Top tips to increase your company's yield

Through the last century, manufacturing processes were transformed with the rise of the factory and, in particular, machine production facilities. Now, as we near the end of the first quarter of the 21st century, manufacturing and production are again being overhauled, this time through the rise of automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

Nonetheless, while computers and autonomous production systems are making a significant impact on companies' output, there are still some basic rules you should follow to maintain the highest levels of efficiency in your manufacturing business. Here are just a few ideas to improve your company's productivity.

Start at the beginning and review your processes 

Time is money, and the more products you can produce in a given time, the greater your efficiency will be. Rather than just assuming your current processes are the best they can be, take some time out to review them.

A great way to do this is by speaking to the employees on the ground to pick their brains and get ideas where they might see room for improvement. After all, as a manager/business owner, you likely don't spend much time actually on the work-floor, so be sure to listen to your staff's ideas – the ones actually doing the job. Alternatively, if you don't have time, consider bringing in a warehouse consulting firm to liaise with your staff and identify potential problem areas. Common points of concern include:

·       Staff: Are you using the best skills of your staff in the best places?

·       Equipment: Do you need to update or replace tools of equipment used by your team?

·       Processes: Are there areas where you could improve efficiency and reduce waste/downtime?

Integrate more with technology 

If you haven't already, look at integrating more technology into your facilities. AI and automation are revolutionizing manufacturing and can massively reduce your overhead. Any time-consuming, repetitive tasks currently handled manually by humans could be automated to reduce errors and production time. Also, think about using software for similar repetitive tasks in the office environment to free up both time and resources.

Check staff training and education

It is vital your staff fully understand what's expected of them – both from a safety and manufacturing point of view – so be sure that all workers are adequately trained. When hiring new employees, put them on a training course to bring them up to speed and check existing personnel's knowledge of procedures. Also, if you install new equipment, ensure your entire workforce is appropriately trained in its use.

Establish a maintenance schedule

Downtime, through maintenance, may seem like a huge waste of time, but it is considerably easier to fix small errors as they occur than wait for the machinery to develop a fatal fault. Agree on a regular maintenance schedule with your staff to stay on top of any developing issues and avoid a complete shutdown. There is a reason people say, "A stitch in time saves nine," – commit to regular care and upkeep of your equipment and machinery.