Production mistakes are costly time-drains, but avoidable with a little bit of thinking ahead. Make sure that you aren’t making any of these five errors that will hurt your plant’s profitability and reputation.
We’re not talking robots taking over. This will not be a Blade Runner-level replacement of your workforce (a recent study says only five percent of jobs in the current marketplace can be completely automated), but rather helpful robots that make jobs easier, quicker, and less labor-intensive.
Fewer worker’s comp claims = more productivity on your line
When your workers rely on automation to perform tasks that create or compound repetitive stress injuries, your line is happier, healthier, and ultimately more productive.
Efficient processes that can be easily replicated
Even your most dependable shift lead can’t produce the exact same results every time the way that a robotic application does. Use the available technology to create consistent finishing.
Swiftly turn around production
For large-scale production, robotic applications like deburring can create an incredible ROI. Learn more about robotic and manual deburring processes.
The question is not why, but how and how soon to implement robotic applications.
We’ve all had the gut-sinking moment when we realize that we’ve overlooked an essential piece of the production and it’s going to cost us. A lot. Avoid that feeling by understanding the root cause of common production delays and downfalls before they happen.
On the other hand, you can’t be too hard of the team. The key is a leadership style that elevates your team. Process, production time, and morale can all be improved with a little effort and investment in your people.
Here are three easy ways to start making your plant a place that people are excited to be part of:
You set the tone for everyone. If you take leadership of the environment you will start to see big improvements in morale, productivity, and commitment to the vision that positively affects your bottom line.
This is easier said than done. Once the weight of the bottleneck is off of your back and the time spent fixing it has passed, it is so tempting to move forward and say finito.
However, to prevent recurrences and ensure that your processes and people continue to perform at an optimal level it is critical to conduct a post-fix assessment.
You’ll want to track:
Making the proper assessment of your people and processes is a key advantage that many well-intentioned plant managers neglect. Keep on this one to stay ahead of the game and ensure that costly mistakes don’t repeat and eat away at your profit margins.
Aiming for zero defects seems like the ultimate goal in any manufacturing plant, not least of all automobile production. Unfortunately it is a mistake that will hurt your bottom line.
Here’s why it doesn’t work:
Keep your eye on continuous improvement metrics to move one sigma closer to perfect.