“Time is money”, as the old saying goes. In the world of the manufacturing industry, the more production you can press out in a given time, the more income you generate. In the same vein, efficiency in operation is good for your business. Streamlined and optimized process efficiency gives out several advantages over “business as usual.”
To a much larger extent, improved manufacturing efficiency is cost-efficient, helps improve product output, and reduces environmental impact. These immediate advantages further lead to additional advantages in the long run, including boosting sales revenue and brand awareness.
Delving further to the definition of manufacturing efficiency, comparing it with manufacturing productivity fosters not only a deeper understanding of how these two concepts are interrelated, but also gives us some idea of how we can improve our manufacturing business.
Manufacturing Efficiency vs Manufacturing Productivity
Efficiency and productivity are two important ideas in the manufacturing industry that are often used synonymously and even misconstrued. Indeed, they both refer to the enhancement of the operation process of a company, may it be manufacturing or service.
In the manufacturing perspective, productivity refers to the ratio between output and input in the creation of a product. It is concerned with how much product the company can produce at a given time. Quantity, not quality is the vantage point of manufacturing productivity.
On the other hand, manufacturing efficiency means the performance level of the business concerning the effectiveness of the manufacturing process in creating the product without material, time, and energy wastage. The quality of the production process is the concern of manufacturing efficiency.
Striking a balance between productivity and efficiency is necessary for the success of your manufacturing company. Overemphasizing one aspect over the other is a risky business. ;
While focusing on productivity helps churn out more than enough products in a short period, it runs the risk of producing poor quality items. This would likely result in your business losing money and trust from customers. But, overstressing manufacturing efficiency also offers the risk of your employees and staff becoming stressed and anxious at work for the fear of losing their jobs.
The most practical solution to address this manufacturing company dilemma is to figure out strategies that would help boost output at the same time boost employee morale. When you try to harmonize productivity and efficiency, your business will see how production quality and quantity improves.
Ways to Improve Efficiency in Manufacturing Operation
Mitigate Material Wastage
Wastage may refer to several business aspects. It may mean energy, materials, time, and space. Although it is unavoidable in whatever industry, diminishing it to the maximum is the aim of companies.
In the manufacturing business, material wastage makes up for the biggest and most expensive form of waste. Nonetheless, these are some tips to curb out wastage:
- Focusing on design
- Recycling scraps and factory returns
- Maximizing the process to make use of all available materials
Employee Training
Another tip to improve manufacturing process efficiency is to have a team among your employees who are trained in multiple processes involving the latest technological trends. Or even better, have all your employees take part in practical and theoretical manufacturing process training.
That way, everyone on the manufacturing floor can act as a substitute, provide relief during repetitive tasks, and assist with troubleshooting. Furthermore, with this training, employees would have a better understanding of their roles which would help them improve their performance.
Standardize Work
In the manufacturing business, having standardized procedures for performing tasks is essential to achieve maximum production efficiency. An accurate approach in manufacturing enables your company to decrease downtime and boost product quality.
To achieve this, have to summarize your employees’ take on these procedures and narrow down the most practical approach to follow. Create a checklist of the processing standards and have your employees strictly adhere to these steps to ensure uniformity of the performance approach.
Actively Manage Equipment Failures
Do not wait before your manufacturing equipment breaks down or becomes unserviceable. Be proactive in carrying out preventive maintenance. Not only will it ward off considerable depreciation of your machinery, but it helps avoid the manufacturing process stoppage due to unforeseen breakdown.
Ascertain previous maintenance issues of your equipment. Consider as well as purchasing electronic manufacturing equipment for sale online even before your tools show signs of replacement. That way, any downtime for tool replacement would not be prolonged.
Keep It Organized
Having no organization in the workplace can result in loss of time, money, and even workforce. By properly and neatly arranging tools, materials, parts, and instructions on your manufacturing floor, you can ensure a more streamlined workflow.
Following these suggestions and also improving your communication level with your employees will surely result in an optimized manufacturing efficiency, which would further result in the overall success of your business.
