Time is indeed money. Any downtime at your company is revenue lost. To minimize disruptions to your workflow, make the effort to implement the following ideas.
- Invest in the highest quality tools you can. Cheaper equipment may save you money at the outset, but you will waste more time and money repairing it and replacing it. Whether you’re dealing with artificial intelligence software or lathe machines, do your research and buy the best.
- Build a professional network. Attend conferences and other meetings that provide opportunities to connect with your industry. Maintain good relationships with both clients and peers. Then when things go awry and you have questions, you have a support system in place to offer good advice.
- Employ predictive maintenance solutions. With reliable machine diagnostics, you can catch equipment problems before they become major failures. Scheduled repairs are more cost-effective and reduce the amount of time your machinery is down.
- Invest in your employees. Train them well in onboarding then continue to provide excellent training throughout their employment. Respect their downtime and encourage a quality life outside of work. Invite them to give feedback appropriately and then listen to what they have to say. Remember that your employees are the boots on the ground, so to speak.
- Degelate to others. You don’t have to carry all the balls. In fact, you shouldn’t. It builds morale among your workforce for you to share responsibilities. Identify your strengths and share the work that doesn’t fit your skillset.
- Get organized. This applies to both your company and you, personally. The line of authority in your business should be clear. Everyone should know where they belong and to whom they are responsible. Set both company and personal goals. Set clear deadlines that your employees know about. A few minutes of planning each week establishes a forward momentum.