Your manufacturing business relies on having an effective supply chain to keep production going. Bringing raw materials in and shipping finished goods out are both completely essential processes, which places great importance on manufacturing supply chain management measures.
What is Manufacturing Supply Chain Efficiency?
Is your supply chain capable of keeping your operations moving at full speed, with no breakdowns or bottlenecks? Are your processes optimized from time and budgetary perspectives? Does every employee know his or her role, with no ambiguity or time wasted? If your organization is on top of these factors, you are positioned to perform well and be a valuable part of the overall manufactured goods supply chain.
You should ensure every part of your company’s operations, from the physical assets present in warehouses and distribution centers to the training of your employees is an enabler of the industrial manufacturing supply chain. Mastery of and support for logistics matters will make your company a better fit for its partner organizations. The role of manufacturers in supply chain operations is to smoothly turn raw materials into retail products, and bottlenecks related to your business can weaken the whole manufacturing chain.
It takes a comprehensive overview of your company’s present and potential efficiency to optimize logistics. You should examine key areas such as the loading dock and the floors of warehouses and distribution centers to make sure technology, standard procedures and employee training are all feeding into the universal goal of frictionless logistics.
4 Tips for Supply Chain Management in the Manufacturing Industry
Becoming a more efficient manufacturing organization from a supply chain and logistics perspective isn’t automatic or simple. The following are four checklist items to focus on when tuning your operations.
1. Get input from stakeholders at all levels and departments
Enacting truly impactful improved processes in your supply chain will rely on buy-in from the whole organization. Decisions that can lead to better logistics performance, such as rethinking your facility’s equipment or investing in comprehensive maintenance, should be made in collaboration between higher-ups and personnel working on the warehouse floor. Supply & Demand Chain Executive stated that modernization efforts should be organization-wide initiatives, especially when committing to ambitious solutions and aligning the supply chain with the company’s overall objectives.
2. Focus on the loading dock
Without a fully functional loading dock area, your company’s manufacturing operations can shudder to a halt. Your docks are the places where a facility interacts with the supply chain at large, and when there is a serious mechanical failure on the loading dock, it can stop raw materials from getting in and shipments from leaving. The result of this type of breakdown is massive bottlenecks, ones that may impact partners up and down the chain. Therefore, supply chain manufacturing process improvements should focus on installing the right assets at the loading dock and performing proactive maintenance to keep failure rates down.
3. Think in digital terms
The rise of digital technology can be hugely beneficial for manufacturers that take advantage of the systems’ potential. McKinsey & Company stated that the rising Supply Chain 4.0 model will embrace more analytics, powered by precise information that includes points such as the real-time position of vehicles. Since every organization has a role to play in the overall production process, sharing of data is a valuable consideration. When your organization and its partners on the raw materials and retail distribution sides can exchange data effectively, you can coordinate to prevent disruptions and delays.
4. Reduce your reliance on reactive maintenance
When the equipment in your facilities – from industrial doors and loading dock levelers to forklifts and other warehouse assets – is included in your proactive maintenance plans, you are less dependent upon last-minute repairs and productivity halts that come from breakdowns. Stops and starts can be devastating to your manufacturing supply chain efficiency, meaning it pays to be proactive about inspections and maintenance. Having factory-trained expert technicians performing these checks, as well as on call in case a failure does occur, can keep your operations running smoothly.
Time to Inspect Your Facilities’ Assets and Practices
What is the status of the warehouses and distribution centers that make up your part of the supply chain? Do you have the latest equipment in place? Are you committed to proactive maintenance to keep everything running and prevent bottlenecks? Are you using data to its utmost extent? Do your personnel know the best practices associated with their jobs? Supply chain management in the manufacturing industry is all about keeping things moving smoothly, day in and day out, and it’s time to determine whether your company can achieve that goal.
Reach out to Miner to receive a free quote and begin strengthening your processes.
