How to Increase Throughput In Your Countertop Fabrication Process

For countertop fabrication shops, the challenge of increasing production efficiency is often a significant hurdle to success. While throughput can be increased through automation and process definition, it’s hard to know where to start. This blog will cover the basics of throughput, why it’s important for countertop fabricators, and how you can use cutting-edge software, preventative maintenance, and refined processes to increase throughput in your countertop fabrication shop.

Why You Need to Increase Throughput in Your Countertop Fabrication Shop

Throughput refers to the amount of time and resources required to complete a production process or cycle. On the shop floor, this is typically used as a measure of how productive your facility is. Increasing throughput in the countertop fabrication industry is crucial because it allows you to improve your manufacturing processes, increase production capacity, reduce waste, and become more profitable.

Six Simple Ways to Increase throughput

The throughput improvement process doesn’t necessarily need to be a hassle. Implementing a few key changes in your manufacturing process can improve productivity and set you up for long-term success. Here are some of the most effective strategies for increasing throughput in your countertop fabrication shop.

1. Review Your Current Processes and Identify Problem Areas

Before you implement procedural changes, you need to take the time to understand and define your manufacturing workflow. What processes help the manufacturing process run smoothly? What are the major problem areas? Examine each of the following areas within your facility and ask yourself some of these questions:

Labor: How prepared is your staff for each day’s work? Do you have the right number of employees for your workload? Do you provide enough managerial support to encourage them to work diligently?
Equipment: How well does your manufacturing equipment fit your needs? Is any equipment out of date and in need of an upgrade? Are you regularly performing maintenance and keeping a log of it?
Processes: Are there any recurring issues with your equipment or workflow? Do any bottlenecks prevent you from working efficiently? Are all of your employees aware of how fabrication processes work together?

2. Leverage the Power of Technology

One of the best ways to increase throughput is to integrate fabrication shop management software into your workflow. This software centralizes all of the information regarding your fabrication process, from initial scheduling to record keeping. It also provides you with granular data that allows you to see where your fabrication processes struggle. By streamlining tasks and minimizing inefficiencies, you can significantly increase throughput, complete more fabrication projects, and, ultimately, increase your revenue.

Unsure how to identify shortcomings in your countertop fabrication process? ActionFlow’s leading process development and automation software provides you with exceptional visibility that empowers you to make strategic, informed decisions regarding your business.

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3. Eliminate Bottlenecks

Now that you’ve taken the time to understand how your people, processes, and equipment work together and have access to powerful software, you should be able to spot where you experience significant holdups. For example, you might have several legacy processes that have been around for so long they’re no longer effective. You may also realize that certain processes require more workstations to meet the pace of your manufacturing process. Some processes may need to be eliminated completely and replaced with an updated model.

After answering the questions above, take the time to develop new, streamlined processes that combat common disruptions and bottlenecks.

4. Reduce Equipment Downtime

Your equipment needs to stay in good working order if you want to increase throughput in your countertop fabrication manufacturing process. Unnecessary downtime halts production and can make you fail to meet your throughput goals. To avoid production interruptions and costly breakdowns, incorporate a preventative maintenance plan into your workflow. This allows you to schedule downtime and keep your fabrication equipment in the best shape possible.

You can use the insight from step one to determine the best times to schedule maintenance, so you’re never surprised.

5. Reduce Parts Rejection Rate

Every so often, mistakes are going to occur within the manufacturing process. Countertops may be chipped or damaged by faulty equipment or may not meet your high production standards. Wasting this material is expensive—you need to refine your fabrication processes to reduce damages and errors. Doing so helps your bottom line and can drastically increase throughput.

Let’s say, for example, your manufacturing process allows you to produce 50 countertop slabs per hour. Suppose that, out of those 50 slabs, six are damaged or of poor quality. Your rejection rate would be 12%. However, if you focus on refining your processes, replacing faulty equipment, and performing ongoing maintenance, you can reduce the number of unusable slabs. If you reduce the number of rejected slabs to three, your rejection rate falls to 6%, and your throughput increases. Throughout a shift, this can significantly impact the amount of high-quality material you’re able to produce.

6. Provide Proper Training for Your Employees

Properly training your employees ensures that everyone on your team knows how to use fabrication equipment safely and effectively. It also gives them the tools to troubleshoot minor production issues. This helps you avoid delays, disruptions, and equipment damage while increasing throughput.

Simplify Your Fabrication Process With ActionFlow

At ActionFlow, we strive to provide countertop fabricators with powerful, elegant technology solutions that simplify their manufacturing processes and maximize revenue. Our automated reporting tools allow you to produce focused reports of line items, job site details, estimates, invoices, and more. This ensures you’re always fully informed of what’s going on in your countertop fabrication process and allows you to increase throughput continually.

How to Increase Throughput In Your Countertop Fabrication Process

Why You Need to Increase Throughput in Your Countertop Fabrication Shop

Six Simple Ways to Increase throughput

1. Review Your Current Processes and Identify Problem Areas

2. Leverage the Power of Technology

3. Eliminate Bottlenecks

4. Reduce Equipment Downtime

5. Reduce Parts Rejection Rate

6. Provide Proper Training for Your Employees

Simplify Your Fabrication Process With ActionFlow

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