Tag Archives: Operational Efficiency

Warehouse operations are critical to any manufacturing business. From holding inventory to delivering items, the process must be as swift and efficient as possible. Earlier practices such as document management and communication have been a significant step, but growth and progression in the supply chain call for more.

The rise of the Internet has been a key event in improving warehouse operations. As technology progresses, there are even more ways to optimize the supply chain, and ensure every item or employee is included.

The Need to Streamline Warehouse Operations

Warehouse operations offer many opportunities for error while meeting tight deadlines. Brand owners must recognize these areas for improvement and see what can be done to reduce mistakes. Streamlining translates to more accurate and faster processing, which equates to higher customer satisfaction.

Warehouse operational efficiency also translates to long-term time and cost savings. Next-gen technology can streamline warehouse operations using fewer minutes and dollars resulting in increased productivity.

Remember to include workers when integrating these new electronics. Forty-two percent of workers fear job loss from automation and new technologies. However, the reality is humans are responsible for tool management and strategy execution. Train them to work with these items rather than against them.

Vital Next-Gen Technologies in the Warehouse

Some facilities may incorporate multiple next-gen technologies, while others only incorporate one. The most important factor is to assess what works best for a specific set of operations and makes sense investment-wise.

Automation and Robotics

Certain warehouse operations are rather repetitive. It can be the same cycle of picking out a product, packing it, adding a shipping label and sending it off. Automating these processes with robots can take care of these mundane tasks, shifting focus to more pressing concerns in the facility.

Smaller establishments can still find ways to introduce automation. For example, installations like conveyor belts move items along the facility. Automated labeling machines can transfer the necessary information.

Certain equipment can also improve staff safety. For example, about 70 worker fatalities occurred in forklift-related accidents across different sectors. Self-operating forklifts simplify warehouse transportation and prevent hazardous contact.

Blockchain Technologies

Blockchain technology is a key database streamlining data storage and information sharing. Warehouse management entails plenty of information about product quantity and delivery. Many parties — like suppliers, manufacturers and distributors — are involved.

The blockchain ensures information is accessible and interconnected. What’s ideal about this next-gen ledger tech is it keeps data under wraps. Each block is secure in nature because it requires verification and permission.

Thus, blockchain technology is ideal for various financial transactions. If a distributor pays a manufacturer for production, they should process the transaction through this network. It has a suitable layer of encryption while executing those actions.

Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a flexible alternative to blockchain technology. By employing this network, a warehouse can generate connections between products and machines through sensors and software. If one product is removed, the system will detect it and send an update.

The IoT enables warehouses to receive real-time data about the movement of their shipments. This cuts down the slower steps in inventory management and prompts communication between devices so all parties in the supply chain can stay up to date.

It is possible to fuse both next-gen technologies in warehouse operations. The blockchain establishes trust, while the IoT improves connectivity, refining the process of sharing information among multiple parties.

Artificial Intelligence

Multiple industries are utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) in business processes. While most people find its use helpful in customer service, 40% of business owners use AI for inventory management and 30% for supply chain operations. Warehouses can use their programs to collect and organize data in the long run.

AI can also generate different presentations and reports based on the data it receives. Manufacturers with multiple facilities can upload their information and send a prompt to receive specific information about their inner workings.

AI can also provide business recommendations on streamlining operations with predictive analytics. However, these programs’ output depends on the data set given, and there are limits to the predictions they can make depending on the amount of variation.

The next best thing to do with this output is to conduct a comprehensive data analysis. Use the information to set metrics for evaluation in the future. If one area is faltering, make actionable decisions to influence processing in the facility.

Cybersecurity

As effective as next-gen technologies in warehousing are, new problems arise. The Identity Theft Resource Center found supply chain attacks impacted more than 10 million people in 2022. Each facility and its streamlined performance are vulnerable to these cyber threats.

Focus on preventive measures to maintain the order of operations. Investing in a firewall adds a layer of protection to warehouse information. Add intrusion detection systems to alert business owners of any breaches.

Physical security installments can also protect warehouses. For example, surveillance cameras log who accesses company computers during and outside active hours. Biometric technology is also a good touch for tracking and access control.

Optimize Warehouse Operations with Digitalization

Speed and effectiveness are crucial in warehouses. Next-gen technologies have made great strides in equipping facilities with these attributes, so take advantage of them to strengthen operations.

