Get Efficient!
Industries across the globe rely on the efficiency of their manufacturing processes to create high quality parts and stay profitable. There is no longer room for broken machines, unmotivated employees, or disorganized processes – all which ultimately result in low profits and failing parts. Manufacturing efficiency is critical and it can always be improved upon.
According to the 2016 Capital Spending Survey & Forecast conducted by Gardner Research, U.S. manufacturers will spend $6.2 billion on new tooling and workholding. They identified a few of the top spending industries as job shops, machinery/equipment and automotive, aerospace and industrial components. Generally, tooling and workholding is where companies look first to improve efficiency and productivity.
Efficiency is a common buzzword and often can be a little overwhelming when you get ready to really start evaluating your own business. Here are a few basic things to keep in mind as you start down that road.
- Know your product, and make sure everybody in your company knows the product. Manufacturing efficiency starts with well-trained individuals throughout the entire company. A booklet can only teach someone so much, but hands-on training can speed up the learning process. Gagemaker’s interactive certification classes focus on the how and why of thread inspections. The hands-on approach is vital because using real gages on real parts guarantees the most effective training experience.
- Cut down on waste. Every unfinished product loses money, and you can’t afford to just accept that it’s bound to happen. So when a shop realizes that about 30% of their scrap is due to threading error, it’s critical that they take action immediately. Quality control and precise thread inspection is imperative and Gagemaker can help you inspect a variety of diameters, thread types, forms & sizes. You’ll immediately cut down on waste and rest easier because you’re consistently producing high quality parts.
- Troubleshoot machines before they have a chance to break. Trust the employees that use these machines and know how they work, and pay attention to the signs that something might be wrong. It’s easier to keep something running than to get it back running after it has stopped working completely.
- Reduce the amount of downtime involved in your manufacturing process. If employees are trained to do multiple tasks, it makes them more valuable. Know what can go wrong ahead of time, such as a malfunctioning machine, and have an immediate plan to fix it. With every minute production stops, you’re losing money.
- Maximize space. The time your employees spend walking from one area to another every day decreases the efficiency levels of the manufacturing process. Cut back on the amount of steps your employees take each day by putting commonly used equipment and machines closer together.
- Get your managers on the same page when implementing any new policies or procedures to help encourage efficiency. Hold a training session just for your managers and supervisors, and make it clear what the problem is and how to help fix it.
The more expensive and inefficient your manufacturing process is the higher the cost of making your parts. Manufacturers must constantly evaluate themselves to increase efficiency and constantly strive to maintain high quality standards. Gagemaker has helped companies around the world become a much more efficient organization by simply establishing well documented product quality programs. Contact Gagemaker today to discuss how our experts can help you!
Trade in Your Broken Indicators!
Have some broken dial indicators that need replacing? Well, Gagemaker has a “Trade-In Program” for any brand of obsolete, broken, or unwanted dial indicators that will be perfect for you.
Basically, you send your broken indicator to us to evaluate the damage and determine the most effective and efficient solution (repair or discounted replacement) for you.