Examples of Manufacturing Strategy Development
Although management and marketing play a major role in any company's success, manufacturing strategies can mean the difference between success and failure for many corporations. Companies must develop a manufacturing strategy that plays up their strengths and pits them competitively in their market. Developing a manufacturing strategy that suits a company's strengths is essential not only to maintain the supply chain to customers, but to ensure the company remains competitive within its market.
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Flexible Manufacturing
Firms that adopt a flexible manufacturing strategy develop a manufacturing process that's easily customizable to fit ever-changing market solutions. These systems stress the process' ability to make modifications to their product quickly and adapt to changes in the volume of goods produced. Manufacturers that employ this strategy attempt to remain competitive by allowing for small-run batches and the ability to cheaply customize their products for clients to provide an advantage. Flexibility also allows manufacturers who employ this strategy to adapt to market changes more readily than competitors with other strategies.
Lean Manufacturing
Lean manufacturing strategies, also known as just-in-time manufacturing, aims to make the manufacturing process as efficient as possible by eliminating inventories and streamlining the manufacturing process to reduce wasted labor and materials. Companies that employ this strategy must employ workers with multiple skill sets to assume different roles as needed, and must develop a process that produces a high percentage of goods that passes quality control on the first pass. By maximizing efficiency, companies who use lean manufacturing plan to reduce costs and make themselves more competitive in the market.
Related Reading: The Best Strategy for a Small Auto Manufacturing Company
Service Based Manufacturing
Often employed by companies with established customer bases or by those that sell goods with a low profit margin, this strategy attempts to focus profitability not on the initial sale of a good, but on continued aftermarket purchases. This strategy may focus on providing spare parts for goods with a long lifespan, or leasing big-ticket items for a limited term and providing full service to the product during the course of the lease term. This strategy puts a premium on producing profits not from sales of the item, but on aftermarket sales and service.
Determining Your Strategy
Developing a manufacturing strategy is a difficult proposition for any company. A manufacturing strategy should be developed alongside a company's marketing and corporate philosophy, and should cater to the end needs of the distributor. While the type of manufacturing a company produces -- single piece vs. multiple items, low volume vs. high volume -- may impact a strategy, manufacturing needs and capabilities should also be considered. Just as there are many business philosophies that may fit inside an industry, no single manufacturing strategy works best in any situation.