Looking to enable greater operational performance and efficiency while increasing employee morale? Optimized production scheduling is all about providing real-time monitoring, automating tool maintenance and inventory count, and having accurate information on hand when it’s needed. This will enable better management, more engaged employees and a stronger teamwork ethos. Here are some tips to take your production scheduling to the next level.
Make real-time data and metrics visible
The most important factor when it comes to increasing production agility is the real-time availability of data and metrics across each area of the business. In a manufacturing context, for example, it would be ideal to have multiple monitors in a central location that can provide workers, technicians, and managers with immediate access to actionable insights regarding equipment status, product quality, materials, tooling availability, sales demand changes and work order priorities. By providing real-time access, everyone is empowered to think on their feet and quickly overcome hurdles when they arise. The open nature of this system means everyone affected sees relevant information and can decide together what to do next.
Implement finite capacity planning
In almost every production setting, scheduling is best done in real-time. Processing complex orders and releases quickly means having a whip-smart system that can handle the fast-paced environment. A team will perform at their best when they know exactly what needs to be running, what will be scheduled tomorrow, and what materials need to be received and on-hand for that schedule to function appropriately. Perhaps most importantly, smart production scheduling will be able to anticipate and account for the raw materials needed for future orders and will be able to do so thanks to timely access to information about all necessary components of the operation.
Automate equipment maintenance
Automating machine and tooling maintenance in scheduling calculations and visual screen cues can make a huge difference. This enables production scheduling specialists to avoid wasting time being forced to wait for up to date status information or for the actual maintenance to take place. What’s more, it allows managers and planners to swiftly adjust priorities according to what equipment is currently available. It will also mean that set-up work and maintenance are done at appropriate times and don’t interfere with work that has already been completed.
Make production history records readily available
Safety and compliance issues are only going to become more important as production operations continue to advance. It is critical that manufacturers take the steps now to establish production history records in databases that allow quick recall and accurate analysis of past production activities. Manual collection of this information is overly time consuming and introduces the further risk of human error. For this reason, smart companies will want to invest in integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) technology with their software for managing production history records. There are many benefits to this connected approach, including exceptional product traceability, perfectly accurate inventory tracking and the ability to engage mistake-proofing logic in the set-up of production jobs. It will also allow companies to deliver on short notice and continue growing in today’s dynamic manufacturing market.
