It doesn’t matter what you are manufacturing; waste will always be present during the process. Manufacturing waste could crop up due to a wide range of reasons, including unnecessary transportation, defects, overproduction, unused time, and waiting times.
With this in mind, it is important you attempt to put into place practices that help reduce the production of waste. For a helping hand, read on for the following helpful tips to minimize waste as a manufacturer:
Be organized
It might seem obvious, but a surprising number of manufacturers overlook the need to be organized. Yet a lack of organization could lead to processes taking longer than they should, or products being sent to the wrong customers.
Thankfully, organization doesn’t take too much work. It is simply a case of ensuring everything is well-marked and labeled correctly. This includes the locations of supplies and inventory. If any labels have become outdated or faded, it is also important to replace these with updated versions. While longtime staff members won’t feel the benefit, new employees will certainly appreciate the new labels.
Recycle
If you have waste, how do you get rid of it? Well, the best method – for multiple reasons – is by recycling.
Keep all recyclable materials in separate bins, ensuring they’re clean and free from water damage, and don’t shred paper if it’s not needed – there are many methods to take into consideration for an effective recycling strategy.
To have a true recycling impact, and save money in the process, you should look at the possibility of investing in a baler. This will compress materials, ensuring they take up less space and are ready to be sold to recycling companies. By purchasing high-quality baling wire from Baling Wire Direct, you will further increase the effectiveness of this recycling technique.
Limit packaging materials
As a manufacturer, you have a choice when it comes to packaging the items you produce. Due to this, you should make a conscious effort to reduce any packaging materials. If you need to guarantee extra padding for your packaging, opt for packaging content that is recyclable or reusable. This could be corn-based packing peanuts or air packs.
Manage your inventory
Managing your inventory effectively will not only save on waste, but it will also save on excess expenditure. This can be done by having closer control on the materials you use during the manufacturing process.
For instance, work out the number of raw materials you need in stock at any given time. This will reduce any excess materials existing in your workspace, which will, in turn, limit the levels of waste generated.
Reduce water usage
Water – including industrial sludge – will account for a significant amount of the manufacturing waste produced by your business. Thankfully, there are easy steps to take when reducing water usage. Operations can limit water usage by implementing the likes of dry machining, reverse osmosis, and chemical drying agents.
On the topic of water, encourage employees to cut down on drinking from plastic bottles. Instead, switch to reusable bottles or using glasses to consume the water.
