Although the US economy is dominated by services, the country is still a global manufacturing juggernaut. Manufacturing in the US is a $2 trillion a year industry, employing millions and producing goods that are used in virtually every country.
While big names such as General Motors and Boeing tend to hog all of the attention, much of the US manufacturing sector is driven by small businesses, who are essential to the manufacturing process.
If you are a small manufacturing company owner, you will know that razor-thin margins are par for the course. That’s why it is essential to do whatever you can to increase manufacturing efficiency.
Here are five tried and tested ways of doing just that.
1. Data Is Everything
When trying to boost manufacturing productivity, you need the right amount of data at your fingertips. Setting up a system to rigorously collect business intelligence (BI) data will help you see exactly where you are doing wrong and what you are doing right.
You can track inefficiencies in supply chains. You can keep a record of waste. You can monitor worker output.
Data will help your company become a well-oiled machine.
2. Establish Strict Quality Controls
One of the most important manufacturing business tips we can offer is to ensure that you have thorough quality controls in place. This means thoroughly checking and testing products and processes before anything reaches your customers.
It also means testing the workflow of your site to make sure nothing is going wrong under the radar. Without quality controls, the competition will beat you.
3. Streamline Workflows with New Technologies
The fastest-growing manufacturing companies today are those that are embracing emerging technologies to eliminate inefficiencies. There are countless examples to choose from, but one of the most important technologies in manufacturing right now is augmented reality.
With AR you can give workers hands-free, risk-free work experience to perfect their manufacturing tasks without any wastage. This potential for productivity gains is immense.
4. Eliminate Waste From the Manufacturing Process
One of the biggest costs for manufacturing businesses today is waste management, storage, and disposal. That’s why you should be doing everything you can to minimize waste and maximize the use of resources.
As mentioned, data can help you out a lot here, but so can simply teaching your workers the best practices for reducing waste. What’s more, a low-waste approach is always good PR for any company in 2020.
5. Tighten Your Supply Chains
If you’re looking for useful manufacturing tips, look at your supply chain. Most manufacturing businesses live or die by their supply chain, which is why yours should be as efficient as possible. Conduct a thorough review of your supply chain.
Check and see if there are unnecessary middlemen that can be cut out or any processes that can be done in-house. Look for suppliers closer to home. These tiny steps can make a massive difference.
What Comes Next?
For any manufacturing process, efficiency is always the key to success. However, even the world’s most efficient manufacturer will not succeed if it cannot engage its target audience.
That is why it is crucial that manufacturers do not forget the importance of marketing. For this, we are here to help. Make sure to check out our Advertising section today to learn more about how you should be targeting customers in 2020.