Get involved in the Made in Group discussion groups and share your insights with other manufacturers. Made in the Midlands and Made in Yorkshire are industry associations hosted on the Made Platform, a private digital network for manufacturers and their industry influencers to share their experiences.
This week's discussion group tackled the thorny subject of capacity issues to help members to create more Capacity in their manufacturing or supply chain.
Capacity constraints occur when companies cannot meet the growing demands of their customers. Companies overextend their production capacity but remain limited by physical, financial, and human resources. Members discussed the importance of 'capacity planning', which will help boost capacity without adding unnecessary costs and risking the quality of products.
Issues discussed included the continued semiconductor shortage and logistical difficulties with shipping and transportation delays. The knock-on effect is impacting both production and profits.
Members seemed to agree on the need to adopt analytical solutions. Some members suggested without a complete and accurate view of the capacity problems faced in their own business and supply chain; they should not undertake extra labour recruiting, process outsourcing, and investment in more Capacity.
The possibilities for capacity planning might be daunting for manufacturers with several production sites and product lines. These larger businesses may turn to MES/ERP solutions, combined with better planning and management of existing resources.
Members who shared their insights last week included:
Julie Gordon - AJT Equipment
Tony Baldassarra - Greene Tweed
Dan Stephenson - Pryor Marking Technology
Neil Williams - Rowan Precision
Andrew Wellwood - AMB Ltd
Adrian Chell - ZF Lemforder
Andy Toms - TLM Laser
Samantha Poynton - WinMan
To attend an event or participate in a discussion group please login to your made account and visit the events section within your dashboard.
Not yet a member? Join our group here www.madeinthemidlands.com/register or www.madeinyorkshire.com/register