3 Ways to Save Time and Money in the Manufacturing Industry

Keeping a manufacturing business afloat in the current financial climate is tough, with an economy only beginning to recover and intense international competition due to allure of cheap overseas outsourcing, it is more important than ever to keep prices competitive without compromising on quality.

In order to achieve this and to keep running a profitable operation, it is essential that time and money are both used efficiently. If approaches that accomplished this were widely adopted throughout the industry, it could help manufacturing thrive and create more job opportunities; even if they are more likely to be jobs requiring technical skills rather than labor (due to advances in technology shifting the landscape of the manufacturing market). Here are some methods that can help save time and money in the manufacturing industry:

Establishing a Management System

There are various ways to manage operations within a manufacturing company, but one of the most widely recognized and reputable routes is to gain an ISO 9001 certification. This enables you to create a Quality Management System which can benefit your operations in many ways.

This certification is particularly popular and widely utilized in the manufacturing industry. For instance QMS International Plc, specialists in ISO certification, found when surveying their ISO 9001 certified clients, that what the industry majority (38.03%) worked in was engineering, manufacturing or supply.  In fact, sometimes being ISO certified can be a prerequisite for trade.

The standard actually has its roots in the manufacturing industry; being established by the Ministry of Defense in the Second World War to help systemize the manufacturing of military equipment. It has since undergone numerous incarnations and is now been refined into the ISO 9001. Whilst initially setting up a Quality Management System can be time consuming, once the procedures are in place, it effectively manages itself- regular evaluations of procedures are incorporated as part of the management system. These evaluations help to clearly identify what’s working and what isn’t - thus the given approach of a manufacturing company is continually being updated and improved.

Initially examining current operations allows a company to streamline their procedures and identify areas for improvement. Organizations often find that there is a more efficient use of time and resources once the system is in place, thereby saving time and money.

Preventative Maintenance/Routinely Checking Equipment

Thermal imaging cameras use infrared radiation in order to produce a visual representation of thermal energy of a given object or set of objects. This technology is incredibly useful for the manufacturing industry because it can help with preventative maintenance.

Simply viewing electrical equipment with a thermal imaging camera can instantly diagnose whether it’s functioning properly. A small issue with machinery can be identified and fixed before it has a chance to cause other problems within the system. Thermal Imaging is so apt for this purpose because electrical and mechanical equipment will often change temperature before system failures.

If a problem is detected early and pre-emptively repaired then productivity and time are saved compared to if the machinery had completely broken. Furthermore this can mean equipment lasts longer because it has improved upkeep. 

What’s more, ensuring manufacturing equipment is functioning properly could also help to prevent an accident in the workplace and. if one were to occur, regular checks will mean that a company will be less likely to be liable for any damage or injury caused.

If companies spend a bit of money on a thermal imaging camera or someone to assess equipment, they can save money in the long term. There are various places to rent a thermal imaging camera, which can be a more cost effective option than purchasing one, although it depends on how frequently these assessments are run.

Incorporating relevant software into your Manufacturing Process

Advances in technology are fast reshaping the landscape of the manufacturing industry; the range of software available to aid processes is growing and helping to make manufacturing more efficient and productive. This kind of software can be incorporated at various levels of a manufacturing organization:

Design Software - This can help at the product design stage to enable quicker analysis of functionality, providing optimization through digital simulation and visualization – the product can be easily digitally reviewed and assessed before it’s even created. Similar technology can be utilized when planning production in general; factories as a whole or even equipment individually can be designed digitally and simulated to assess speed, cost, productivity and energy consumption of the set up. This allows for speedy trials of various set-ups to find the optimum one for an individual company’s manufacturing needs.

Management Software - There is also software which can coordinate and control automated components from one source, making operations more unified and easier to manage. If an organization can integrate digital management into part of their manufacturing system then it can often help to minimize human error and streamline procedures.

Monitoring Software - Another kind of software which can be indispensable to manufactures is that which monitors performance. This can be useful both in terms of managing production in the short term and understanding areas for improvement in the long term. When everything is digitally assessed and recorded it becomes abundantly clear which areas need to be altered to minimize loss of time and money - this can be great for informing areas for the constant improvement required in becoming ISO 9001 certified. Whilst initially there can be some cost involved in purchasing this kind of technology, it can soon pay for itself in terms of increased efficiency and reduced costs.

Image: "Manufacturing at Night" by jblaha on Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0