*This article is written by Jack Shaw. Jack is a seasoned automotive industry writer with over six years of experience. As the senior writer for Modded, he combines his passion for vehicles, manufacturing and technology with his expertise to deliver engaging content that resonates with enthusiasts worldwide.

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In the dynamic realm of industrial operations, downtime is the arch-nemesis of productivity and profitability. Every minute lost to equipment breakdowns or maintenance activities translates into potential revenue losses, increased operating costs, and compromised competitiveness. Amidst this relentless pursuit of operational efficiency, the emergence of low or no maintenance industrial machinery heralds a transformative era for industries worldwide.

High maintenance equipment has long been a staple in industrial settings, requiring regular servicing, lubrication, and part replacements to ensure optimal performance. However, the inherent drawbacks of such machinery, including frequent downtime, escalating maintenance costs, and operational disruptions, have spurred a quest for alternative solutions.

Enter low or no maintenance industrial machinery—an innovation poised to revolutionize the industrial landscape. Engineered with durability, reliability, and longevity in mind, these advanced systems promise to mitigate the adverse effects of downtime and high maintenance requirements, ushering in a new era of seamless operations and cost savings.

The detrimental effects of downtime on industrial productivity cannot be overstated. Whether due to unexpected breakdowns or scheduled maintenance activities, every moment of idle machinery translates into lost production opportunities and diminished output. Moreover, the ripple effects of downtime extend beyond immediate financial implications, impacting supply chain dynamics, customer satisfaction, and overall business resilience.

In contrast, low or no maintenance components, equipment, and machinery offer a beacon of hope for industries grappling with the specter of downtime. By incorporating self-lubricating mechanisms, wear-resistant materials, and advanced monitoring technologies, these innovative solutions minimize the need for frequent maintenance interventions and extend operational uptime.

The benefits of adopting low or no maintenance industrial machinery are manifold. Beyond the immediate gains in productivity and cost savings, these systems promote a culture of efficiency, sustainability, and resilience within industrial ecosystems. By reducing reliance on traditional maintenance practices, industries can reallocate resources towards value-added endeavors, enhance worker safety, and contribute to environmental stewardship efforts.

In this infographic from FLEXIM, we delve into the profound impacts of downtime and high maintenance equipment on industrial operations, while illuminating the transformative potential of low or no maintenance machinery. Through compelling visuals and insightful analyses, we aim to empower industries with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate the evolving landscape of industrial maintenance and usher in a new era of efficiency and prosperity.

To learn more about best practices for asset management and reducing downtime, contact us to connect with our subject matter experts.

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Businesses across the nation are adjusting to slimmer profit margins. The Financial Times reports that price spikes, labor shortages, and supply chain struggles are continuing to eat into profits while consumers are spending less in response to inflation.

As a business leader, you can discover new levels of profitability and boost your bottom line by maximizing efficiency in the workplace.

This is particularly important today, as modern workers report that they are only productive for 2 hours 53 minutes per day. As a leader, reclaiming this lost productivity should be your top priority while keeping staff healthy and happy.

Cost Savings

Rising costs will undermine your profits if you fail to adjust. This is true regardless of what stage of business growth you are in today. Even well-established brands can suddenly go bust if they ignore rising costs and become overleveraged with debt.

Continuously re-evaluating your operations will help you discover costly bottlenecks and address fundamental issues. Adopting a process improvement mindset can help you respond to industry changes and remain relevant for consumers. Further cost-saving benefits of process improvement include:

• Improved time allocation for lower labor costs;
• Streamlined production to reduce variable costs;
• More responsible scaling for responsible growth.

Embracing process improvement can improve your firm’s ability to meet compliance requirements. This is helpful if you plan on growing your business and want to avoid fees and fines due to ineffective compliance protocols.

Employee Wellbeing

Your employees are the backbone of your business. Without them, efficiency would grind to a halt. However, many business leaders overlook employee wellbeing when profitability starts to decline.

If you want to enhance your operational efficiency, then keeping your employees healthy and happy should be a priority. Unhealthy, unhappy staff are extremely expensive, as you will be forced to pay for sick leave and will have to bring on new hires when they leave for greener pastures.

