Many manufacturing companies struggle to maintain the balance between producing quality products,  meeting production deadlines and maintaining a high level of manufacturing throughput. Those challenges are multiplied when there is a lack of confidence in production scheduling. The combination creates an unreasonable and inaccurate distribution of manpower, setting the stage for production delays and inefficient shop floor workflows. 

Streamlining operations and prioritizing precision within workflows with the help of Trak-Suite can help keep manufacturing companies on track with their deadlines while maintaining quality standards. When disruptions can be managed efficiently and directly from the shop floor, production can continue with a high level of efficiency, resulting in greater throughput.

The Need for Precision

When operations are planned and scheduled with greater precision, from start to finish, manufacturers will see benefits to their bottom line and overall productivity. Manufacturers are keenly aware that building a quality product requires precision right from the start. Lack of precision in individual components ends up creating nightmares when the parts are assembled to make a piece of equipment. When precision is high on each component, the product assembles easily and functions at a far higher level. Similarly, the level of precision of the many components that are used to create the schedule, results in more confidence in the schedule as well as the dispatch prioritization of each component of work that needs to be produced at every step of the process. With precise scheduling and dispatching, manufacturing companies can maintain high operational efficiency and consistently meet production deadlines. 

With the specialized capabilities of Trak-Suite, businesses can streamline these important processes both on the shop floor and behind the scenes in the back office. Trak-Suite’s advanced scheduling education, techniques, standard operating procedures, dispatch systems, analytics, paperless operations and more will help businesses minimize downtime, optimize manpower, significantly reduce production bottlenecks and increase throughput. 

With these improvements to the floor operations in place, employees and managers can focus on producing high-quality products and meeting important deadlines. This leads to an increase in customer satisfaction as well as a reduction in workplace stress. 

Streamline Production  

Trak-Suite offers modules that can be used on the shop floor to expertly manage tasks, adjusting as needed to accommodate unforeseen disruptions. Manufacturers can take their dispatch capabilities to new heights and effortlessly handle scheduling information. 

These Trak-Suite solutions can be used to streamline production on the shop floor so that employees and managers can focus on precision and quality: 

Shop-Trak (MES) 

Shop-Trak (MES) utilizes Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) capabilities to adjust in real-time to problems on the shop floor. This includes updates to the schedule in response to machine downtime, shift changes, or urgent work orders. With Shop-Trak (MES), scheduling remains optimal under all conditions.

The Planner dashboard uses a simple drag-and-drop to allow planners to quickly re-sequence previously scheduled work. Those changes are immediately updated to the Shop-Trak shop floor dispatch, along with integrated messaging from the planner, so production is always aware of changes to the schedule without waiting for verbally communicated updates.

Increase Operational Efficiency

One of the primary challenges in manufacturing is minimizing downtime when unexpected delays occur. With Shop-Trak, businesses can proactively address disruptions on the shop floor. Managers can easily analyze the use of manpower, which allows them to provide customized support and training for continuous improvement.

Minimize Downtime

Shop-Trak (MES) allows businesses to effectively deal with disruptions and keep production lines running smoothly. This allows employees to get back to work sooner when things go wrong or need to be adjusted, leading to more efficient production. 

Optimize Manpower

Shop-Trak and Fact-Trak work together to analyze employee efficiency so managers can decide on the best way to redistribute work and keep the shop floor running smoothly. Efficient use of manpower contributes to the business’s bottom line.  

Impact on the Shop Floor  

Precise scheduling and dispatching directly impact the day-to-day operations on the shop floor by facilitating a smoother flow of operations and reducing instances of workflow stalling. When manpower is optimized and schedules are coordinated, potential problems can be handled more effectively. 

Improved Production Timelines 

Precise execution of schedules allows businesses to meet set production timelines more consistently. With better planning and dispatching, delays can be anticipated and avoided, resulting in faster turnaround times and more reliable output.

Reduction in Bottlenecks

Effective dispatching reduces bottlenecks, particularly in areas where workflow may have previously stalled due to production bottlenecks, poor scheduling and/or resource allocation. Integration of real-time data helps identify and resolve these bottlenecks swiftly while maintaining a smooth flow of operations.

Utilize Organizational WhiteSpace™ for Precision 

Organizational WhiteSpace™ represents untapped potential within a company's operations. Trak-Suite modules play a pivotal role in unlocking this potential by maximizing resource utilization. By streamlining the allocation of machinery and manpower, Trak-Suite ensures that every resource is fully utilized, minimizing idle time and maximizing productivity.

Intelligent scheduling and resource management also allow for strategic deployment of resources, further enhancing precision both on the shop floor and in the back office. By leveraging Trak-Suite's capabilities, companies can reduce operational costs and improve overall business performance by making informed decisions about resource allocation and utilization.

Final Thoughts 

Precision is at the core of effective shop floor operations and can be optimized with the help of advanced Trak-Suite modules and services. By streamlining production, increasing operational efficiency, and utilizing Organizational WhiteSpace™, businesses can maximize productivity and revenue.

Our next article in this series discussing Organizational WhiteSpace™ will take a look at how Trak-Suite can be used to create preventative measures that lessen workplace stress by reducing the need for emergency problem solving. 

If you’re ready to learn more about how Trak-Suite can help you leverage your Organizational WhiteSpace™, contact us to request a free demonstration. Discover how Trak-Suite can keep things precise on the shop floor.