Process consistency enables manufacturers to more accurately analyze their work flows, predict costs, and maintain on-time deliveries. The enemy of process consistency is variability. Variability is created by manual manufacturing processes which can be dependent on a number of factors such as attendance, workloads, fatigue, shift changes and lunch breaks. Variability also affects the bottom line. If a process takes longer than expected, this extra time was probably not accounted for in the cost, or perhaps it was, because the quoting process already takes process variability into account. If we look at all of the opportunities to automate in a given manufacturing process, we can start to see where the cost-saving possibilities truly are.
Automation is what creates consistency in the manufacturing process. If we can remove the variability in each and every aspect of the process, then the process time becomes more predictable and accurate. Predictability and Accuracy also directly affect many aspects of the business. If the process is consistent, then quoting and deliveries are more predictable, and profitability and customer satisfaction are also consistent. When the manufacturing process is more accurate, variability is removed from the quoting process and your manufacturing cost-estimates decrease.
The Bottom Line: With a lower quote how much additional revenue will your company have gained as a result of winning new jobs with a lower estimate? How much more manufacturing capacity will be realized in your equipment by removing the variability so additional jobs can be processed? How much more business will your company gain due to the increased customer satisfaction as a result of being consistent?
By Frank Arteaga, Head of Product Marketing, NAFTA Region
Bystronic Inc., Elgin, IL – Voice.bystronic@bystronic.com