Part of understanding how production capacity of can making machinery production line can be increased is a thoughtful consideration of why.

1. Workflow Anomalies
   Examine the ways your products move from Point A to Point B. Do they travel from machine to machine by way of a conveyor, or does a person have to unload them from one piece of equipment and transport them to the next?

If someone is manually moving products, installing conveyors between machines will help to speed up the process. Redesigning the plant layout to minimize the amount of time it takes to move WIP through the manufacturing process can be extremely beneficial. Now might be an ideal time to think about how your plant layout works.

2. Insufficient Maintenance
   Regular equipment maintenance and care will keep your facility’s machinery in working order for many years. Even with ongoing care, machinery is subject to wear and tear. The greater the wear and tear on equipment, the greater the risk of breakdowns. When a piece of machinery breaks down, it can cause significant delays to the production line. Your team might have to scramble to replace the faulty piece of equipment or might need to hold off on production until the machine can be fixed.

Fortunately, there are ways to minimize wear and tear, fix, or replace equipment before it becomes defective. Software programs can monitor machinery, ensuring it is properly calibrated and ready for use. Implementing a regular maintenance, repair, and replacement schedule will also help to ensure your facility’s equipment remains in the best working order. You can use statistical models and data to predict when a piece of equipment is likely to reach the end of its usable life or is due for maintenance.

Using machinery properly is another way to minimize wear and tear. Educating your team and ensuring everyone is on the same page regarding the safe and effective operation of each piece of machinery will reduce slowdowns on the production line.

3. Poor Factory Management
   In some instances, equipment and organization can be to blame for slow line speeds. In other cases, the cause is people. Specifically, management problems can interfere with a facility’s productivity. Some examples of management issues that should be resolved to improve productivity include:

Communication issues: Communication is vital to the success of any company. It’s particularly important when your business is trying to maintain a production schedule and boost its productivity. A lack of communication between supervisors, upper-level managers, and people working on the facility floor can lead to delays and interfere with the quality of the products produced. One way to correct communication concerns is to develop a system for reporting and sharing information. Who should they tell if there is an issue with a piece of equipment?

Scheduling concerns: Employee schedules are another management issue that can often be overlooked. Having too many people working during one shift can be just as challenging for productivity as having too few people on a second or third shift. Management should work together to find a way to staff a facility most effectively and efficiently so everyone’s skills and talents are well-used during their scheduled work time.
Employee disengagement: Poor management styles and methods can cause employees to disconnect and disengage from their work. When team members disengage, they don’t care about the company’s products or goals. They may begin coming to work simply to collect a paycheck. Creating programs to encourage employee engagement, such as reward programs for the shifts or teams that produce the greatest volume of product during a week or month, will help employees feel connected to their work and increase overall productivity.

Micromanagement: Part of being an excellent leader is recognizing that your team is competent and capable. Micromanaging overlooks the fact that people can do their work without ongoing, intense supervision. Although it may seem counterintuitive, insisting on managing every aspect of your team’s work and behavior can lead to a drop in productivity and a slowdown on the production line. If you or other supervisors tend to micromanage, try to take a step back and trust that your team members will get the work done. Resisting the urge to micromanage can also help increase engagement among your team, leading to an even greater productivity boost.