You’re looking to boost your productivity in automotive manufacturing. What are the best ways to do it?

1 Plan ahead

One of the keys to productivity is having a clear and realistic plan for your production process. You need to know what your goals are, what resources you have, and what challenges you might face. Planning ahead helps you avoid waste, delays, and errors, and allows you to optimize your workflow and capacity. You can use tools like Gantt charts, Kanban boards, or production planning software to map out your tasks, timelines, and dependencies, and monitor your progress and performance.

2 Schedule smartly

Another important factor for productivity is scheduling your production activities efficiently and effectively. You need to balance your demand and supply, allocate your resources wisely, and synchronize your operations. Scheduling smartly helps you reduce downtime, inventory, and costs, and increase output, quality, and customer satisfaction. You can use tools like ERP systems, MRP systems, or scheduling software to plan your orders, materials, machines, and labor, and adjust your schedule as needed.

6 Improve constantly

Productivity is not a one-time goal, but a continuous process of improvement. You need to measure your productivity indicators, such as output, quality, efficiency, and profitability, and analyze your strengths and weaknesses. You also need to solicit feedback from your customers, suppliers, and employees, and identify areas for improvement. Improve constantly by implementing the PDCA cycle (plan-do-check-act), applying lean manufacturing principles, and using tools like Six Sigma, Kaizen, or 5S to eliminate waste, reduce variation, and increase value.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?