Stress can have a profound impact on employee well-being and health, too. Left untreated, chronic stress can increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. Employees who are stressed are also more likely to suffer from oral ailments like gum disease, tooth decay, and cankers. This will sideline your employees and leave you short-staffed when you need employees the most.

Increasing Safety

Nothing will derail your business like an accident at work. In 2021 alone, workplace accidents and injuries cost a total of $167 billion. Injuries and accidents also resulted in 103,000,000 lost days of work, as many employees have to take extended time away after a mishap.

As a business owner, you should explore efficiency upgrades that improve safety. Even simple changes, like reducing workers’ workload, can significantly reduce the risk of accidents. Folks are far less likely to make a misstep when they are not overworked, burnt out, and fatigued by their workload.

You can improve worker safety and increase business efficiency by embracing the Internet of Things (IoT). IoT tech, like electronic logging devices, can improve safety and efficiency by tracking metrics related to employee safety. This is particularly important if you work in high-risk fields like delivery driving. Keep a tab on key data points like speed and braking. This reduces the risk of accidents and helps you retrain certain staff.

Customer Service

In today’s competitive business environment, you need to stand out from the crowd by providing excellent customer service. Effective, efficient customer service can improve brand loyalty, minimize damaging reviews, and convince consumers to make repeat purchases.

A recent survey of 3,200 consumers by Super Office found that 12% of all consumers expect a response time of under 15 minutes, while 46% say they want to hear back within 4 hours. This suggests that efficient, fast responses are key to heightened customer satisfaction.

If you cannot afford to employ a fleet of customer service agents, consider investing in automation software instead. Automated chatbots are capable of answering FAQs quickly and accurately. They can also send pre-generated responses to folks who get in contact during out-of-office hours. This can reassure customers that their query has been seen and that they will get a response soon.

Foregrounding efficiency in your customer service department can reduce the amount you spend on returns, too. US retailers predict that $761 billion of items will be returned every year. This can eat into profits and derail your day-to-day operations. You cannot avoid all returns, but you can mitigate many hasty returns with responsive, positive customer service.

Automation

Automating your business is not just good for customer service. Embracing the future of AI and automation can improve your efficiency and bolster your bottom line. Strategic changes, like automating your customer relationship management (CRM) software, can reduce the amount of time staff spend on menial responsibilities and free up time for creative, profit-boosting tasks.

If you are new to the idea of automation, start with low-hanging fruit like:

• File backups: Manually backing up important documents takes hours. Streamline the process by using cloud-based backups.
• Payroll: Your HR team does not want to spend all their time working through payroll. Automate much of the process so real employees can focus on fixing errors and addressing employee queries.
• Sales Funnel: Sales automation can improve the efficiency of your funnel by reaching out to new leads and collating data from across all of your platforms.

As your firm grows, you can explore more complex automation strategies. For example, if you currently run an e-commerce business, you can use automated software to keep stock of your inventory and automatically order new materials when supplies run low. This reduces lead time at your firm and ensures that you are always ready to take on new orders.

Communication

Effective communication keeps internal and external stakeholders happy and can maximize your operational efficiency. This is crucial when trying to boost your profits, as you’ll need buy-in from investors and employees alike.

As a business leader, you can guide your firm to higher levels of profitability and productivity by improving your own communication skills. Ask plenty of questions when conversing with other employees and focus on listening to them without interruption. If you struggle to listen without jumping in, consider taking notes to channel your thoughts and show your staff that you care about their insights.

You should review your communication strategy on an annual basis. This will ensure that your firm is up-to-date with the latest communication tech and can help you identify potential issues in your current strategy. A well-planned communication strategy improves collaboration in your company, too. This reduces the risk of costly oversights and helps you get more out of your most talented employees.

Conclusion

Boosting your bottom line is about more than cutting costs and raising your prices. Spark a period of profitable growth at your firm by embracing an ethos of process improvement. Continuous process improvement also helps you take advantage of breakthroughs in business tech like CRM automation, IoT tracking, and customer service chatbots. In sum, process improvement isn’t just ensuring short-term solutions, it’s ensuring the long-term success of your company.

*This article is written by Ainsley Lawrence. View more of Ainsley’s articles here.

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For many, the turmoil surrounding the supply chain over the past few years has shed light on areas in need of improvement. One such aspect of business that companies who rely on suppliers now recognize as more important than ever is effective vendor relationship management. Let’s take a brief overview of why building strong vendor relationships is crucial and explore some approaches to enhance how they are managed.

