The industry of manufacturing has had a common theme throughout its history and that’s of constant improvement and innovation. Not many players in this industry continue to manufacture the same way as they did in their infancy years. This is due to the competitive nature of manufacturing.
To remain competitive, a firm must constantly adapt and innovate their practices to keep up with industry changes and consumer choice changes. Companies need to have tools that go beyond simple equipment. For example, investing in consistent and preemptive maintenance. Making regular maintenance part of your “toolbox” will save you money and headaches in the long run. Downtime due to equipment malfunction will drive any operations manager crazy but even more so when that hiccup could have been prevented.
Adopting new technologies will help you to stay ahead of the curve and allow you to do things like collect and analyze historical failure data, which forecasts when a failure is likely to happen. This type of forward thinking with the help of new technologies is the future. But new technology brings a host of changes and challenges that manufacturers must recognize. For example, increasing dependence on automation leads to the need for more skilled workers who understand these advanced systems. Integrated manufacturing systems today require a multitude of highly specialized capabilities. An emphasis on training equips your staff with the skills these systems require. For more ideas, check out this infographic containing important concepts manufacturers can use to boost their production and stay competitive!
