In the manufacturing industry, productivity is measured by the units of work produced per unit of time spent using raw materials. Productivity can be raised or lowered depending on how well the assembly line is organized. In order to improve productivity on an assembly line, we must first understand why low productivity levels are so detrimental to the manufacturing process and, ultimately, to the profitability of a company.

Always ensure that before making any changes to the assembly line production process, the plan is run through accounting and payroll to ensure that it is financially feasible first and foremost. This will be a critical step in determining the cost of current operations in comparison to the ideal cost objectives in the future. In order to avoid making changes on the manufacturing floor and having none of the changes be cost effective in the long run, you must first determine which changes are necessary.

Workflow optimization can be accomplished in five steps.

1. Making Small Steps Forward at a Time

Pay close attention to the smallest of details when assembling your product. Is there any unnecessary movement or straining to get to materials or tools that could be avoided? Making small changes, such as relocating all materials to a more convenient location for employees, can save valuable time over the course of a few days, weeks, or months of work. The cost savings that could be realized by streamlining the assembly process and eliminating small inefficiencies are astronomical when compared to the benefits of increased productivity.

Safe Working Environment (No. 2)

Having an open workspace increases manufacturing productivity by allowing for the implementation of additional safety measures, as well as the ability for management to track and measure all progress made on the assembly line. The work environment must be safe and comfortable in order to have a positive impact on productivity. An open workspace also makes it easier to identify bottlenecks in the flow of materials because they are visible. This workspace practice also takes into consideration the need to provide employees with open access to necessary materials and tools.

3. Line Balancing is important.

Distribute tasks evenly across the entire workstation so that employee idle time is kept to a bare minimum. Know your employees and their skill levels before you assign them to different workstations, whether this means placing people with more equal skill levels in different areas or simply allocating equal amounts of materials to different workstations. The placement of workers must be strategic on the part of management in order to reap the greatest possible efficiency from the assembly process.

4. Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Providing employees with an understanding of the company's long and short-term goals increases productivity and morale, while also providing team members with an incentive to put forth more effort during the assembly line process. Make sure to set realistic expectations, but also be willing to reward those who go above and beyond those expectations.

5. The Use of Technology

Make certain that employees understand how the production technology and machinery works, as well as how it contributes to the product line's value. Additional employee training as well as quarterly equipment knowledge checks are beneficial tools for ensuring that all technology is utilized to its full potential.