There are lots of what could be considered “megatrends” sweeping manufacturing at the moment.  Some facilities are embracing them and reporting their findings so that others can benefit from the information.  Here are the brief issues you need to know for your field.

Downtime costs more than you realize.  Of course it costs in lost production.  But do you know what the real cost to your factory is when a machine goes offline for several hours?  If you aren’t factoring in productivity of salaried employees, cost of machines and maintenance activities, etc., then you may be grossly overlooking your real costs for downtime.  That old mixer may be costing much more than maintenance every time it has to be taken offline to clean the sludge buildup on the walls.

Delaying upgrades creates a “false economy.”  A 2016 Bloomberg report indicated that U.S. infrastructure and equipment are the oldest they have been since at least 1925!  The same report found the average age of all fixed assets to be 22.8 years old.  This is the result of an attitude of “making due” with what one has, but that can prove a costly strategy.  A Komax mixer, for instance, can save substantial margins on energy and overhead costs while producing a higher quality, more dependable product, even fitting into spaces where the floor plan may not offer the best options for expansion.

The future of work is going to take advantage of both technological advances but also the way those advances can be worked into the way real employees approach their duties. Investing in IoT and network technology means nothing, for instance, without the right people to analyze the data you are receiving.  Komax can help modernize your activities through a variety of innovative designs.  For instance, our Triple Action Static Mixer offers in place mixing without the need for constant maintenance for sludge buildup.