Vendor relationship management refers to the process of nurturing buyer-supplier relationships to establish a solid foundation of trust and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. When this process is refined and relationships are enriched, it can lead to various key benefits, such as improved data flow and smoother operations.

However, those who neglect modern vendor management or fail to oversee relationships effectively risk potential losses. These losses may come in the form of lost revenue or wasted time fixing errors that could have been avoided with a more streamlined process. Therefore, vendor relationship management is vital in today’s fast-paced and highly competitive market.

Since each vendor is unique and plays a different role, vendor relationships cannot be managed in the same way. Hence, a well-designed process should be established to improve the vendor procurement and investment process from the outset. This involves taking the time to thoroughly research potential vendors and understanding their business operations. Not only can these robust vendor management practices lead to better-informed decisions, but they can also result in improved negotiations. When the partnership is built on a relationship that both parties wish to sustain and has been negotiated in good faith, it can be more profitable overall.

Another approach to enhancing vendor management is to revamp the existing procedures for planning, onboarding, and performance tracking. Many organizations turn to Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) software to streamline these processes. CLM software can help optimize the management of vendor contracts and provide valuable data on contract performance through comprehensive tracking. When combined with other modern strategies, a sophisticated CLM platform can increase procurement efficiency, reduce risk, and lead to more cost-effective and high-performing vendor contracts.

It’s essential to recognize that effective vendor management goes beyond mere transactional relationships between organizations and third-party vendors. To derive the maximum value from vendor relationships in the future, companies of all sizes need to carefully consider every aspect of their buyer-supplier relationships and devise a contemporary and collaborative vendor relationship management strategy.

This infographic provides further insights on improving vendor management:

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As businesses continue to produce massive amounts of data in today’s world, effectively managing and leveraging this information has become a major challenge. One crucial solution to this challenge is data archiving.

Keep reading to learn more about the significance of data archiving in enhancing operational efficiency, and why it’s a critical step for any business looking to streamline its processes and maximize its potential.

What is Data Archiving?

Not all data is equally important, and not all data needs to be accessed frequently. This is where data archiving comes in. It’s the process of identifying and separating inactive or infrequently accessed data and storing it in a separate location for long-term retention.

By doing so, data archiving helps free up valuable space on primary storage systems, which in turn reduces storage costs and improves system performance. Data archiving involves a careful analysis of data based on its importance, age, and frequency of use. This ensures that important data remains easily accessible while less important data is stored in a cost-effective way.

Data archiving not only helps improve operational efficiency but also provides businesses with several other benefits. For instance, it can help companies meet legal and compliance requirements by ensuring that they retain data for the required period of time. It also helps in securing sensitive information by isolating it from active data and providing additional security measures.

Why is Data Archiving Important for Operational Efficiency?

Data archiving is a powerful tool that can significantly improve operational efficiency. Freeing up primary storage systems from inactive data allows businesses to reduce the amount of data that needs to be processed, which can lead to a faster access to active data. This improved access to data can result in faster response times for critical business processes, which can ultimately lead to a boost in overall system performance.

When business operations run smoothly and efficiently, organizations can better allocate resources, reduce costs, and ultimately achieve their objectives more effectively.

For instance, consider a supply chain management firm that generates large amounts of data on a daily basis. With data archiving, the firm can move inactive data to less expensive storage options, freeing up space on primary storage systems.

This leads to a faster access to active data, which can improve order processing times and reduce delays in product delivery. By optimizing its operations in this way, the firm can streamline its supply chain, reduce costs, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for its clients.

Data archiving can also help organizations respond more quickly to changing market conditions. Businesses can quickly adapt to shifting market demands and customer preferences, ensuring that they remain competitive and responsive to the needs of their customers. When business processes are streamlined and optimized, organizations can operate more efficiently, make better decisions, and achieve their goals more effectively.

Cost Savings

One of the key benefits of data archiving is that it can lead to significant cost savings for businesses. By relocating inactive data to more cost-effective storage options, such as tape or cloud storage, businesses can reduce their overall storage costs.

This is particularly advantageous for organizations that generate large amounts of data, as the cost of primary storage systems can be quite expensive. Implementing data archiving strategies helps businesses optimize their storage usage, reduce their expenses, and ultimately improve their financial performance.

