Steel fabrication is a complicated business in a complicated industry. There are many challenges from the front office to the back warehouse and across a variety of machining and production lines. When time and materials are critical to the bottom line, productivity becomes one essential element to success. There are many ways to increase productivity in the steel fabricating industry and it often starts with technology.
Does Your Business System Support Productivity or Hamper It?
Is your business management technology supporting or hampering your productivity? Disparate systems isolate data in silos, making it difficult to reach and use when making important business decisions. Without access to current, reliable data, it’s difficult to create quotes that satisfy your customers and your bottom line.
In addition, manual processes for important tasks like estimating or counting inventory eats up valuable time. Managing data in spreadsheets opens the door for mistakes, putting your data at risk. Wasting time, money and resources isn’t going to protect profit margins or keep customers satisfied.
3 Ways to Boost Profit by Boosting Productivity
Steel fabricators, steel service centers and others in the steel and metals industry can increase profits by putting systems that automate productivity. A comprehensive, centralized ERP solution will reduce wasteful practices and here are three productivity improvements you can make quickly:
- Data management: Centralizing data within a single, integrated solution makes it easier for you and your employees to enter, find and use the key data your business generates each day. You have a single source for information, a single version of the truth and will spend less time looking for data and more time using it to guide business in the right direction.
- Time-saving automations: An integrated management solution automates data management and other common tasks. Workflows guide employees as they perform routine activities, like turning quotes into work orders. Data is shared throughout the system. Managers can monitor work in production and manage inventory as it’s being used or earmarked for production. Alerts automatically notify managers when certain tasks need attention or are completed. When inventory levels get low, for example, the procurement manager can be alerted to take action.
- Business intelligence and analysis: You need built-in business intelligence, analysis and reporting features to monitor KPIs, identify trends and dive deeper into the true costs of overhead, production, labor and other expenses. Monitoring finances and operational activities arms you with the insight needed to uncover ways to work with greater efficiency.
Take Advantage of Technology to Increase Productivity
Disparate systems and manual operations are inefficient and prone to mistakes, both of which hamper productivity and can impact profits. Turn technology to your competitive advantage by using it to capture and analyze financial and operational data. You will be able to find new ways to streamline operations, control spending and optimize resources. Contact us for guidance on improving productivity in the front office, the back warehouse and throughout your enterprise.
