In order for a factory to be productive, it is important that the material handling process is well-planned and efficient. If the factory is not set up correctly, it can lead to decreased efficiency and an impact on the bottom line. In this blog post, we will discuss how material handling impacts the bottom line in a factory and some tips on how to improve your material handling process.
Manual Material Handling
One of the biggest impacts that material handling has on a factory’s bottom line is the amount of time it takes to complete tasks. If a factory is still using manual material handling methods, it is likely that employees are spending a large portion of their time moving materials around. This can lead to decreased productivity and increased labor costs.
Think of it through this hypothetical: you are paying your 40 person team hourly. If everyone in your facility is spending 1 hour per week just moving material from one place to another, that is 40 hours per week or over 200 hours per month of wasted time! And this is on the lower end – it’s much more likely your team members are spending ≈1 hour each per day just material handling (2,000 hours per month!).
Additionally, manual material handling can lead to increased safety risks. If employees are lifting heavy objects or moving materials in an unsafe manner, it can lead to injuries. These injuries can result in lost time and workers’ compensation claims, which can further impact your bottom line.
Improving Your Material Handling Process
There are a few ways that you can improve your material handling process and reduce its impact on your bottom line. One way is to invest in factory automation. This can include automated conveyor systems, robots, and other equipment that can help move materials around the factory. Automated material handling systems can help reduce the amount of time it takes to complete tasks and can also help improve safety in the workplace.
Another way to improve your material handling process is to invest in better planning. This means taking the time to map out your factory floor and plan where materials need to go. By doing this, you can reduce the amount of time employees spend walking around looking for materials. You can also set up dedicated material handling areas to help keep things organized.
Automated Material Handling
Automating your material handling process can help you save time and money. By investing in factory automation, you can reduce the amount of time employees spend moving materials around. This will lead to increased productivity and a decrease in labor costs. Additionally, automated material handling systems are often more efficient and can help improve safety in the workplace.
If you are thinking about automating your material handling process, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you need to make sure that you have a well-planned factory layout. This will help you determine where automated equipment should be placed and how it should be used. Second, you need to make sure that you have the right equipment for your needs. There are different types of equipment designed specifically for automated material handling, so it is important to choose the right one for your factory. Finally, you need to make sure that you train your employees on how to use the new equipment. By doing this, you can ensure that everyone is able to work safely and efficiently with the new system.
Material handling is a critical part of any factory’s operations. It can have a significant impact on the bottom line, so it is important to take the time to improve your material handling process. By investing in factory automation and better planning, you can reduce the amount of time employees spend moving materials around. This will lead to increased productivity and a decrease in labor costs. Additionally, automating your material handling process can help improve safety in the workplace. So, if you are looking for ways to improve your factory’s bottom line, be sure to consider how material handling can help.