Productivity is a key factor in determining the profitability and competitiveness of an industry. Whether your company has small-scale production with only one or two employees or has productivity that can rely on several hundred workers, staying competitive has become more of a necessity than a luxury.
Being competitive in the global marketplace is not just about limited profitability, but can make or break your business if you don’t find ways to stand out from the crowd. To achieve this, improving your production quantity and, more importantly, your production quality, is paramount.
In this article, our machining experts propose several solutions to improve your company’s manufacturing quality.
How to measure manufacturing productivity
A company’s productivity depends on its ability to transform its inputs (labor, supplies, capital) into outputs (products, goods and services). The ratio of these elements provides two essential statistics to know and analyze: quantity and speed of production.
If you want to measure how productive your plant is, there are a few things you need to determine beforehand:
- The amount of work (or product) an employee should produce
- The number of production hours and the quantity of goods produced by a machine
Once you have collected this data, you can compare it to your actual numbers. If you see discrepancies, your production processes are not optimal.
Here are 5 ways to improve the quality of your manufacturing as well as the quantity.
5 ways to improve manufacturing quality
As an industrial machining and machine repair company, we also need to improve our production processes to satisfy our customers. If you want to know how we have improved the quality of manufacturing in our factory, read on!
1. Improve employee training
When employees are not properly trained, they may lack the skills and expertise to make improvements at their workstations. In addition, poorly trained employees can create delays in production because they do not understand the entire production process being implemented.
A focus on employee training to make positive changes in the manufacturing process is essential to optimizing your company’s performance and productivity.
The best way to improve manufacturing quality is to make sure your employees go beyond the basics of their jobs. If you want a productive workforce, provide them with knowledge and educate them about their daily targets!
2. Reduce machine downtime
One of the easiest ways to increase production and improve output is to keep all of your machines in constant working order. In addition to keeping them in working order, they need to be in optimal condition.
Planning the maintenance of your industrial equipment will reduce the downtime of your machines. Tools that are in good condition can further improve the quantity and quality of your plant’s production, while running for a longer period of time.
Do not assume that the more you space out maintenance, the more productive you will be. The result will eventually be the opposite extreme. To avoid this, train operators in maintenance procedures and contact an equipment refurbishment company.
3. Improve your plant automation
The third action we implemented to improve our manufacturing quality is to integrate automation in our workshop. Even the most skilled employees can get burned out, reducing the overall productivity of your company. The proper use of automation systems can greatly increase your production.
The development of Industry 4.0 and artificial intelligence in the factory contributes to increasing the productivity of industrial businesses. Augmented reality in the factory reduces the time and cost of training and facilitates knowledge management and transfer. Employees are then able to increase their skills more quickly.
Implementing new technologies in your plant will allow you to automate repetitive tasks and save time on them. In addition, you will have an accurate, real-time overview of your workflows. Your teams will stay organized and focused on their work, as the average employee spends 1.8 hours a day searching for and collecting information.
4. Analyze and optimize your production processes
A review of all your production processes is essential to increasing your plant’s productivity. This analysis will help identify crucial areas for improvement. Process optimization must be a continuous process to remain competitive at all times.
To start improving manufacturing quality, take a look at your existing workflow. If you want to make improvements, it is imperative that you know exactly how your shop floor works. Having a clear understanding of where you are and where your problems lie will help you make meaningful optimizations.
The goal of this step is to make effective changes that will have a lasting impact and help you increase your productivity. To do this, it is essential to know where you currently stand.
5. Take your time
Increasing productivity is all about making the most of the time and efficiency of your employees and machines. As with any task, if you rush to improve your results, it will hurt your overall efficiency and the effectiveness of your employees.
To improve your processes and production, you should consider more than just how many more goods or services you have produced. Quality should always be a priority! With more skilled employees and more efficient machines, you can reduce the error and scrap rate. Take the time to implement the new processes and you will improve your chances of success!
Increasing and improving production: a challenge that HARtech knows well
In an ever-changing marketplace, companies are constantly looking for new ways to improve performance and reduce costs. With new digital solutions, it is easier than ever to identify areas for improvement and implement measures that will increase productivity.
To help you in this process, HARtech offers you its expertise and experience in industrial mechanics. Contact us now if you would like to speak to one of our experts!
