Everyone dreams of the day when they see their products successfully manufactured and up on the shelves of a large retailer. You’ll need to know what you’re doing when it gets to that point. Else, your plant will be shut down pretty quickly. Here are eight easy ways to set up your manufacturing plant for success:
1. Complete a Site Survey
A site survey is a written report used to outline the current condition of a building or structure and identify any areas that may need improvement. When setting up your manufacturing plant, it’s essential to understand what equipment you have at your disposal, where you can find everything, and how much space you have for future growth.
Without this information, you’re likely to end up with some problems down the line. You’ll need to determine whether new equipment needs dedicated electrical circuits or if new spaces will be required for expansion.
2. Keep Maintenance Simple and Efficient
Suppose you don’t understand how something functions. You’ll need to fix it! No matter the size of your business, there is always room for improvement. Don’t let new problems arise because an old problem went unresolved. This includes first-time issues as well as ongoing issues.
For example, if replacing broken blades costs more than new blades, but they last twice as long or perform better, buy new ones!
3. Make Sure There Is Adequate Space for New Equipment
Are you currently running out of room? Are you finding it harder to find anything in your storage areas because items are so tightly packed? If so, then there might be an issue.
There must be room for growth and expansion when setting up a manufacturing plant. Not only that, but try not to crowd any congested area, or workers will have trouble managing the equipment.
4. Ensure Everything Is Easily Accessible
Just like having enough space for new equipment, make sure everyone in your team can access everything easily. The last thing you want is to let something small go unrepaired because it’s buried beneath other pieces of machinery or storage containers. Again, this can lead to more significant problems. Make sure to put specific equipment and tools on higher shelves and store heavy items closer to the floor.
5. Get the Right Equipment
When setting up a manufacturing plant, you need to purchase the right equipment. Don’t try to save a few dollars if it means sacrificing quality. You should also contact a custom metal fabrication company, so they can fabricate the equipment you need to maintain your manufacturing plant.
This will not only increase the safety of your workers, but it will make your equipment last longer. By customizing the equipment you need, it will be more ergonomically friendly and more efficient.
6. Separate Your Manufacturing Processes
To run a smooth-functioning manufacturing plant, you need to separate each process and ensure that items follow the correct path.
For example, say you’re working with dangerous chemicals and highly flammable liquids. You’ll have to ensure you separate and isolate these areas from work and storage spaces where anyone can wander in.
7. Manage Inventory Properly
Manufacturers typically carry fewer raw materials and supplies (parts and components) than other business types because these items vary in both size and quantity during the manufacturing process.
The retailer can purchase items in bulk quantities because they are not subject to the same fluctuations. Because of this, it’s essential to manage your inventory correctly by understanding what you have at all times and determining when it will run out.
8. Keep Material Handling Simple
Make sure workers have enough room to move around freely while also accessing materials as they’re needed easily. When setting up a manufacturing plant, there are two essential things to consider with material handling—where everything is located and how easy it is to get from one place to another.
A good rule of thumb is having enough space between shelves or storage areas that someone can walk through with an armful of materials. Ideally, there should be enough space for two people to walk through simultaneously. Another important thing to keep in mind is making sure workers can easily find what they need without digging or searching too much.
Creating a manufacturing plant is not an easy task. It requires careful planning and execution to make sure everything runs smoothly. By following the tips we’ve provided, you’re on your way to setting up a manufacturing plant that is efficient and safe for workers.