The Eyes Have It

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There is one largely untapped resource where manufacturers can make huge improvements in material handling— their suppliers.
Follow the journey lumber takes through your plant from when it’s unloaded from the truck and proceeds to the saw to the press to the staging area. Every second counts.
Talk to your peers to see how they address material flow at their plants. WTCA’s Open Quarterly Meetings are a great opportunity to discuss industry issues one-on-one, often with manufacturers who aren’t your direct competitors.
After making a purchase, continue to monitor efficiency at the plant with time studies and see how actual productivity measures up against the statistics your supplier quoted when you purchased that new piece of equipment.