Small factories don’t always get the same attention or resources as the bigger variants out there, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room to improve how they work, as you doubtless know when managing one.
In fact, the smaller the operation, the more important each decision can be, because a bottleneck here or an outdated issue there could affect everything downstream and really throttle your uptime. In such a competitive space, that’s not something you want to let drag on too long.
A small factory is a business unit engaged in the production of goods or processing of raw materials, with limited capital investment and manpower, usually serving local or niche markets.
A small factory is a manufacturing or production facility that operates on a limited scale, typically characterized by:
- Low to moderate production volume
- Fewer employees
- Smaller physical size
- Lower capital investment
- Locally or regionally focused operations
The exact definition can vary depending on the country, industry, or governing body.
Of course, nobody expects you to alter the whole shop overnight, because in most cases, it’s better to focus on smaller but more effective upgrades that let your operation breathe easier. But what does that mean in practice? It’s nice to suggest that improvement is good, but you know that already. In such technical space, you need real recommendations.
So, let’s talk through some. In this post, we’ll discuss three common manufacturing upgrades small factors are best off making.
Tool Upgrades
If you’ve ever had a cutting or shaping tool wear out right in the middle of a job, then you already know how frustrating cheap kit implemented at scale can be. Damaged, faulty, or improperly cataloged equipment can easily cause wasted material, lost time, and safety risks which are unacceptable. If that becomes a pattern, it’s costing you way more than the tools are worth.
So, it makes sense to invest in tougher, longer-lasting gear. Better carbide tools, like the ones you’ll find here, tend to last longer and stand up to tougher jobs. It’s a worthy upgrade, especially for better changeovers, cleaner finishes, and a bit less swearing on the shop floor.
Cleaner Layouts & Less Foot Traffic
Layout design of factories is its own specialism, but not just in terms of square footage. It’s more about how you use what you’ve got safely and without impeding the flow of production. For instance, maybe you’ve got a machine operator walking clear across the floor to fetch a part that could be stored five steps away. Or in your case, the assembly area is set up in a way that forces people to cross paths with forklifts every ten minutes. These little inefficiencies add up and again, might cause a safety issue.
Taking a day to walk through the layout with fresh eyes can help, as can bringing in a consultant. You can always ask your team what slows them down or what feels awkward. You might just need to shift a station over, build a better flow between zones, or remove some clutter.
Smart Control Systems With Simple Feedback
It’s quite common to think that digital upgrades always come with a huge learning curve, but that’s not always the case. If you can, implement digital assistant that make sense, such as basic sensors that track how long a machine is active, or dashboards that show where hold-ups are happening in real time so staff can track them without having to suspend the entire process.
With this advice, we believe you’ll be able to take inspiration from the most common small factory upgrades owners make.
