-
The cheapest improvement in your business costs nothing
Here is a test you can run this week without spending a penny.
Walk onto your factory floor. Pick one product. Follow it from goodsin to dispatch and measure how far it actually travels.
In one factory sixty metres long, a single product travelled four hundred metres. It crossed the building six times. Back and forth between stations placed wherever there was once space, not in the order the work happens.
Every metre is handling. Every handling is time, cost and another chance to damage something. None of it adds a penny of value.
Most manufacturers have never done this walk. The number tends to change how they see the whole operation.
You do not need a system or a consultant to start. You need a tape measure and one honest walk.
I run MN Consultants and help manufacturers find these hidden costs on the floor.
Happy to answer any questions in the comments.
Hannah Logan, Stuart Morrison and 3 others6 Comments-
Really interesting. I used to run a printing and garment decoration business. This would have been really insightful and in hindsight we COULD have found some impressive efficiencies. Thank you for sharing
2 -
Thanks for the insight Muti ! Got me thinking about how our mail and parcels travel around our buildings
2 -
Thanks sharing Muti! It genuinely got me thinking throughout the day yesterday.
I found myself paying attention to how many unnecessary steps I was taking and questioning whether each movement was actually adding value or just habit. It’s amazing how quickly those little inefficiencies can add up.
Definitely something we’ll be doing at Built by Basil. I already know there are opportunities to improve our workflow and become more efficient. Sometimes the simplest prompts make the biggest difference!1 -
Time and motion is a great way to find efficiency savings, and sometimes starting at the basics can reveal a lot! How did you get started in this area of industry @mutinayyar ?
1-
@stu Agreed. About how did I get started? I dont know what else would I be doing.
1
-
-
Another business cost that business people can look to reduce is insurance. A bit left field but if you tighten up on your processes, physical and admin, your business will become a more attractive risk to insurers. Look at the physical security. Fire fighting equipment. What machinery do you have and is it properly protected? Right protective equipment? Professional services – how closely do you inspect your reports before sending them?
All small details but all adding up to helping you keep insurance costs as low as possible
1
-
