There’s no denying the fact that the production of goods has become increasingly more high-pressure due to a significant increase in consumer demand. In manufacturing we are continuously looking to extract more output from less input, to ensure businesses can maintain production and improve efficiency simultaneously. Let’s take a look at how your manufacturing business can do more, with less.
Increased consumer demand
From advancing innovation in sustainable energy forms, to optimising the weekly food shop, it has become ever more essential throughout most walks of life that we improve efficiency. The ever-increasing challenges faced domestically and internationally have culminated in the perfect economic storm where we are battling to maintain an equilibrium.
A change is needed now
Consumer demand has remained strong, as has the desire for product variety and flexible services on-demand. Producers of goods are needing to rapidly respond to the changing landscape of higher operating and material costs, and a reduced labour pool all whilst working to improve efficiency. Innovating with technology and investing in flexible manufacturing solutions are mid to long-term strategies that will materialise at some point in the future.
But, what is essential and clear from our engagements with manufacturers in all sectors is that a steep change is needed now. They cannot remain competitive or even maintain the status quo with more costs and less assets, particularly in low margin product segments.
The urgency to automate processes, invest in equipment, and to reduce labour and cost are the typical reactionary responses we have seen. The issue is that investing again takes time; when the lead-times on equipment hardware is extended, as we are currently seeing, we understand this is not really an option for most businesses that are dedicated to improving efficiency without it costing an arm and a leg and lengthy wait times.
Working with what you have
Working with what you have, and influencing what you can manage, is the fastest way to impact margins and mitigate the external effects. Optimising processes doesn’t necessarily require investing capital, or redesigning control systems, it can be a simple organisational change that improves efficiency.
The first stage of improving efficiency is to understand the current state, begin to identify constraints, and work to remove these and sustain the gains.
At Gemba we have been providing valuable insight on production process constraints, to help improve efficiency in the manufacturing world and encourage continuous improvements for over 20 years. Now has never been a more urgent time to release hidden capacity and reduce the cost of manufacturing for businesses, in order to keep up with consumer demand and continue to improve efficiency in all manufacturing areas.
Do you work in the manufacturing industry and want to improve efficiency without breaking the bank? Get in contact with us to begin your continuous improvement journey.