How Do You Know If Your Shop Floor Requires A Better Schedule?
The simple answer is to take a look around and review the efficiency of the processes. Is the shop running in a fluid motion where everything is being handled, and no jobs are left to the side? Is the shop floor clean and safe with a team of happy, productive workers that know their current objectives? If the response is no to all of these, then a new schedule needs to be considered.
These schedules help to increase the flow of production and the movement of materials. A poor scheduling system could see this material pile up, unattended, with no clear plan of action. The longer that raw materials stay in the unloading bay, the longer the wait between deliveries and the provision of services. The old saying states that time is money. There is no better place where that adage is applicable than here.
A good schedule keeps all the workers in the right place, working on an important task. The team cannot be fragmented, and it is important that this fluid motion continues in their work and their aims. Finally, an effective well-run shop floor is also a clean, risk-free one. These means adding in adding an extra element to a schedule for cleaning shop floors with robotic vacuum cleaners. There is a lot to consider, and this means looking into the right software.
So Is A Big, Flashy Piece Of Software With Infinite Capabilities The Answer To The Problem?
All shops looking to bring in a new, more beneficial strategy need to be realistic about their potential. There are plenty of enticing pieces of software out there that can bring some order to a shop floor. However, they may not suit your needs and requirements precisely. This software is better at providing a strong schedule for shops with a high-volume manufacture.
There is a repeat pattern of jobs on the shop floor that can be perfected into an accurate regime. The key question is whether you want a finite or infinite system. Infinite sounds like the best option, it is limitless, strong and productive. However, this option doesn’t account for the constraints on the business.
Remember That You Only Have A Limited Number Of Machines And Workers And An Infinite System May Schedule Beyond This Capability
It is essential to understand the abilities of the team as a whole and the workforce than can be applied to these tasks. This is true for the scheduling of the manufacture of and material processing but also in cleaning shop floors.
That is why it is important to resort to another important, automated innovation for a clean, tidy and risk-free work environment. Robotic vacuum cleaners can be programmed to work the same route along a level shop floor every single day.
Once programmed, they are no longer the responsibility of the worker - unless they get stuck. The most advantageous models are the ones that have clever features like obstacle detection and can return to a charging dock.
Who Is Going To Be Responsible For All This Data And An Effective System?
You also need the discipline to be able to keep up with the system and work with it. These schedules are automated, but only to a degree. There is also a need for a human touch to make sure that the schedule is running to plan. Supervisors are vital for ensuring that everything is heading in the right direction.
There are always variables that the system can’t see. Perhaps there is a staff shortage, a late delivery or a machine has broken down. The schedule needs to be adjusted accordingly. This human operator can also make up for human error.
These schedules rely on data input to pass on information and create a smooth process in the line of manufacture. An extra 0 on an input can have a massive impact on the chain, and the computer won't know the difference. There is no sentient intelligence telling it that this number is inaccurate.
Instead, a human operator needs to check for mistakes and keep the system error free. This vigilant maintenance requires the dedication and keen eye of a reliable member of the team. If you cannot spare anyone to do this, this scheduling software could turn out o be problematic.
This is because there is no way around the issue. Successful scheduling relies on the use of current data in the database. Those that keep on top of this data will find the system becomes much more efficient. One of the excellent ways to help your team to input this data is by installing enough terminals. It becomes inconvenient to travel to the far side of the room just to change one number.
In The End, It Is All About Getting The Team On A Shop Floor To Embrace A Piece Of New Technology.
They need to understand that these machines are not a sign of poor effort, but rather a tool to help. This is true of the new terminals for computerized scheduling and the robotic vacuum cleaners for cleaning shop floors. The best approach is to ensure that all workers are aware of how the system works.
This means knowing how to input data appropriately and the impact it has on their role. At the same time, their ideas and concerns should be noted if they might lead to positive approaches. It can be difficult to create a beneficial schedule for a shop floor without going beyond your capabilities. However, a little trust, dedication, and realism will go a long way.