Those in the manufacturing and retail businesses know just how crucial having an efficient product flow is. For a business to be successful, one should not limit themselves in offering the right products to the right audience and having a smart planogram. One crucial factor that can also affect your bottom line is your product flow.
Why is product flow management significant to business success?
The kind of product flow you have in your business can affect both your customer’s experience and how well you can generate revenue. An effective product flow management allows you to make the most out of your inventory. You will have enough products to supply the demand, and you have less unfinished products that take up less storage and ends up in waste.
Failure to address product flow issues can lead to more wasted time and money. The process takes longer than necessary, meaning you lose more revenue in the process. Failure to effectively move your products on time also leads to an increased risk of product damage. Another consequence is that your workers can be put at a greater risk of getting hurt.
Indications you have poor product flow in your business
Not sure if your company has issues when it comes to product flow? Know that are tell-tale signs that show you need to start improving your system. If you have are currently experiencing the following issues, then there is a need to improve your process.
- You have an abnormally high amount of raw materials in your storage
- There are too many unfinished products in your facility
- You are producing less output than your expected number of products
- A large number of your products are damaged
- You are having a hard time tracking product losses
- There is an obsolete number of unused equipment in your factory
- There are an increased number of injuries when moving your products
Addressing poor product flow management
The good news is, there are things you can start doing now so you can improve your product flow. Instead of making your workers do everything by themselves, invest in the rights tools and equipment to make their job easier, faster, and safer. For instance, buying the right piston filler attachments helps reduce spills, automate filling tasks, and avoid injuries.
Redesigning the factory is another way to boost product flow. Take into consideration the process each material needs to undergo. Streamline the manufacturing process by moving the necessary areas closer to each other. This will help you save time in moving the products and helps avoid delays in the process.
Optimizing your inventory is also a practice crucial to business success. Knowing how often you need to replenish your inventory and how to approach different vendors can help you improve your processes. Aside from these, consider the feedback of your workers and never take their safety for granted.
If you want to start improving your business bottom line, then one way to do this is to check the flaws and current challenges of your business. It pays to check if you are experiencing product flow problems. Learn to recognize the signs of inefficient product flow and start addressing the issues accordingly.