3 Simple Changes for Improved Metal Fabrication Business

While change is often met with resistance in our industry, even a simple one can sometimes lead to benefits that revolutionize your business. One simple change that can drastically improve your shop flow is organization. Consider the below questions:

• Think of the positioning of the machines in your shop. Does their placement make sense with workflow for your employees?
• Is your shop tidy? Free of debris and dangerous sharp scrap?
• Do you have a daily regimen set in place for your employees to maintain when it comes to clean up? For example, have the fabricators spend the last 15 minutes of each shift picking up scrap, putting hand tools in their storage location, and recharging battery powered components like forklifts and cordless drills.

Another important change to consider is maintenance.

• Do you have a log of the maintenance that has been performed on your machines?
• Is maintenance scheduled regularly?
• Does your maintenance schedule align with what is recommended by the machinery manufacturer?

A third, and very important, change to consider in improving your shop practices is to take advantage of training.  Keeping your staff up to par with the latest and most efficient ways of doing things is critical when improving your practices.

• Are you actively involved in an organization that provides training for your workers?
• Do you provide the opportunity for your employees to be reimbursed for training that helps them with their jobs?
• Do you seek out new information on best practices to improve your business to train your employees?