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In The Fold
May 1, 2009 By: Chris Raney Paperboard PackagingWhen business is booming, what is one of the hardest things to find? Well, maybe you said room to place the next order, or an open slot in the production schedule. However, perhaps the hardest thing to find is... time. When the schedule is full, it's all hands on deck for productivity and things that "don't really" have to be done are overlooked and/or put on the "to-do" list until slower times. Perhaps now it's time to pull out our "to-do" lists and do some catching up.
 Chris Raney |
Get A Physical
A busy schedule often does not allow for the opportunity to do a complete mechanical/electrical check-up every year, or when the PM schedule dictates. So, when things slow down a bit, take advantage of it.
The majority of machinery manufacturers offer some level of a machinery fitness survey. Many offer multiple levels that allow you to choose the technical or cost level that best fits your situation. This is a good time to have an OEM technician visit and perform a thorough inspection of the machine. It's a good time to perform the more complicated check-ups that may not be possible during your typical PM inspections. Have them inspect and test electrical components as much as practically possible. Inspect service components that are harder to access during regular PM.
Every plant has different practices and a different level of in-house talent. Consider what tasks your in-house folks are capable of performing. A thorough — and I mean thorough — cleaning of the machine can be carried out by most members of the operating or maintenance crews. This can generate work for crews that may not be too busy and save you some money in the process.
How about A Transplant
When business is slow, investing in new machinery may not be at the top of your list. However, it can be the perfect time. It may be possible to divert some internal resources to help with the construction or installation. Again saving some money and perhaps keeping some valuable people that you otherwise may lose. Also, installation of a new piece of equipment can be a major disruption to production. Traffic patterns and workflow through the plant often must be changed to allow for the construction and installation.
Contractors may also be a little more flexible on prices and schedules if they are not as busy as they would like to be. It can be an excellent opportunity to enhance the bang for your buck.
Education Is Good Medicine
If things have slowed down a bit, now is a great time to sharpen your employees' skills. This may be the most opportune time to bring skills up to the next level, to cross-train employees or prepare them for new positions inside the organization.
On-machine training is usually most beneficial to operating and maintenance crews. However, when schedules are full and orders must be met, on-machine training can be difficult if not down right impossible. Most equipment suppliers offer some level of training for operating and maintenance crews. Many upper tier suppliers have departments that are dedicated to creating and delivering training classes, seminars and education sessions which focus on enhancing crew skills and helping you get the best return on your investment. You may want to evaluate your training requirements and then see how your suppliers can help you meet your needs.
The Prognosis Is Good
Times will get better. The economy will turn around and we'll all get busy again. Once again production schedules will fill up and time will become scarce. So now is the time to take care of the things for which we can never find time. Turn this temporary slowdown into an opportunity to get things in order and be ready for the flood of business when things pick back up.
Chris Raney is vice president, Folding Carton products for Bobst Group USA, Roseland, N.J. He is responsible for the Folding Carton Business Area for the North American market. He can be reached at christopher.raney@bobstgroup.com.
