Solutions for Manufacturers

INCREASE PROFITS

Here are a few of the common challenges manufacturers have told Kansas Manufacturing Solutions are negatively impacting their profits.

Do any of these sound familiar to you and your manufacturing business?

• High costs
• Lack of cost savings
• Forced to compete on price
• Product cost control
• Large amount of re-work
• Poor supplier performance

Solutions used may include Lean, Supply Chain Optimization, Automation, and others.

GROW SALES

Kansas Manufacturing Solutions knows selling is not always easy.  We know that the marketplace is competitive locally, nationally, and globally. 

We hear it from our manufacturing customers. 

• No sales or pipeline management process
• Customer complaints
• Need to expand markets
• New product development
• Lack of marketing
• Being competitive

Solutions used may include Marketing, Product Development, Exporting, CONNEX Kansas, and others.

WORKFORCE ATTRACTION AND RETENTION

The challenge of building a skilled workforce is the most common challenge for manufacturers and that challenge continues to grow.  We know that it is not easy. 

Our manufacturing customers have told us. 

• Can’t find skilled workers
• Employee learning curve too long
• High turnover – Low retention rate
• Lack of training programs
• Unengaged, non-productive employees
• Hiring process that is inadequate

Solutions used may include Training Within Industry, Human Resource Management, Skills Training, Employer of Choice Culture Development, and others.

PRODUCE QUALITY PRODUCTS ON TIME

Getting a high-quality product out of the door in a timely manner has its hurdles.  From listening to our manufacturing customers, these issues seem to be more common than not. 

Here are some of the concerns they have expressed to us about their quality management systems and on-time delivery.  Recognize any of these?

• High re-work
• Lack of capacity
• Scheduling problems
• Large scrap rate
• Excessive equipment downtime
• High changeover
• Long lead time
• Equipment maintenance issues
• Raw material availability
• Don't know how to automate

Solutions used may include Quality Management Sytem Development, FSMA and HAACP, Lean, Automation, OSHA/ Safety Training, Supply Chain Optimization, and others.

IMPROVE BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Kansas Manufacturing Solutions is aware that business operations can be the most challenging part of running a business for people who are manufacturing experts; especially for smaller manufacturers whose leaders must wear multiple hats.

Some of the needs our manufacturing customers have informed us about are: 

• Planning for growth and the issues that come with being successful
• Creating a strategic plan that provides us a direction towards growth
• Ensuring that we minimize legal risk with our product and the customer
• Developing a marketing plan
• Making sure that we are following employment regulations
• Developing an employee package, including benefits, employee handbook and SOPs
• Using cost accounting to make sure we are profitable
• How can we use tax laws to our benefit, including R&D tax credits?
• Making sure our blueprints, trade secrets and data are secure
• What ERP platform should we use?
• How do I plan to exit my business?
• Where can we find money to improve our business?

Solutions used may include Strategic Plannning, Business Development, Cost Accounting, Succession Planning, IT, MRP/ERP, and others.