In the UK, over 2 million people currently work in the manufacturing business. That means there are a lot of people working on factory floors every day. To get the most out of your business, you need to have an efficient factory floor plan in place.
Figuring out the right way to design and operate your factory is key to keeping operations running smoothly. Not only will this ensure your business always turns a profit, but it will also keep you and your employees safe and organized.
To find out how you can make your factory more efficient with the right design, read the list below.
1. Make Organisation a Priority
Organisation is one of the most important parts of any factory design. Knowing where things are or where they need to be allows you and your staff to operate efficiently and safely.
To do this, ensure the layout of your floor plan is properly structured. Whatever you use your factory floor for, have a place for everything you need. This could include pallets, filing cabinets, boxes, and anything else you store in your factory.
If you’re operating a large factory, ensure you keep the equipment you use in one readily available location
2. Use the Right Technology for Your Needs
One area of technology that will help you design a better factory floor plan is computer-aided design. Using CAD to aid in the early design of your factory floor plan will help you spot potential layout issues before they become problems.
You should also use CAD software to help you make changes to your plan, even if you already have an operational floor. Simply create a CAD of your current factory floor plan and apply the changes you want to make. You’ll instantly see where you might run into problems, or what solutions will work well in your factory.
Another great use of technology for your factory floor plan is floor plan software. These kinds of software are becoming frequently more common in initial floor plan design.
Floor plan software allows you to outline and create your ideal floor plan before creating it. In doing so, you can assess how all the space in your factory can be used most efficiently.
3. Train Your Staff Effectively
Making your staff aware of the factory floor layout plan allows them to move through your factory safely. If they know where everything is located for their needs, they are able to do their jobs more productively.
This is especially important for new staff who have just started on your factory floor. Having a training scheme already in place to help new members of staff will mean they learn more quickly and can get on with their job sooner.
Having an outline of your factory floor and where everything on it is located will also help your staff. Make this available to them at all times so that they can consult it as they need.
If you decide to make changes to your factory floor plan, ensure you let your staff know about this. If you’re using CAD to help construct a new layout, show the design to your staff before you begin implementing changes.
Your staff will already have a good idea of what changes will work and what won’t, so asking for their opinion can save you time and money.
4. Use a Waste Recycling System
Recycling is paramount for the modern factory floor. It makes your business or company environmentally friendly, which improves consumer relationships along with the environment itself.
Many of the materials used throughout the manufacturing process are recyclable. This, of course, depends on the business you have, but it is worth seeing where recycling could be used on your factory floor plan.
Using an efficient recycling system will reduce waste on your factory floor. These waste products not only take up valuable space, but they can also be hazardous for your employees.
By offering a well-run recycling system, you will improve productivity and be able to keep your factory floor as organised as possible.
5. Incorporate Preventative Maintenance
Preventative maintenance is becoming one of the best ways to ensure your factory is operated as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Preventative maintenance simply describes the process of updating and mending any parts of your factory floor before they break or become dangerous.
A common misconception associated with preventative maintenance is that it slows down the flow of factory operations. Many people believe that consistently running maintenance checks will be a hindrance to employees and will disrupt productivity.
However, nothing could be further from the truth. Preventative maintenance allows you to deal with small problems on your factory floor before they become big problems. It is these big problems that truly disrupt productivity and can hinder your business.
There are two main types of preventative maintenance. The first is described as usage-based maintenance. This is the process of checking on regularly used machinery and areas on your factory floor to ensure they do not need any repairs.
The second kind of preventative maintenance is scheduled maintenance which is recorded in a calendar. You decide when you want particular areas of your factory floor checked and stick to this schedule, even if it seems like overkill. This will ensure you fix issues before they become problems.
Improving Your Factory Floor Plan Will Improve Your Business
By prioritising your factory floor plan, you also prioritise your business and your employees. By following the steps above, you ensure that your factory is organized and efficient, making workflow smoother and problems much less frequent.
If you’d like to know more about making your factory as efficient as it can be, have a look at this page. You’ll find a wide range of information about getting the most out of your factory and machinery. If you have any questions, you can easily get in touch with the customer service team.
