How to Make an Assembly Line More Efficient in 2021

AUSTIN, Texas - Jan. 14, 2021 - PRLog -- The New Year, 2021, is finally here, and not a moment too soon.

The changing of the calendar marks a new start, a fresh beginning.

How can American manufacturing companies make the best of it?

The challenges facing the industry are great. US trade deficits reached an all-time high in 2020, as the Coronavirus put the economy on the back foot. And, as the American economy contracted during 2020, it's continued to fall further behind China, which Bloomberg now estimates will take over the mantle as the world's largest economy as soon as the year 2028.

How can we change course? According to Elon Musk, who recently overtook Amazon's Jeff Bezos as the world's wealthiest individual, the answer lies in increasing our investment in innovation.

Heeding Musk's advice, we take a look at 10 areas that manufacturing companies should invest their time and resources in to achieve greater productivity and maximum return on investment.

1) Invest In People

An Educated, Innovative, And Healthy Workforce Is Your Number One Asset

It takes a capable, innovative workforce to be successful in the competitive manufacturing market, which means people are the most important investment of all. The Coronavirus pandemic has only heightened the need to improve safe working conditions, but there are other important considerations to help you attract the best and brightest employees:

• Follow Covid Safety Guidelines
  Use CDC's Covid 19 safety guidance to create a plan to protect your workers from transmitting the virus; this will include improved ventilation, increased social distancing, and adding transparent shields between workers who must work close to each other.
• Step-Up Accident Prevention Programs
  Slips, trips, and falls (STF) and overexertion (caused by lifting heavy items incorrectly or working longer hours overhead) are among the most common causes of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs). See our article How to Prevent Injuries at a Manufacturing Facility for advice on how to change work practices to avoid on-the-job injuries.
• Invest in Good Ergonomics and Employee Wellness
  Improper seating positions and long hours on the job can also lead to increased fatigue and injuries. Consider investing in proper ergonomic seating and workbench layouts, including work surfaces that can be raised or lowered to fit individual employees properly.
• Equal Opportunity Employee Training and Mentoring Opportunities
  As older baby boomer workers retire, do you have a plan for recruiting the next generation of workers?

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