The Cost Of Downtime In Manufacturing

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cost of downtime

The Cost Of Downtime In Manufacturing

It’s a very simple equation. If your equipment isn’t working, neither are you. That’s why downtime is one of the biggest expenses incurred by any manufacturing operation. When your production line is stopped for any reason, it’s akin to watching your money burn. Not only do these interruptions often mean costly repairs, but they also force you to play catch-up. You start to miss your targets, resulting in overtime and making a dent in your reputation. Even a few hours of inactivity can cost you millions of dollars, not to mention the series of setbacks you’ll experience.

This is why it’s so crucial for manufacturers to be vigilant when it comes to the most common causes of shutdowns. These can include neglecting maintenance, running dated software and postponing equipment upgrades. Not every issue is directly related to machinery, however. In many cases, interruptions occur because employees aren’t sufficiently trained. Other disruptions can be traced back to managers who failed keep detailed records of past problems. These records could have been used to identify and address trouble spots before they could lead to a shutdown.

When it comes to dealing with downtime, an ounce of prevention is worth at least a pound of cure. Supervisors and managers need to be proactive. This means gathering as much data as possible and also performing a risk audit. Knowing exactly where something is likely to go wrong means you can take steps to keep that from happening. Preventative maintenance is one of the most important means of avoiding downtime, as is investing in proper training for your personnel. Hiring a third-party service provider can help you stay on top of everything you need to do.

Don’t let downtime ruin your productivity. For other tips on eliminating this threat from your processes, take a look at the accompanying guide.


Guide created by S. Himmelstein & Company a leading manufacturer of torque tranducers

 

steven-tveter-author-headshotSteven Tveter is Vice President for S. Himmelstein and Company, a manufacturer and designing company of torque measurement instruments. He has more than 33 years of experience in the industry, and focuses on engineering management and product development

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