Believe it or not, there are multiple types of waste in manufacturing. There is the waste that we are all aware of, which is material waste, but there is also time waste which is a big factor in the production process. Waste can drive up the price of individual products, so here are three tips for reducing waste in manufacturing.
Top THREE tips for reducing waste in manufacturing
- Optimize your shop floor. First, you should optimize your shop floor. When you have a disorganized shop floor, it leads to missing and misplaced products. A disorganized shop does more than push up the cost of goods, it can also cause safety hazards for your workers.
- Stay on top of inventory. Next, it is important to keep up with the inventory. Inventory is more than just your finished products, it also includes your raw materials. If you’re not aware of your raw materials, you can end up with a material delay that postpones manufacturing for several weeks.
- Have a goal. Finally, you should have a goal. It is no secret that people are more inclined to accomplish a task if there is a goal attached to it, and reducing waste is no different. If you’re truly invested in reducing waste, then you should set a reasonable goal for the business and the team.
Waste is an unavoidable part of any manufacturing plan, and there is more than one type of waste. When we think of waste, we most often think about product waste or material waste, but time waste is very common in manufacturing. Three ways to reduce waste are optimizing your shop floor, staying on top of your inventory, and having a tangible goal.
Whether you already have a manufacturing plan or you’re just moving into the production phase of your product, the team of manufacturing experts at Alfred Manufacturing can help you optimize your production process and reduce waste anywhere you can.