In today’s manufacturing industry, efficiency is critical to being profitable. Every second you can save in manufacturing time helps your bottom line. One of the most important things you can do to increase your company’s productivity level is to continually review your manufacturing processes for ways to increase efficiency. You may be able to automate processes you never considered. Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Review processes for those you think could be automated. Think outside the box, and create a “wish list”. Even if you believe only part of the process could be automated, or if the automation would still require human assistance, it may be a candidate for automation.
- Once you have a list of processes that might be able to be automated, take a stab at how you think the new process might work, including what a machine would do, if that machine existed.
- Take your ideas to a machine manufacturing company. Companies like this specialize in creating a machine from concept to production, helping you to automate your process.
- The machine manufacturing company will work with your ideas and come up with an exact design to meet your process needs. Once the design is complete, you’ll get a feel for how much the machine will cost, how it will work, and how much it will increase your line’s efficiency. At this point, you have enough information to make a good decision about whether or not investing in the machine makes good business sense. You may be surprised at how a very small upfront machine investment can pay for itself in automation efficiencies.
- If you decide that building a new machine is right for your company, the machine manufacturer can put the design in production and build it for you. The company works as your partner in ensuring the machine meets the required specifications and performs as described. While the machine is being built and tested, you’ll have time to update your procedures and processes to be ready for its introduction.
When you can implement a custom machine that increases your line’s productivity, you leap far ahead of your competition in terms of being able to produce your product more quickly and less expensively. This can revolutionize your bottom line and your reputation in your industry.
Want to see how the process works? Contact a machine manufacturing company to get your ideas turned into designs that make your manufacturing line hum with efficiency.