13 things that kill labour productivity – and how to fix them
Improving labour productivity can be like dealing with a bubble under the linoleum: you push down in one place and it pops up in another. Something that makes sense on paper – say, having workers complete assemblies faster – can easily backfire, with higher staff turnover costs (for example) cancelling any benefits gained. Genuinely improving [ ... Read More
September 18, 2020 Manufacturing productivityPractical ways to measure productivity – and improve it
To measure productivity you simply divide outputs by inputs over a set period of time. As a formula that’s productivity = output ÷ input. It’s a simple equation – yet measuring productivity in the real world is never so straightforward; nor is making any meaningful improvement. In this article we’ll first look at practical ways […] ... Read More
September 11, 2020 Manufacturing productivity10 Ways Manufacturers Can Reduce Manufacturing Costs
The best way to reduce costs in a manufacturing business is to target the three areas in which costs generally fall: direct labour, materials, and manufacturing overheads. In this article we’ll look at each of those areas in detail and suggest ways in which business owners and managers can reduce their costs – without lowering […] ... Read More
September 8, 2020 manufacturing costs, Manufacturing productivityThe Complete Guide To Calculating Total Manufacturing Costs
To calculate total manufacturing cost you add together three different cost categories: the costs of direct materials, direct labour and manufacturing overheads. Expressed as a formula, that’s: Total manufacturing cost = Direct materials + Direct labour + Manufacturing overheads. That’s the simple version. However there’s a lot mo ... Read More
September 1, 2020 manufacturing, manufacturing costs, Manufacturing productivityThe Top 4 Ways to Improve Manufacturing Productivity
If you own a manufacturing business, chances are you will have a list of things you want to change to make your operations run smoother. You have employees and your manufacturing floors and systems in place. You know they can all be improved, but where do you start? When the options seem endless, it is […] ... Read More
August 25, 2020 employee satisfaction, Manufacturing productivity, productivityHow Food Manufacturing Software Drives Profit [w Case Studies]
Effective inventory management is crucial to reducing costs in any manufacturing business. This is particularly true in the food manufacturing industry, which characteristically has a high volume of products stored, and an urgent need to fill existing client orders to match ongoing consumer demand. Cost reductions in food manufacturing can be achie ... Read More
August 12, 2020 food and beverage, food manufacturing, inventory, Manufacturing productivityUnleashed’s customer service recognised by Software Advice
The Best Manufacturing Software With Great Customer Service Reinforcing Unleashed’s reputation for great performance, SoftwareAdvice.com got in touch this week to say Unleashed had been ranked in their “Best Manufacturing Software With Great Customer Service” category. “So how do you know which manufacturing software provide ... Read More
July 6, 2020 manufacturing, Manufacturing productivityNew data: NZ manufacturers back at pre-Covid level + Aus booms
The latest data shows New Zealand’s manufacturers appearing to shrug off the ‘80% economy’, reaching pre-Covid levels of activity at the end of June. The average number of Purchase Orders, Sales Orders and product assemblies processed all reached or exceeded levels not seen since February this year, when disruptions were largely limited to co ... Read More
July 3, 2020 Covid-19, manufacturing, Manufacturing productivityBI in Manufacturing: 3 Realistic Steps to Data Mastery in 2020
Industry 4.0 may sound exciting for manufacturers – with its IoT-enabled factories, all-singing all-dancing ERP software, and AI-powered insights – but frankly this is fantasy land for the vast majority of manufacturers. Most of the technology to power smart (or even just smarter) factories is prohibitively expensive for most SMEs. Getting acti ... Read More
June 9, 2020 BI, business intelligence, GB, Manufacturing productivity, real-time data4 Ways to Lift Manufacturing Productivity: The MFP Approach
Over the past ten years, the issue of stagnating productivity in the United Kingdom has grown to seem almost unstoppable. Each report on the issue from the country’s Office of National Statistics (ONS) offers few signs of hope — to the point that no individual solution seems sufficient to tackle such an overwhelming problem. To […] ... Read More
June 4, 2020 GB, manufacturing, Manufacturing productivity, productivityBeverage Sector Performance in 2020 – Unleashed Special Report
The beverage industry story has been particularly dramatic, with rapid expansion and growth in the last two years, followed by a turbulent ride through the recent pandemic. With shutdowns affecting retail outlets and hospitality venues in particular, some players have been hard hit – while others have benefited from spikes in consumer demand. In ... Read More
May 26, 2020 B2C, beer brewing, beverage, beverage industry, coffee, Covid-19, Manufacturing productivity, multichannelHow To Start Your Brewery On The Path To Success
The craft beer industry has had an exciting ride, with a pre-Covid Compound Annual Growth Rate of 14.1% and a forecasted market valuation of US$107.85 billion by 2024, according to Business Wire. Knocked back just 7% in sales volumes during the height of 2020 lockdowns, according to Unleashed Software’s own data, the beer industry overall [&helli ... Read More