Compliance and Legal Requirements

In today’s regulatory environment, many businesses are required by law to retain certain types of data for a specific period of time. Failure to meet these compliance and legal requirements can result in severe penalties and fines.

By storing data in a secure and easily accessible location, data archiving helps businesses meet these obligations, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Add implementing data archiving practices, businesses can mitigate the risk of legal penalties and fines, and focus on their core operations.

Data Security

Data security is a top priority for any business that handles sensitive information. Data archiving can play a significant role in improving data security by separating inactive data from active data and applying additional security measures.

That way, data archiving helps reduce the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Implementing data archiving practices enables businesses to better safeguard their data, reduce security risks, and protect themselves and their customers from potential harm.

Business Continuity

When it comes to business continuity, data archiving is a crucial component of any disaster recovery plan. By storing data in a separate location, businesses can recover critical data more quickly in the event of a disaster or system failure. This means that businesses can resume their operations faster and minimize the impact of any interruption.

Data archiving is an essential practice for any organization that values continuity and resilience and can provide peace of mind in the face of unforeseen events. Implementing data archiving strategies helps businesses prepare themselves for any eventuality, and ensure that they are well-positioned to weather any storm.

Wrapping up

In today’s data-driven world, data archiving is a game-changer for businesses dealing with massive amounts of information. It’s the key to unlocking faster access to essential data, cost savings, legal compliance, data security, and uninterrupted business operations.

In other words, implementing a data archiving strategy is the ultimate solution for businesses looking to level up their game and achieve peak efficiency. So, don’t wait any longer; it’s time to archive your way to success!

*This articles is written by Mina Klein. Mina is a passionate tech and business blogger. She is interested in topics that cover data regulation, compliance, business communication, digital marketing, and social media.

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Supply chain technology has come a long way in the past few years. Improvements in AI technology and deep learning programs can help supply chain managers accurately predict shortages, adapt to current conditions, and operate more efficiently.

Supply chain technology can also be used to improve the customer journey. Effective supply chain management leverages the Internet of Things (IoT) to give consumers greater control over their orders. Emerging technology can also be used to reduce human error, increase operational efficiency, and improve security.

These breakthroughs in technology improve the customer experience and ensure that consumers get the products they want when they need them.

CX and SCM

At first glance, consumer experience (CX) and supply chain management (SCM) seem unrelated. However, as senior sales executive Sven Esser points out “the relationship between CX and SCM is symbiotic.”

Esser goes on to explain that effectively mapping the customer journey is an important facet of effective CX and SCM. Predicting consumer behavior ensures that supply chains are operating as efficiently as possible and that consumers have accurate information about shipping and order fulfillment before they check out.

Esser advocates for a model of SCM that gets to know consumers and uses AI analytics to accurately map and predict the typical consumer journey. This will help businesses connect with consumers’ personal needs and help supply chain managers shift to a more “customer-focused effort.”

Businesses can use AI analytics to map the consumer journey and improve their SCM through Google Analytics (GA4). GA4 is typically used by marketers who want to improve the materials. However, GA4 can also be used to track users from the referral page to the conversion or exit page.

Supply chain managers can work with marketing to get a better picture of the consumer journey and typical behavior. GA4 can be particularly useful for businesses that use the IoT to place orders or improve CX.

The IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing industries around the world. Consumers and businesses can use the IoT to link devices and create “smart” networks between products and machines.

The IoT can also improve the efficiency of supply chains by giving businesses an up-to-date assessment of inventory and potential problems. For example, a business that runs an IoT-integrated warehouse will be aware of issues like faulty equipment and disrupted supply lines earlier than competitors who do not leverage the IoT.

IoT-integrated supply chains can improve the consumer journey directly, too. IoT technology makes it easier for customers to place and edit orders. For example, folks who utilize smart home devices like Google Nest or Amazon’s Alexa can place and edit orders with a simple voice command.

Human Error

Emerging technology like AI software and the IoT is designed to improve operational efficiency and streamline the consumer journey. However, human error still threatens to derail business operations and supply chains.

Supply chain managers can reduce the risk of human error in the workplace by automating relevant processes. This is particularly important in warehouse management, where human error may result in injury due to repetitive motions or dangerous working conditions. Automated machines in smart factories and warehouses can take humans out of the firing line and ensure that customers have their orders fulfilled with minimal delays.

