8 Essential Steps to Manufacturing Management

The manufacturing industry is expected to grow by almost 7% in 2021. That’s partially because of the post-COVID world, but it’s also because of a booming economy.

We’re not out of the woods yet as the economy emerges from its year-long slumber. People are struggling to get back to work fast enough and supply chains are trying to catch up with sudden demand.

Your manufacturing management skills have to be at a high level. You’re going to need to deal with unexpected issues, such as high shipping rates, and possible gas shortages.

How can you be a better manufacturing manager and keep your manufacturing operations in top shape?

Keep reading to find out the top eight steps for effective manufacturing management.

1. Be an Effective Communicator

As a manufacturing manager, you’re responsible for the production and operations of a manufacturing plan. That means you oversee employees on the floor, the engineers, the quality assurance team, and the vendors that supply the raw materials.

You’re juggling a ton of things at once, which means that communications skills are essential. How you communicate and with whom conveys a message.

That message can make people feel valued, or you can have low morale among your team members.

The best way to communicate with everyone is to be as open as possible. Have an open-door policy for an hour or two each day so employees can come to you with any issues.

That creates a culture where all employees feel valued and empowered to put forth their best work.

2. Invest in Technology

You have to keep your manufacturing facility up-to-date and ready for the future. Many manufacturing facilities are investing heavily in robotics and internet of things (IoT) devices.

These technologies rely on artificial intelligence, which enables manufacturers to do more with fewer resources. Some also estimate that artificial intelligence and robotics will eliminate millions of manufacturing jobs over the next several years.

You also need to invest in manufacturing solutions that keep manufacturing data centralized across an enterprise. Enterprise Resource Planning solutions for manufacturers are among the go-to solutions to help streamline manufacturing operations.

3. Keep That Technology Secure

One of the emerging issues in manufacturing is cybersecurity. Roughly half of all manufacturers have experienced a cyberattack.

That will only increase as manufacturing companies implement more technology in the business. The technology could come at a high cost if you’re not prepared to detect and prevent cyberattacks.

You should have your IT support team routinely conduct security audits to expose potential software vulnerabilities. It’s also critical to train all staff members on how to identify potential cyberattacks.

Finally, you have to have a crisis plan in place if a cyberattack strikes your business. You should have protocols that dictate the roles and responsibilities of your staff in the event of a security issue.

4. Create Opportunities for Employees

Employees will stay longer if you give them more opportunities to grow. Not only should you give them opportunities, but you should invest in them.

Many managers are reluctant to invest too heavily in training because they assume that employees will only leave them anyway. They might, they won’t want to if they’re constantly feeling challenged and are growing throughout their careers.

5. Review Your Manufacturing Plans Regularly

A manufacturing plan is similar to a business plan. It outlines the business model of the plant, the types of products produced, and your financial projections.

You should review these plans regularly, at least once or twice a year. This helps you cement the vision of the business and ensure that you’re on the path to get there.

You can also review changes in market conditions and competition so you can respond.

6. It’s All About Quality

Why are the tips about employee empowerment and communication so important? These things impact the end result.

Employees can feel good about the work they produce every day. They’ll take pride in what they do and that translates into a better product.

That improves customer satisfaction and revenue for your business.

7. Work with Sales and Marketing Teams

Manufacturing managers have it tough. You have to make sure there’s enough product to sell and you also need to make sure that inventory isn’t just sitting there.

You need to work with your sales and marketing teams to know how much product you need to have on hand.

The marketing team could launch a new campaign that increases sales. If you don’t know about it, the product could be out of stock.

8. Keep Cash on Hand

As with any business, cash is king. It’s even more important in manufacturing because you’re better equipped to handle unexpected operations issues.

Think about what would happen if one of your heavy manufacturing machines went down. How many days would your plant be offline?

If you had to purchase new equipment on the spot, you could just pay cash for it and get your plant back online ASAP.

However, if you needed to finance the purchase, you’d be offline for an extended period of time. You’d have to get the financing approved and get the cash, which could take weeks.

You need to make sure that you put a percentage of your budget into building your cash reserves. That will only help you in the future.

Effective Manufacturing Management Tips

Manufacturing is a highly competitive industry. The more your customers can rely on your and your team to deliver high-quality products, the more money you’ll make.

You need to up your manufacturing management skills to do so. Make sure that you’re a high-level communicator. Be sure to make the appropriate investments in your employees, technology, and security.

You’ll be able to handle just about any situation and stay at the top of your game. Head over to the home page of this site for the latest tech tips.