In many manufacturing plants, a parts room occupies considerable space, uses non-value-added staff and takes employees away from their jobs to get the supplies they need. Is there a more-efficient setup? Some plants are switching to satellite stocking programs to be more nimble and cost effective.
In the News
Thursday, December 17, 2020
There's no doubt about it: Business has gone international. New electronic and logistical technologies have narrowed distance and time, and trade agreements have opened markets. And manufacturers are in a good position to venture into the business of exporting.
Thursday, December 3, 2020
Peak production season can be a nightmare. It's the time you need all employees to show up consistently and pull their weight. But reality is often far removed from the ideal.
Thursday, November 19, 2020
As manufacturers look for opportunities to cut costs, equipment downtime is an important area to address. A breakdown, even for just an hour, reverberates through the manufacturing process. It can slow or halt production, leave employees idle, and play havoc with just-in-time delivery schedules.
Thursday, November 5, 2020
You spend a great deal of time and money developing unique ideas, products and services. But the more people who know about your plans, the more you risk losing your secrets. To help protect vital intellectual property assets, it's important to require confidentiality agreements.
Thursday, October 22, 2020
Safety First" should be your corporate mantra. Focusing on the safety of your products as you make them can help avoid complaints and litigation, give you a marketing edge and raise the bar for other manufacturers, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Thursday, October 8, 2020
The term "lean manufacturing" means different things to different people. However, it can generally be agreed upon that lean manufacturing represents a management philosophy that emphasizes the elimination or reduction of waste in order to increase company profitability. In other words, doing more with less.
Thursday, September 24, 2020
Idle machines, production bottlenecks, equipment breakdowns, absent employees, new orders — these are just some factors that can disrupt production and eat into your company's profit.
Thursday, September 10, 2020
Let's say your company has slashed costs to the bone, boosted productivity and taken market share from competitors. But you still want to see some improvement. It's time to find your weakest link and turn it into a strength.
Thursday, August 27, 2020
Internal fraud drains approximately $4.5 trillion dollars annually from global businesses, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). According to ACFE's latest Report to the Nations, the median internal fraud loss in manufacturing and production companies is $198,000.