Supply chain technology can also improve post-sale communication with consumers. Consumers who have ordered expensive goods want regular updates on the status of their products. Businesses can send out automated emails when the customer’s product has passed production phases and is ready for shipping. Automated communication improves the customer journey by alleviating worries about order fulfillment without derailing operational efficiency.

Operational Efficiency

Operational efficiency is at the heart of a successful customer journey. Customers can tell when all departments are working in unison and will benefit from quicker order fulfillment due to higher efficiency in the workplace.

Maximizing operational efficiency is particularly important for businesses that use Just-in-time (JIT) inventory management. JIT inventory management relies on accurate consumer forecasts and robust supply chain management to ensure that businesses get the inventory they need just when they need it. This can result in major savings, which can be passed onto the consumer or used to otherwise improve the customer journey.

However, for inventory management methods like JIT to work, businesses need to hyperautomate their operations. Hyperautomation allows businesses to “rapidly identify, vet, and automate as many business and IT processes as possible.” Hyperautomation relies on deep learning programs that can successfully capture and utilize massive data sets. This will improve the customer journey, too, as the same data sets can be used to present personalized adverts and products to consumers.

Conclusion

Emerging technology like the IoT can have a direct impact on the customer journey. Consumers today can place, edit, and receive orders using a network of machines and devices that are connected by AI algorithms. Recent upgrades to supply chain technology can also improve operational efficiency and reduce the risk of human error in factories and warehouses. This ensures that consumers receive their orders with minimal delay and at a lower cost.

*This article is written by Ainsley Lawrence. View more of Ainsley’s articles here.

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There’s no sugar-coating it. It’s tough out there for manufacturers on the front lines of the hiring wars. We are in an unprecedented hiring-and-retention situation in this country. The Great Resignation numbers just keep climbing. According to CNN, 47.4 million people left their jobs in 2021. That’s a lot of open positions and a lot of people out of work. You’d think it would be a hirer’s market. It’s just the opposite.

“54% of U.S. manufacturers are finding it difficult to attract skilled workers to get the job done. That’s up from 38% before the pandemic.”

Companies in all industries are feeling the hiring pain, but manufacturing is getting hit especially hard. IndustryWeek reports that 54% of U.S. manufacturers are finding it difficult to attract skilled workers to get the job done. That’s up from 38% before the pandemic. Competition for skilled workers to fill all of those jobs has never been more intense. And that competition isn’t just coming from other manufacturers. It’s also coming from other industries, like transportation, warehousing, even retail.

Hiring is only one part of the challenge. It’s also about retention. From a study by the Workforce Institute at HR solutions company UKG, manufacturers are getting “ghosted” by workers who simply don’t show up for their shifts. A shocking 68% of manufacturers said they let employees go because of it between January and March 2021.

So, what’s going on? Instead of the Great Resignation, you might call it the Great Reassessment. As Industry Week puts it, workers aren’t just reassessing what they do for their 9-to-5 and walking out the door, they’re also thinking about where they do it and why they do it. People have streamed out of the workplace in record numbers because they want more. More pay, more flexibility, more benefits, more meaning and more happiness.

Manufacturers who understand that is the key to winning the hiring wars. Let’s look at how to put that into practice when you’re trying to hire and retain employees.

What manufacturers can do to hire and retain workers

Here are six strategies to help you attract and keep the people you need to get the job done.

1. Open your company purse strings. To borrow a line from Cuba Gooding Jr., show them the money. With McDonald’s paying more than $20 an hour to flip burgers, it’s tough to compete with that. But look at what your competition is paying and match it, or if possible, exceed it. Job seekers today are ultra-choosy, and a high salary is one of the most important weapons in your hiring arsenal.

2. Cast your net wider. Do you have a background check that excludes people who have had felonies or other arrests? Would you consider hiring a retiree? How about someone with special needs? From the same Workforce Institute study, 62% of manufacturers have hired or considered hiring people with special needs, 56% have hired retirees, and 52% are considering hiring people who have been incarcerated. You may not have considered this talent pool in the past, but there are great advantages to hiring people who traditionally have trouble getting a break. Increased loyalty is a big one.

