No matter what manufacturing business you run, greater process efficiency is the key to more production, faster results, and ultimately, higher profits. Manufacturing more efficiently can help cut costs, improve throughput, and reduce your environmental impact, all of which lead to additional benefits like increased sales and quality. But better efficiency doesn’t have to cost a fortune! Here are 3 simple products that can help you improve processes in your plant:
Mechanical locking devices (e.g., split washers, nylon nuts) often loosen under vibration, thermal expansion and/or improper torque. Not only do they not fully seal threads, but they’re prone to rust as well. On the other hand, LOCTITE® Threadlockers are a liquid anaerobic adhesive that locks and seals threaded fasteners and makes assembly and disassembly MUCH faster. Suited for everything from delicate electronic components to heavy industrial equipment, LOCTITE® Threadlockers have dramatically increased the reliability of threaded assemblies by securely locking nuts and bolts against vibration and thermal expansion, and reliably sealing against corrosion and leakage without needing any on-torque adjustments.
The kicker? You can dramatically reduce inventory costs, since Threadlockers can be used on every assembly and you no longer need a range of shapes and sizes of washers, nuts, and bolts. Plus, you’ll no longer need to worry about the costly downtimes that result from threaded assemblies failing repeatedly. The result? More efficiency, lower costs, and higher profits.
Here’s a fact that not enough manufacturers talk about: most efficiencies in the plant come from increased safety. For example, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that 26% of nonfatal occupational injuries requiring days away from work are the result of slips and falls, while the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada states that these account for 18% of injuries in Canada.In fact, overall, trip and fall injuries cost businesses more than $13 billion in compensation!
That’s where the 3M™ Safety-Walk™ Slip-Resistant Tape comes in. With a a mineral-coated, slip-resistant material that features a highly durable surface, Safety-Walk™ is an anti-slip tread that prevents falls in heavy traffic work areas, and is excellent for tricky-to-navigate areas of your plant, including ramps, walkways, loading docks, machinery, and vehicles. It helps you prevent injuries well before they happen, keeping your workers safe and your business moving.
One major key to an efficient workplace is organization. Take a good, hard look at your manufacturing plant, including the layout, exits and entrances for workers, where heavy equipment is stored, how every area is used, etc. You’ll want to ask yourself questions like: are the hand tools easy to find? Are staff able to easily access all the raw materials and finished goods? Is your packing/shipping area nearby the areas where finished goods are kept?
In many cases, you’ll find that organization relies on proper storage capacities. Greenlee’s Utility Cabinets are perfect for on-site organization, with lots of shelving to store tools and materials that make it easy for workers to store and find tools, materials, and documents. When the workday is over, security is never an issue with continuous, non-removable hinge pins that prevent theft.
