Without an effective people strategy, attaining excellence is elusive at best.
From our executive search perspective, we see that manufacturing excellence is facilitated by leaders who can see the big picture. We’ll explore the key elements of manufacturing excellence and why a talent strategy is integral to pulling them all together.
The reasons why manufacturing excellence is vital for producers are manifold, so we’ll break them down into discrete areas.
Elevating product quality and consistency with standardisation
Manufacturing will always be about the product, so consistency is vital for meeting high-quality standards. This is made possible with close and zealous scrutiny of output to minimise defects and variations. Implementing best practices and standardised procedures is key to reducing variability in production.
Increasing efficiency and reducing waste
Optimised and streamlined production processes allow a more efficient use of resources, which leads to reduced production times and lower costs. It’s all about eliminating elements and practices that do not add value – which requires leaders who are comfortable with shaking up old habits and outdated approaches.Further, minimising waste ultimately lowers production costs and contributes to environmental sustainability.
Improving customer satisfaction and loyalty
High-quality products are the road to increased customer satisfaction and brand loyalty. When customers can trust the reliability and performance of the products they purchase, they will keep returning – and ultimately grow in numbers.
Combined Factors for Success
Bringing these concepts together, it becomes clear that manufacturing excellence is not just about the quality of output or driving efficiency. By creating the right conditions for innovation to take place, it creates a direct path towards increasing profitability and gaining competitive advantage.
Without observance of manufacturing excellence principles, organisations lack the flexibility and agility necessary for riding the ups and downs of shifting market demands and regulatory developments.
Manufacturing executives will be no strangers to the methodologies that underpin excellence, including Lean Manufacturing and Just-In-Time (JIT) Production, Six Sigma, Total Quality Management (TQM), Continuous Improvement (Kaizen) and Sales andOperations Planning S&OP – which we’ve explored in detail here).
These quality management methods, however, are not possible without specific resources to execute them. A blend of tangible (technology and technical infrastructure) and non-tangible (people, leadership) factors is key to attaining manufacturing excellence.
The human workforce is the primary driver in enhancing manufacturing capabilities. From designing processes and creating innovations, to hands-on labour working on the factory floor, it’s your people that make it all happen.
Skilled workers are better equipped to adapt to new technologies and methodologies, making them invaluable in an environment where business transformation is often necessary for survival. However, whilst technology can help manufacturers drive transformations, without a strong emphasis on the people element any performance gains are unlikely to last for more than three years, as McKinsey research shows. Organisations with true operational excellence, McKinsey found, have a focus ‘on the people side of productivity, performance, and technology’.
As virtually all manufacturing executive recruiters will attest, building a skilled workforce requires leadership that is engaged with its teams and looks beyond the short-term to develop human capital.
In practice, this involves leaders deploying several workforce strategies that complement each other and reinforce specific behaviours and attitudes.
Training and Development Programs to Strengthen Skills
Continuous training programs are crucial for helping employees stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in manufacturing technologies and practices. With a rising number of manufacturing environments adopting digital tech, an array of technical skills will be instrumental in driving excellence. Recognising this, a growing number of manufacturers in the UK and EU (Benelux and beyond) are investing in apprenticeships, certifications, and ongoing education opportunities to build future pools of versatile workers.
Focusing on Employee Engagement and Motivation
Engaged employees are more likely to take initiative, offer innovative solutions, and participate actively in continuous improvement efforts. Involving employees in the improvement process– by encouraging workers to do their part in striving for manufacturing excellence – has proven successful for many producers past and present.
Engagement is best supported when manufacturing leadership has a clear line of communication with its workforce and provides opportunities for employees to contribute ideas and feedback. Offering incentives and recognition programs to reward contributions are also important for continuous improvement efforts, which are supported by strong employee morale.
Nurturing a Collaborative Culture
Collaboration among employees overlaps with engagement to a large extent. With high engagement, teams are more disposed to sharing knowledge and best practices, which is vital for enhancing overall efficiency and problem-solving capabilities.
Cross-Functional Teams
Cross-functional teams bring together diverse skills and experience, leading to more comprehensive and effective solutions. These teams can address issues more quickly and efficiently, reducing downtime and improving production flow. To make this collaboration work, it helps to clearly define the objectives and goals of the cross-functional team, to avoid overlap and engender accountability.
Leaders are unable to achieve manufacturing excellence without the right teams, but exceptional leaders will orchestrate all aspects of the business to work together effectively.
The most talented manufacturing executives have a comprehensive understanding of the entire manufacturing process, from supply chain management to production, quality control, and customer delivery. This holistic perspective allows them to identify opportunities for improvement across all functions.
Big-picture executives don’t shy away from using data from a range of sources to inform their decisions. Perhaps most importantly, they maintain a customer-centric focus. They understand that manufacturing excellence is not just about efficiency but also about meeting and exceeding customer expectations.
Exceptional manufacturing leaders can be developed but are seldom found easily without dedicated executive search expertise. Looking for an executive to supercharge your manufacturing excellence strategies? Melium is purpose-built just for that. Working across the UK and the EU, including the Benelux region, Melium enables manufacturing organisations to thrive with considered leadership appointments. Contact us today to learn more about our search and consulting services.