As business grows so will the demands on the workforce. In order to grow smoothly without major impact on the efficiency of a business, it is essential to have an efficient workforce. An efficient workplace needs an efficient workforce to succeed. In this article, we will look at 3 steps manufacturing firms can take to improve the efficiency of their workforce.
Step One – Get everyone on board.
A workforce which feels involved and provided opportunities to have their say creates a more efficient, and happier, workforce. Rather than just handing over work orders and leaving it to your workforce to complete, get them involved in the operating of the business. If there are regular bottlenecks or processes which seem sluggish, the workforce may have opinions on how to improve things but too scared to speak up. Providing a supportive environment for your workforce to make suggestions, and felt that improvements are more than welcome, lets them feel involved in the company. This creates and accountability mentality as the workforce will start to feel more involved in the success of the business, and eager for it to succeed.
Step Two – Consider your Supply chain relationships.
There is nothing more frustrating than waiting around for deliveries from suppliers, having the biggest impact on your efficiency by holding processes up. Creating a strong and friendly relationship with your suppliers, as well as having alternative suppliers if there is a delay can reduce waiting times, and improve production times. Strong relationships with suppliers can also improve discounts offered, improving the cashflow of the relationship too. This includes those in the supply chain delivering the finished goods to re-sellers or customers. Increasing the value for end users is a main principle in Lean Theory – one of the main waste minimizing systematic methods used in business.
Step Three – Incorporate technology.
Technology is a big aspect of any business and it can help improve the efficiency of your workforce when used correctly. From cloud-based devices providing information flows on each step of the supply chain, to a data trail of materials through the production processes. Having a central information and data flow from the start of the journey to the very end allows everyone involved to know when and what to anticipate so they can react in a timely manner. This can also highlight bottlenecks and steps of the process that cause lags for improvement. Providing training on the technology will make the transition from the old information flow easier, and more efficient.
These 3 steps are the main ones that can be incorporated into everyday processes to improve the efficiency of a workforce. Starting with the simple, yet key task of changing mentality of the workforce, the additional steps will be easier to incorporate. Although efficiency won’t happen overnight, the effects will be felt and will have long term benefits for the workforce.
If you require help improving your workforce efficiency get in touch with The McDonald Consulting Group. Efficiency is our specialty.