In the hustle and bustle of modern-day working environments, it is difficult to establish a high level of operational efficiency. All industries seem to suffer from this, this is especially the case in agriculture, logistics and construction.
Optimizing the operational efficiency would allow workers more space to focus on what truly matters while saving a lot of money and resources for the company. Luckily, modern technology allows us to do just that.
Workflow automation is now more accessible through the use of modern software and hardware solutions, and modern-day work is going to change drastically for the better. Here are a few things to consider when improving operational efficiency.
1. Refine your communication
In order for everything to function as smoothly as possible, it is extremely important that the communication is clear and concise.
Of course, in order to make sure that this is possible, you first have to convey clear information. This aspect of work is often overlooked and lost in the hectic rhythm of a workplace. In manufacturing work, this is especially true.
Rarely is it the case that the workers know when a vehicle is being used, where it is, and when it will be available again. Instances of poor communication are far too common, and this is the number one factor for creating downtime. Sacrificing time, money and resources is no way to go in the future, so refining the communication is a must.
Luckily, this is possible with the use of IoT technology which can track all of these things and let everyone know on the go. Now you don’t have to second-guess yourself when trying to use a company’s vehicle. Decisions can now be made more quickly, and the customers are less likely going to be frustrated.
2. Leverage IoT technology
One of the biggest trends lately has been the use of technology in modern-day working environments. This technologically-enhanced style of working has especially marked the rise of the construction industry.
Now it is possible to automate a good chunk of the workload such as tracking fuel expenditure using powerful construction equipment maintenance software which is integrated into the fleet of vehicles using IoT devices such as sensors and trackers.
Imagine if you could gain insight into which piece of machinery is being used by who, all in real-time. This offers more flexibility in terms of scheduling who is going to use the machine next. In addition, the powerful IoT sensors also aid the safety of workers by tracking their location and monitoring some risky behaviours while working, such as speeding.
It allows to reflect on the work done and improve inefficient machine use or optimize the best routes while handling logistics. IoT paves the way to a safer, more efficient and eco-friendly workplace.
3. Improve the workplace culture
The impact that the workers can have on the workflow is more immediate than we like to think. However, the way the workers perceive work and carry out their responsibilities largely depends on the company’s work culture.
There is a lot of value in improving the workplace culture because this will boost operational efficiency by making the employees more satisfied. The aspect of workplace culture also determines the type of relationship between the contractors and the employees, as they all shift to a more collaborative and meaningful type of work instead of pointlessly working harder.
Working smarter is crucial for avoiding burnout and preventing possible workplace injuries, as is commonly the case in manufacturing industries. Great steps to take in order to improve workplace culture include; minimizing unnecessary meetings, offering more benefits and including useful employee training that can boost their skills and potentially lead to promotion.
4. Provide training to improve operational efficiency
One of the key areas where operational efficiency starts to plummet is the ineffective work done by the workers, this can happen knowingly or unknowingly, but for the most part. It can be fixed by implementing valuable employee training.
There are always some best practice principles that can be applied in order to improve operational efficiency. This is useful for both new and seasoned employees. Since they can be trained to help each other out and fill in their mutual weaknesses.
Training can include both soft and technical skills. Like optimizing the communication chain, or adjusting vehicle and machine operation habits.
5. Track performance
Improvement can become somewhat of a vague notion especially if you do not have any data to showcase it. Without tracking performance your business could very well be spinning its wheels.
That is why the powerful IoT technology can offer concrete evidence and raw data which serve in creating a valuable framework of references. These references can be useful for determining what works and what has to be refined or eliminated.
Another great benefit is that the powerful software can make predictions based on previous and current data, so you can always reliably make decisions.
The new industrial revolution seems to be oriented now, not in terms of how powerful our machines get, but how well we can leverage and monitor their amazing performance because all that power has to be channelled in the right direction without wasting time, and money and valuable resources.
Luckily, powerful IoT technology is here to help alongside good practices such as optimizing the workplace culture and communication, providing employee training and tracking performance.
Lilly Miller is a Sydney-based graphic designer and a passionate writer. Loves everything about home decor, art history, and baking. She shares a home with two loving dogs and a gecko named Rodney.
