One thing I’ve noticed over the years is entrepreneurs looking to improve the way they run their businesses tend to look around within their own industry. So if you’re a restaurateur, you’re visiting other dining establishments and chatting with other restaurant owners about their recipes for success (pardon the pun.) It makes sense, of course, but I’ve learned that it’s foolish to stop looking for solutions once you’ve canvassed other people in your industry.
In fact, one of the richest sources of inspiration — particularly when it comes to efficiency — is manufacturing. How do I know? One of my companies is a small manufacturer! And I’ve learned so much from that company that applies across the board, regardless of my niche. What kinds of insight have I gained? Read on!
Ways to Improve Business Efficiency
1. Establish Quality Controls
How does a manufacturer ensure its products are of top quality? Quality controls! They check. They inspect. They test. You may be scratching your head, wondering how you’re supposed to assess the quality of your house cleaning business’s services. Obviously you don’t have a physical object to inspect, but whether it’s a survey sent out to clients or random spot checks to evaluate your cleaners’ work, finding a way to do quality control checks helps you ensure your customers are satisfied. If you’re not making sure your clients are happy, there are plenty of other companies who will.
2. Eliminate Bottlenecks
Before you can fix a bottleneck, you have to be aware of it. Taking a step back and assessing the flow of work and of customers through your company and your staff can let you identify where there are holdups – where the process gets bogged down. Bottlenecks are productivity slayers because you inevitably have idle staff downstream of the slow point, simply waiting to be able to do their jobs. Eliminating bottlenecks lets you run at top speed.
3. Eliminate Waste
Simply put, if it doesn’t benefit your bottom line or your customers, then it needs to go. Whether you’re talking about supplies or even about employees, lean, efficient, profitable companies can’t afford waste.
4. Establish SMART Goals
If you don’t articulate company goals, you’re never going to achieve them. And the best goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Specific – SMART. If you ensure that every member of your team knows exactly what you’re working toward and how progress will be evaluated, then you’re setting the stage for efficient, focused efforts.
5. Establish Systems
Systems are perhaps the biggest key to getting your company running at maximum efficiency and profitability. Why? Because everything you can automate frees up you and your staff for other work. Manufacturers can’t afford to have staff babysitting processes that can be automated, and neither can you. Establishing systems doesn’t necessarily mean you’re firing employees. It may just mean that you’re able to put your awesome staff to work on more challenging, profit-producing tasks.
Making your company more efficient pays huge dividends. It can reduce wait time for customers. It can enable you provide better customer service. It can help you manage your employees better, and most importantly, it can make your company more profitable. When you’re looking to streamline, take a lesson from manufacturers!
Republished by permission. Original here.
Manufacturing Photo via Shutterstock
This article, "Apply These 5 Manufacturing Techniques to Improve Small Business Efficiency" was first published on Small Business Trends
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