The industry of manufacturing has had a common theme throughout its history and that’s of constant improvement and innovation. Not many players in this industry continue to manufacture the same way as they did in their infancy years. This is due to the competitive nature of manufacturing. In this ultra-competitive field, manufacturers must ensure that they’re innovating their products and systems to keep up with the quickly changing demands of the consumer. But meeting this demand is only half the battle – the other half is keeping up with the advancements of the industry.

Advancements in technology bring a whole host of new challenges that manufacturers must recognize, identify, and address. One example is the increased dependence on automation in manufacturing factories. This change requires the need for more skilled workers due to the complexity of the advanced systems at play. These systems require a deep understanding to function properly and keep your factories producing. Integrated manufacturing systems today require a multitude of highly specialized capabilities. If workers can’t adapt, organizations find themselves struggling to stay competitive with the rest of the field.

To remain competitive, manufacturers should have several tools at their disposal that go beyond their physical equipment and technology innovations used in their facilities. These tools are ideas manufacturers can keep in their toolbox and use to produce next-level productivity. For example, one of these tools can be an investment in regular maintenance, ensuring that your machinery stays in service for as long as possible. The result being higher productivity and fewer costly downtimes.

There’s more than one kind of tool necessary for success in manufacturing. Here are some concepts and ideas you should have in your toolbox to yield higher productivity and to stay ahead of the game!

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Tate Pearson is the Senior Director of Engineering and Technical Support Services. Since joining Advanced Technology Services (ATS) in 2010, Tate has served in several leadership positions to drive consistent operational excellence and growth. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Purdue University along with an MBA from the University of Iowa and is a certified Safety Trained Supervisor.