Manufacturing TipsSupply Chain Food Traceability – An Expert Guide for SMBs Traceability is of vital importance in the food and beverage industry as it may directly impact consumers’ health and well-being. When a defective product or contamination is found, whether before or after shipment, finding the source of the problem expediently is the top priority to ensure public health. By Steve Maurer, IME 17 min read
Manufacturing Tips OEE – What is Overall Equipment Effectiveness and How to Leverage It Your equipment is running. Your team is working hard. But for some reason, production numbers don’t match what the specs promised. Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) solves this puzzle by measuring the true productivity of your manufacturing equipment. By Steve Maurer, IME 19 min read
Manufacturing TipsProduction planning The Small Manufacturer’s Guide to Co-Manufacturing and Co-Packing For many growing manufacturers, outsourcing is the key to scaling up without investing in massive facilities or specialized equipment. Co-manufacturers make this possible, but they also introduce new management challenges. By Madis Kuuse 7 min read
Manufacturing TipsProduction planning How to Calculate Capacity Utilization: A Manufacturer’s Guide Measuring how much of your production capability you’re using is critical. Use too little, and you’re wasting resources. Push too close to the limit, and you risk failure and loss. Tracking capacity utilization helps you discover the sweet spot in your operation. By Steve Maurer, IME 19 min read
Manufacturing Tips Root Cause Analysis in Manufacturing: What is RCA and How to Do it? It’s great when production runs smoothly. However, when problems arise, SMEs must delve deeper than surface symptoms and conduct a root cause analysis. Without identifying the underlying causes of failure, you’re trapped endlessly in putting out fires, wasting time and money on temporary fixes. By Steve Maurer, IME 21 min read
Manufacturing TipsProduction planning Manufacturing Workforce Management Guide for Small Businesses The manufacturing sector is in a constant staffing crisis. Efficient manufacturing workforce management, however, can help mitigate problems arising from worker shortages. By Madis Kuuse 7 min read
AccountingManufacturing Tips Production Costs: Definitions, Formulas, and How to Control Them Small businesses need to know exactly what each specific product costs to make. Not just the factory floor expenses. Everything. Production costs and manufacturing costs aren’t the same thing, even though people mix them up constantly. Get this wrong, and your pricing suffers, along with cost control. Your financial statements won’t tell you what’s really […] By Steve Maurer, IME 12 min read
InventoryManufacturing TipsSupply Chain Decoupling Inventory: Protecting Orders With Strategic Supplies Every manufacturer knows how quickly things can go sideways. A delayed shipment here, equipment trouble there, and suddenly your whole operation falls behind. Decoupling inventory takes a different approach. By placing buffer stock at key production points, manufacturers can absorb these shocks without losing their delivery commitments to meet demand. By Steve Maurer, IME 15 min read
Manufacturing TipsSupply Chain Lead Time in Manufacturing: A Complete Guide to Types, Strategies, and Optimization Some manufacturers hit every delivery date. Others constantly scramble with delays. What’s the difference? It might just be how you estimate and manage lead times. By Steve Maurer, IME 15 min read