Much like kids going back to school, companies in the industrial manufacturing and machining sector see the end of summer as a time of preparation for fall, a season notorious for increased order volume, acquisition of new clients and projects, and often a time to hire new workers. Before the weather begins to get chilly, consider these 3 tips for maximizing your company’s manufacturing precision and productivity this fall.

Re-Evaluate Your SOPs
As the saying goes,” if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”; but if some of your processes and procedures predate your existing staff, product list, or machines, it may be time for a tune-up. Take some time to sit down with your employees, allowing them to freely discuss ideas for expediting the tasks they do most frequently. Give them a judgement-free opportunity to voice their opinions on existing procedures, discussing the pros and cons as a team. Collaborating in this way can generate great new ideas and allow you to kick off the busy season with everyone on the same page.

Calibrate Your Machinery
There’s nothing worse than producing inconsistent or flawed products due to an alignment or calibration issue. For machines that require precise leveling, straightness, squareness, parallelism or flatness, perfect configuration and calibration of machines is imperative. Luckily, laser alignment systems can help solve any positioning and calibration issues before they become a problem. These systems use visible laser diodes to produce clear lines, negating the need for steel squares or other mechanical levelers. Ensuring that all your machine components are square is a great way to start the season with peace of mind.

Double Check Inventory
As business picks up, it could be potentially catastrophic to receive an order and find that you don’t have all the components needed to fill it. Taking the time to order and wait for missing parts is an easy way to set back your output, delay multiple orders, and lose customers. If you don’t have one yet, establish a system to keep track of your inventory; whether it’s computerized or just a simple spreadsheet, there’s no better way to ensure that you have all the parts you need to fill every order on time.

Summer’s not over yet, so there’s still plenty of time to incorporate these 3 easy tips before the fall season begins. Good Luck!