One of the best reasons to adopt new technology is to streamline your processes. With the right equipment, you can improve productivity and efficiency, reducing downtime and other issues.
Of course, new machines may come with their own challenges, such as potential malfunctions and operator difficulties. This is as true of strapping machines as any other equipment you decide to invest in for your plant.
Reducing downtime is easier when you have the right information. These five tips will help you use your strapping machine the right way. In turn, you can reduce end of line downtime and keep your team moving.
1. Train Your Team to Use the Strapping Machine
The first step to take when you add a strapping machine to your plant is to train everyone who needs to use it.
The reason is easy to see. If your team members don’t know how to operate the strapping machine, they can’t take full advantage of all its time-saving mechanisms. In fact, they may end up spending more time trying to get the machine to work properly or resolving issues caused by improper use.
Proper training on your strapping machine for pallets is essential. A well-trained team understands safe operation, avoids downtime, and maintains a smooth workflow.
2. Invest in Regular Maintenance
Another key to reducing end of line downtime is investing in regular maintenance for your strapping machine.
It can be tempting to use the machine until something goes wrong, and simply repair it once something breaks. By taking the time to regularly replace parts and clean the machine, you can keep it in better working order.
That means fewer unscheduled repairs and less downtime as a result. Preventive maintenance may only take a few minutes and can save you hours of downtime. A well-maintained machine is also operating at peak efficiency, which means your team will be moving through their to-do lists as fast as they can.
3. Revise Your Processes
One of the issues plant managers come up against when they adopt new tools is that the old processes aren’t suited to the new equipment.
This is often the case with strapping machines. If you switch from handheld tools to an automated packaging machine, some of the steps in your strapping process may become redundant and unnecessary. Your team might actually be wasting time completing these steps.
This can inadvertently result in more downtime as your team may not be handling the strapping machine optimally. Important steps might be skipped, because they aren’t outlined in your old procedures.
When you introduce new strapping equipment to the floor, always review the procedures for the tasks it will handle. Chances are you can improve efficiency and reduce downtime by revising the process to better reflect what the machine can do.
4. Make Sure You Have the Right Machine
Before investing in a new strapping machine, confirm it aligns with your needs. Learn how strapping machine works (strap feeding, tensioning, sealing) to ensure it's the right fit for your operations.
Consider the type you need: tabletop strapping machines are ideal for smaller items, while semi-automatic and automatic strapping machines offer increased speed and power for heavier or higher-volume loads.
Downtime could be the end result if you choose a machine that can’t handle your throughput. Maybe you’re trying to strap loads that are too heavy or the wrong dimensions for the machine. This can cause trouble for your team, and might result in machine malfunctions, leaving the team to hand-strap the load.
If the machine can’t keep up with your throughput, you may find it wears out more quickly or breaks down more often. Having the right equipment will help you reduce downtime.
5. Emphasize Safety
Finally, as with all equipment in your plant, you should put emphasis on safety protocols. Following safety procedures protects your team and helps them avoid injury. In turn, they can avoid leave due to injury and keep everything running smoothly.
With these tips in hand, you can reduce downtime and its impact on your plant.
Need help finding the right strapping machine for your plant? Get in touch with the experts today.