Manufacturers Use Technology to Help Weather the Economic Downturn
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| Dec 21, 2012 — Too often manufacturers will implement technology for financial reporting purposes but overlook efficiencies that can generate cash flow and reduce costs on the manufacturing floor. Accurate information that provides a business owner or manager the ability to make immediate decisions about his/her operation resulting in a boost to profitability is crucial during an economic downturn. If revenue is down and the market mood does not permit price increases, then profitability can only be realized by reducing costs. So you must ask yourself “What prevents me from 100% efficiency?” Focus on “Faster and Better”. Every asset, machine, tool and person you have must be accountable and cycle more quickly. An airline cannot survive when planes are not in the air producing revenue. Your business cannot survive unless you know where your assets are and how they can be used efficiently. Imagine being able to view where your tools and equipment are at any moment so that you can plan to transfer them to the next job. How important it is to locate a unique asset when it is required on another active job, avoiding any down time? Take a Proactive Approach. Under normal circumstances a business owner/manager will review financial (accounting) information, overhead and direct operating margin at the end of a month or quarter. But these aren’t “normal” circumstances. “Companies must plan their destiny and not look in the rearview mirror!” stated Bill Allen of W.A. Allen Consulting. “Instead of flying blind (until a workorder is completed) it’s time to operate from a plan. Understand what prevents you from 100% efficiency.” Buy-in Happens from the Top-Down. Start by developing a culture that compels events to conform to your plan. Anything that deviates from the plan is an opportunity for cost-savings and efficiencies. Do you have too much time loss in non-direct labor areas (idle or down time)? By evaluating what interrupts the workflow on a daily basis, you will uncover areas that with improvement will provide an increased bottom line. It is up to the company to make a conscious decision to manage from a plan rather than react to circumstances, and to hold all employees accountable for following the plan. This transition will be easier if the technology tools available today are adopted. You don’t have to be one of the “big guys” to afford technology. Today, systems are available for a reasonable price that can help avoid many of the costs consumed by inefficiencies in operations and can be purchased as stand-alone systems focused on one aspect of the business. The decision where to start depends on what areas you find are losing the most money. While technology won’t cure the credit crunch manufacturers are facing, automated processes that improve cash flow and keep lenders in the loop, demonstrating that the business “has its act together” can go a long way in convincing lenders that their risk is low. Alison Falco Dynamic Systems Inc. 15331 NE 90th Street Redmond, WA 98052 800-342-3999 www.abarcode.com Dynamic Systems, is a Redmond, Washington software developer specializing in barcode data collection for manufacturers. The product name is called CheckMate. | ||
| For more information: http://www.a-barcode.com/case-study/tool-tracking-ge-aviation/ | ||
| Additional link: http://www.a-barcode.com/case-study/work-in-progress-labels-west/ | ||
| Tags: barcode, construction, manufacturer, mobile, costs, jobs, traceability, inventory, assets, production, mobile, kiosk, wallmount | ||
| Categorized Under: Software |
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| Company Details: | |
| Contact: | Rob Freeman | ||
| E-mail: | |||
| Company: | Dynamic Systems, Inc View Company Profile | ||
| Address: | work15331 N.E. 90th St. | ||
| Location: | workRedmond, WA 98052 United States | ||
| Phone: | workpref425-216-1204 | ||
| Web Site: | http://dynamic-systemsinc.com/ | ||
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