3. Work with schools to train and recruit students. The National Law Review points out that an entire generation of manufacturing workers is getting ready for retirement, and younger workers simply don’t have the skills to take up the mantle. By training students and those just out of school, you’ll be creating a pool of new employees who have the skills to get the job done in your workplace. This, in turn, will help reduce the skills gap that separates your new hires from your seasoned veterans and retirees.

4. Rethink your benefits. Your benefits package is especially important in luring Great Resigners back into the workplace. As we said, many people have quit their jobs because they’re looking for something more, and benefits are a big part of that. Robust health care that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg is a must. But think outside the box, too. Industries like retail and hospitality are luring younger workers by offering to pay off their student debt, cover childcare expenses and grant generous PTO.

5. Invest in upskilling and training. This is vital for retention, but it’s important for hiring, too. If your candidates know you are committed to your current employees’ futures, giving them the opportunity to learn new and valuable skills, it’s a big plus. It shows you’re in it for the long term, not just hiring a warm body to fill a hole on the line. For your employees who are already on the job, upskilling and training can increase their engagement exponentially. One of our clients recently put a new training program in place for longtime employees and awarded certificates when they completed the course successfully. Engagement went through the roof, along with employees’ pride of achievement. A benefit for you, along with happier, more engaged employees, lies in cross training your people. That way, if and when an employee “ghosts” you on a shift, you’ll have a pool of qualified people to step in and do the job.

6. Consider your efficiency. Are your machines breaking down frequently? Are there stoppages on the line? The same client of ours that invested in training and upskilling realized that their employees were continually frustrated with snafus on the line day in and day out. Correcting those problems and making your operations as efficient as possible gives employee satisfaction a boost and helps with retention. Also, it’s crucial to involve employees at all levels, from the corner office to the line on the shop floor, in the process of improving your operation’s efficiency. People with varying viewpoints of the job bring a variety of opinions and ideas to the table.

At USC Consulting Group, we’ve spent more than 50 years helping companies improve employee engagement and realize greater efficiency in their operations. Ready to talk about what we can do for you? Give us a call.

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Everyday we set out to conquer life in various ways. We conquer fears, objections, and challenges. It is how we overcome these obstacles that defines are character and successes.

There was a famous historical figure with the moniker William the Conqueror  who set out on a conquest which changed the face of history. While we are not conquering nations in the name of our country, we do find victories everyday for ourselves and our companies.

The following is a story illustrating one such victory overcoming operational issues that many others can also achieve themselves…

This is the story of William the Conqueror. No, not the 11^th century figure, but William the VP of Operations at Acme Widget Company. He is under siege with problems that are eating into operational efficiency, causing delays and slowing down his throughput.

There’s trouble on the line. Machinery breakdowns are causing delays. And William is struggling to hire and retain skilled employees to get the job done.

The result of this operational onslaught? Acme Widget Company is not meeting its demand at a critical time. William is getting frustrated. So is his boss.

So William called USC Consulting Group — an operations management consulting firm that has been helping companies identify trouble spots, reduce operating costs, and increase efficiency and throughput for more than 50 years.

Working with William, USC Consulting Group investigated the Five M’s:

1. Machine (Does it need maintenance?)

2. Methods (Can you make processes more efficient?)

3. Materials (Supply chain bottlenecks?)

4. Measurements (Are we measuring the right things?)

5. Man or Woman power (Are your people skilled and trained?)

Focusing on the Five M’s and with USC’s help, William and his team got things running smoothly, with improved efficiency and increased throughput. William’s boss was so pleased with the results that he promoted William to COO*. William had, indeed, conquered his operational issues.

If you are experiencing operational issues like William, give USC Consulting Group a call today and we will put our expertise to work for you, too. *You may not be promoted to COO, but you will increase your operation’s efficiency.

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This is the story of William the Conqueror.

No, not the 11th century figure, but William the Vice President of Operations at Acme Widget Company who becomes the Savior of Operational Improvements. William is under siege with problems that are eating into operational efficiency, causing delays and slowing down his throughput. There’s trouble on the line. Machinery breakdowns are causing delays. William’s supervisors aren’t communicating issues during shift changes. And William is struggling to hire and retain skilled employees to get the job done.

The result of this operational onslaught? Acme Widget Company is not meeting its demand at a critical time. William is getting frustrated with the delays, breakdowns and inefficiencies. So is his boss.

