As a company with long roots in metalworking, we understand the importance of change to ensure long-term stability and success.
However, we believe that change doesn’t come in spurts or when a new piece of technology is introduced. Change needs to be rooted in a continuous improvement strategy to help transformations go smoothly and ensure customers reap the benefits of the changes.
In this article, we explore how the leadership team at AC Fabrication & Assembly Solutions make continuous improvement an essential part of our corporate culture.
Keeping The Emphasis On People Instead Of Technology
When people think about improvements in the metal fabrication industry, thoughts of new technology such as robotics and automation might come to mind. It’s true that new innovations have revolutionized our industry over the past several decades and that without them, we might still be crafting metal by hand as forgers in previous centuries did.
However, we also believe that no matter how much technology improves our processes and enhances quality, it would be completely useless without a workforce committed to embracing change for the betterment of our industry.
Our approach to continuous improvement in our offices and production facilities gives our people the opportunity to identify areas of improvement in their day-to-day duties. This mindset doesn’t just require people to accept change, but to be part of the transformation, which keeps them motivated and engaged in the bigger picture.
We foster an attitude of looking for ways to optimize our operational safety, quality, quantity, and costs, giving our teams a stake in our industry’s future while enjoying additional career satisfaction.
A Practical Approach To Promoting Continuous Improvement
It’s easy to talk about continuous improvement from a high-up position. However, any changes made from this perspective would have minimal impact without direct involvement in the process backed by actual data and real-world scenarios.
That’s why we take a more practical approach to continuous improvement by examining what’s actually happening on the production floor. This exercise involves examining key metrics to determine whether a process is functioning as required and delivering the expected results.
Much of this involves taking an existing problem and working backwards to determine the issue and formulate a solution. For example, if the actual hourly output of a fabrication process is less than our predetermined target output, we can examine the entire process step-by-step to identify what is causing the shortfall.
We can also calculate the output rejection rate and go back through the process to strategize how to minimize this percentage.
These exercises are more than just fixing a problem for a particular project. Rather, they set benchmarks for long-term process improvements to optimize efficiency, quality, and costs. This approach improves profits for our company and the customer.
Furthermore, as we identify more areas for improvement in our processes, we also refine our standard operations, setting the foundation for future optimizations as our customers’ needs grow and evolve. This helps us react quicker to market changes as they happen.
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Executing Change Management Strategies
Continuous improvement often means change. Change is a good thing, but it can also be difficult. Think about employees who have performed their tasks in a particular way and, at present, may be intimidated by a new approach. It can be a hard sell to many employees, fostering feelings of being outdated, out of touch, or potentially left behind.
Our outlook on change management starts at the very top. AC Fabrication’s leaders are completely committed to continuous improvement and encourage our team members to be involved in any initiatives that will keep process enhancements moving forward.
Part of this strategy is to help team members understand that continuous improvement efforts rarely mean sweeping reforms that will completely transform the company. In most cases, change means adjusting the smaller details that will not only help the customers but also make everyday tasks easier and more efficient.
This “small things” approach will help develop better buy-in from employees, who will feel more invested in the improvement process and increase their capacity for more and even bigger changes.
We also prepare them to be involved in change by developing and elevating their problem-solving and critical thinking skills to suggest new and better ways to do things. Nurturing a forward-thinking approach in our teams has an additional long-term effect by enhancing their careers and opening them up to new opportunities.
With a bright future ahead of our team members who can now take an active role in initiating change, process improvement can become further embedded in our corporate culture, potentially attracting millions of dollars in new business development and creating a new crop of future leaders.
The Benefits That Business Transformation Initiatives Bring To Our Customers
Leaner, meaner production facilities bring our customers a whole crop of benefits. They get the finished products faster, improving their time to market and keeping them competitive. They also save on costs by reducing waste and optimizing material use.
There is also a significant increase in quality with technology and processes specifically geared towards manufacturing their products, as well as better repeatability in large production runs. Another important benefit is the enhanced sustainability of our industry as we look to further improve the metalworking process.
Continuous improvement is just that: an ongoing commitment to always making things better, not just for our customers but for manufacturing in general. Our organization will continue to encourage and embrace change as we move further into the 21st century.
Read More: How Positive Collaboration With Suppliers And Customers Strengthen The Supply Chain
AC Fabrication And Assembly Solutions: The Only End-To-End Off-Road Equipment Solutions Supplier You’ll Ever Need
With 300 years of combined experience, we offer unparalleled quality, durability, and service you won’t find with any other fabrication supplier. Our skilled technicians deliver this, and their primary goal is to create sustainable growth for our customers.
Contact an AC Fabrication and Assembly Solutions expert at 204-952-1900 or sales@acfabandassembly.com for a custom quote on your next project today!