May 20, 2020 beer, beer brewing, beverage, Beverages, breweries, craft brewery, inventory management, Manufacturing productivityData-driven decision making in beer manufacturing [expert Q&A]
As brewers ramp up production it’s critical they protect margins with data-driven decision making. Unleashed Software spoke with Maria Pearman, a Certified Public Accountant based in Portland, Oregon – the home of craft beer – who provides accounting expertise and deep operational knowledge to the brewing industry. Here she shares her views o ... Read More
May 12, 2020 beer, beverage manufacturing, Beverages, BI, breweries, brewery inventory management, business intelligence, business of brewing, Manufacturing productivityWhy JIT Isn’t to Blame for Broken Supply Chains
As governments and hospitals work to stamp out Covid-19, manufacturers are also struggling to manage the virus’ impact on their supply chains. Many are quick to blame just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing for their lack of components and raw materials. Is the lean system at fault or is it something deeper? We’ll take a closer look at: […] ... Read More
May 11, 2020 Covid-19, JIT, just-in-time, manufacturing, Manufacturing productivity, push and pull production, supply chain5 Factors Affecting Lead Times for Manufacturers
Lead times refer to the time taken between the initiation of a manufacturing process and its completion. Types of lead times differ based on the product or customer but for the purpose of manufacturing or assembly, the primary four lead times are: Customer lead time Material lead time Production or manufacturing lead time Cumulative lead […] ... Read More
January 13, 2020 inventory control, lead time, manufacturing, Manufacturing productivity5 Causes of Inventory Waste That’s Costing Your Business and How to Avoid Them
Inventory waste can cost your business valuable time and resources. Inventory ties up capital and if you’re not managing it effectively it will quickly absorb important cash flow and worse, it can hide inefficiencies within your operations. It is crucial to optimise inventory control to help reduce your inventory waste. However, before you can re ... Read More
December 16, 2019 eliminate waste, inventory control, inventory cost, inventory stock, Manufacturing productivityInventory Cycle Times: What They Are and Why They Matter
Inventory cycle times are an important component in manufacturing operations, production scheduling and inventory control. Cycle times represent the speed by which your organisation delivers its goods or services to the market. The cycle time of your inventory can be defined as the total time taken from the start to the finish of manufacturing acti ... Read More
November 19, 2019 inventory reporting, manufacturing, Manufacturing productivity, productivityLazer Lamps: Achieving rapid growth with the right cloud apps
By investing in cloud software early, new ventures can ensure they’re ready for success. Because Unleashed scales alongside your business, providing a framework for growth instead of holding you back. Here’s Ben Russell-Smith, founder and director of Lazer Lamps, on how he’s used Unleashed to fuel a real British success story. Lazer Lamps My ... Read More
September 29, 2019 GB, manufacturing, Manufacturing productivity5 Effective Ways You Can Improve Workflow Efficiency in the Warehouse
Having a warehouse that flows smoothly is essential to maintaining customer satisfaction because it helps ensure quick and accurate shipments. Inefficient warehouse operations can lead to long waits and inconveniences, which are the top reasons customers will stop buying from you. But did you know improved efficiency of a warehouse can also help re ... Read More
July 19, 2019 business efficiency, Manufacturing productivity, warehouse managementSupply Chain Efficiency vs. Effectiveness
Supply chain managers can often think that if a process is efficient, it is also effective. In fact, this is not always the case. Confusion can arise because the relationship between efficiency and effectiveness is interrelated yet independent. This article will explain the difference between supply chain efficiency and effectiveness, and although ... Read More
April 6, 2019 business growth, inventory management, Manufacturing productivity, supply chain, supply chain challenges4 Strategies to Improve Supply Chain Efficiency for Manufacturing Business Owners
Manufacturers typically perform planning, sourcing (finding suppliers), making (manufacturing), delivering and returns. Supply chain efficiency, therefore, is the measure of getting the right product to the right place at the right time — and at the least cost. Remember, efficiency is not the same as efficacy. Traditionally, supply chain manageme ... Read More
February 18, 2019 manufacturers, Manufacturing productivity, supplier management, supplier relationship, supply chain3 Successful Companies Practising Just-In-Time Systems
One of the most popular methods for inventory management is just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing. JIT refers to a system of manufacturing that lets business owners produce products once a customer has requested and paid for it, rather than having already assembled products on the shelves waiting for purchase. Many business owners use this inventory met ... Read More
February 15, 2019 dropshipping, JIT, just in time inventory, just-in-time, manufacturing, Manufacturing productivity