That’s when William called USC Consulting Group — an operations management consulting firm that has been helping companies identify trouble spots, reduce operating costs, and increase efficiency and throughput for more than 50 years.

Working with William, USC Consulting Group investigated the Five M’s:

1. Machine (Does it need maintenance?)
2. Methods (Can you make processes more efficient?)
3. Materials (Supply chain bottlenecks?)
4. Measurements (Are we measuring the right things?)
5. Man or Woman (Are your people skilled and trained?)

Focusing on the five Ms and with USC’s help, William and his team got things running smoothly, with improved efficiency and increased throughput. William’s boss was so pleased with the results that he promoted William to COO*.

William had, indeed, conquered his operational issues.

Moral of the Story: William is not a real person, however, the struggles he and his team were experiencing are a reality for many executives today. Are you experiencing issues like William’s? Would you like to discover operational improvements in your business to increase your throughput and efficiency? Give USC Consulting Group a call at 1-800-888-8872 and we will put our expertise to work for you.

*You may not get promoted to COO, but you will increase your operation’s efficiency.

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Demand is back. After many industries saw customer demand dry up during the pandemic, it is surging like it hasn’t in a long time. Consumers are spending money again. That’s the good news. The bad news? Companies across many industries, especially manufacturing, are struggling to meet that demand.

The reasons for this are as varied and unique as every company out there, but we are seeing a one-two punch creating capacity limits among our clients: the tight hiring market coupled with supply chain disruptions. So, how can businesses overcome these restraints and get ahead in the current landscape? First, let’s understand the issues at hand.

The hiring problem

We haven’t seen this tight of a hiring market in two decades or more. Businesses in many industries were forced to lay off or furlough workers during the pandemic, and now that demand is back up, they’re finding it next to impossible to fill those shoes, or in many workplaces, steel-toed boots. Why? The pandemic caused employees of all stripes to rethink their life choices. Maybe they don’t want to work in a manufacturing facility, or retail shop, or in a cubicle anymore. The result of that is what economists are calling “The Great Resignation.” According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 4 million people up and quit their jobs in April 2021. In May, that number dipped “all the way down” to 3.6 million, but by the time June rolled around, it was back up to 3.9. We haven’t seen this kind of mass exodus in generations, if ever. Make no mistake, the jobs are out there. Companies in all industries are scrambling, even desperate, to fill them. But this is not a matter of “if you post it, they will come.” They’re not coming.

The supply chain problem

Yes, many restrictions have been lifted, but supply chain snags, roadblocks, disruptions and downright stoppages continue to bedevil many industries. So even if you have enough people to get the job done, the supplies may or may not be there when you need them.

The hiring crunch and supply chain double whammy, combined with skyrocketing demand, is creating a difficult situation out there for many industries.

How USC Consulting Group can help

When it comes right down to it, meeting increased demand with fewer workers and a disrupted supply chain means one thing: Getting the job done requires increasing your operational efficiency. At USC Consulting Group, that’s our specialty. We’ve been doing it for 50-plus years. But it’s not easy. Sure, everyone wants to do more with less. But how, exactly? Here are some ways we find work well to ferret hidden opportunities for greater efficiency.

Engage the line. This means getting up close and personal with anyone who has anything to do with the production line, mining their expertise about what’s working and what’s not, and looking closely at the job on an hour-by-hour basis. Looking at the operation through that lens, you’ll be surprised what you can find.

Get a firm handle on capacity. How much is actually possible to produce? How much time will it take?

Rethink your staffing. How many people will it really take to get the job done? Looking at the operation with an eye toward people power, you may find you can get the job done with fewer employees. Which is good news for companies scrambling during this hiring crunch.

Scrutinize the management operating system. This is about how you plan your work, assign it and follow up to ensure the job is getting done. Make this part of your business a well-oiled machine.

Get real about throughput. What is the ideal “drumbeat” of your production line? Are things moving at the right speed? But, this isn’t just about speed. It’s about producing good product faster.

In the end, we use these and other strategies to uncover opportunities for efficiency and help companies meet rising demand even with the constraints they’re facing today. If you’d like to read about this topic in more depth, download our whitepaper, “Strategies for Meeting Customer Demand” or give us a call today. We’re ready to help.

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