If you’re a production manager at a steel construction company, increasing production efficiency is always a key goal. It’s a big challenge too. As a production manager, you supervise the entire chain of internal production processes involved. Often that means that you are tied to strict deadlines. At the same time, current market trends including stricter requirements for lean production and the increased digitalization of processes continue to put even more pressure on production departments, and you.
The direct effects on your company (and you) are multiple; from the undesirable situation of having to lay off staff, and worse yet, the risk of losing customers and profit.
In this article you’ll find out:
- How the US welding industry may face a shortage of as many as 400,000 welders;
- What to do in case you’re forced to lay off much of your staff!
- How to stay in control of what’s happening in your production department;
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Eight techniques for improving production department efficiency
The US welding industry may face a shortage of 400,000 welders
Market trends compel efficiency in the internal production process
Don’t wait until you’ve been forced to lay off half of your staff!
Factors negatively affecting the company and its production department
The inability to respond to evolving market trends can directly lead to production department inefficiency at steel fabrication companies. The following trends represent only a few of the negative side effects for production departments:
- Inability to meet production objectives and quality standards
- Losing competitive edge by not being able to meet quality standards
- Dealing with more frequent logistical problems
- Higher risk of losing customers
- Losing profit or risk laying off staff
- Inability to cost effectivity manufacture extraordinary structures because of staff limitations
Stay in control of what’s happening at your production department
Factors negatively affecting the production manager
In your role as production manager, you probably supervise the entire chain of internal production processes involved. That is why increasingly changing market demands affect you directly. Fast paced changes can result in not meeting your goals and objectives along with not meeting tough deadlines. In addition, this often results in constant feelings of frustration and worries about both the success of the project and the future of the department staff. Other sources of frustration arise from feeling not being in control anymore. Then, frequently having to bring updates on unsuccessful project developments to the top management adds more frustration. If not handled in a timely manner, this can escalate to a complete loss of motivation and dedication to your work.
8 Techniques for improving your production department efficiency
How to successfully deal with the factors decreasing production efficiency
How do you stay flexible and adaptive to ever-increasing market demands? How can you ensure efficiency of the production process? How do you stay innovative and ahead of competition? Is the solution solely your responsibility as production manager?
There are 8 techniques that can minimise the effect of problematic market trends. These techniques will help you improve your company’s fabrication process:
- Digitalize your workflow
- Reduce grinding to a minimum
- Reduce welding volume
- Eliminate heavy physical labour
- Increase cutting accuracy
- Safeguard your know-how
- Make sure your processes meet certification requirements
- Eliminate human error
Are the answers found in automated welding?
Although automated welding is often one of the first solutions production managers think of, it is often not the first step to take in solving market challenges. In fact, you can postpone the investment in automated welding solutions if you follow the eight techniques above.
