Ways to reduce Manufacturing waste
If you are interested in ways to reduce manufacturing waste, you’ll find several suggestions that have been used by manufacturers for a number of years. Some of the best ways require taking a step back and finding some of the root causes of your waste. Once you understand why there is so much waste, you can begin to explore ways to reduce it. Cutting and trimming materials can make a lot of waste, but not if you use smarter techniques like waterjet cutting. If you’re looking for Waterjet Cutting in Minneapolis MN, then look no further then Golden Valley Products.
Waste for the sake of waste
If a manufacturer can’t justify the impact of their waste, it should be eliminated from their processes. In many cases, the waste made during the production process can be minimized in favor of a more stream-lined production. For example, if a manufacturer has to throw out excess material because they don’t have the right tools or equipment to handle it, they should consider investing in new tools. If they are throwing out parts because they can’t reach the quality standards of their customers, then this is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Lack of standardized process
Nothing reduces waste better than a carefully thought out, standardized process. By thoughtfully analyzing each step in your products manufacturing process, you can find spots where waste is unnecessarily made, and can then remove them. When you have a standardized process, you don’t have to worry about making changes for every single product – which saves time and money. For example, you can use a standardized process for stamping out the shape of your product, then vary the size and color to create different variations. This way, you won’t have to make multiple tools for each variation, which would only have to be discarded when the project is completed.
Save leftovers and re-sell
Waste seems inevitable for most projects, but this doesn’t have to be the case. By reframing the way you view waste, you can begin to find value in what you otherwise would have simply thrown away. Unused pieces created throughout your manufacturing process can be resold to others to use in their own manufacturing process to help reduce unnecessary waste.
Use up all your raw materials
One of the best ways you can reduce waste when manufacturing products is by reducing the amount of materials you use. This can be done by reducing the number of parts in your product and finding ways to reuse materials that would otherwise go to waste. For example, if you manufacture products that require steel or aluminum, consider using as much of these materials as possible instead of throwing them away after they’ve served their purpose.
Another great way to use up all the raw materials you’ve selected for a project is to be mindful about cutting. Lots of waste can be produced from an inefficient cut, which is why it’s so important to make sure yours are maximizing the material used. Waterjet cutters can reduce the amount of scrap material produced by allowing uncut parts to be nested more closely together than traditional cutting methods. They use a thin, highly pressurized stream of water to cut through a wide range of materials. An added benefit of waterjet cutting is that it doesn’t use heat, which means the range of materials you can print from dramatically increases.
Identify your waste streams and find ways to reduce them
What areas of your production are producing the most waste? Can you reduce them? Some of the most waste in the production process starts early on, when raw materials are cut to size. The scrap around components can build up quickly before being discarded. In addition, the method used to cut components apart can produce a lot of waste. If you’re looking to minimize unnecessary waste in your production, then waterjet cutting may be a solution.
Waterjet cutting reduces scrap due its tight precision, which allows components to be placed near each other during the cutting process without risk of damage. Waterjet cutting also reduces waste in the cutting process by using cleaner techniques. The high-pressure water jet travels through a small nozzle, allowing it to cut through material with precision. The force of the water jet is strong enough to cut through most materials, but it also cleans up any debris that may be on the surface. This process helps reduce waste in two ways: first, by making sure that the pieces fit together perfectly without any gaps between them and second, by removing any leftover material from the surface of your product. At Golden Valley Products, we offer a wide range of services including: Digital printing, Screen printing, Pad printing, Laser cutting, Steel rule die cutting, Waterjet cutting, Laminating, Embossing, Membrane switches, Medical sensors (pressure sensors), Graphic overlays, and more!