing equipment to make sure it doesn’t happen often. This will also allow for your machines to operate at maximum capacity for as long as possible. You’ll also be able to cut down on maintenance costs in the long run.
Track downtime meticulously
When you know when, where, and how downtime occurs, you’re better equipped with knowing how to prevent it from happening again. You should keep track of exactly when and where downtime occurs. You may do this manually, or you can use automatic trackers that are able to detect downtime immediately. Alerts will let you know what’s happening and where the issue occurred.
Keep everything running smoothly in your manufacturing plant and reduce downtime by following these simple yet effective tips.
