Reducing Idle Time in Manufacturing - 6 Best Free Articles

Here’s our pick of the best free articles to help you reduce machine idle time in your factory.

Rank is based on clarity, usefulness, and actionability.

1. 9 Ways to Reduce Downtime in Manufacturing

If you’re looking for an approach focused on working both with employees and machines, this resource offers some simple, general tips about how to cut down on idle time. Its broad strategies and straightforward ideas - such as carefully tracking downtime and setting specific plant goals - make it an excellent resource on reducing machine idle time.

2. 4 Tips to Decrease Production Downtime on the Shop Floor

If you’d like a more general look at some of the most widespread causes of idle time, this article does a good job of identifying some common problems. It offers a number of quick tips, including preventive maintenance, opportunities to reduce delays from managing input and output, and analyzing production trends throughout different shifts.

3. 10 Tips to Reduce Downtime in a Manufacturing Company

This article does a good job at highlighting many different proactive strategies designed to cut down on machine idle time, such as risk audits with equipment and installing sensors to detect problems early-on.

4. 10 ways preventative maintenance can assist in reducing downtime

This article separates idle time into two categories and addresses each one. It also discussed how improving data collection systems and documentation can be good defensive measures against machine idle time.

5. Eliminating Idle Time in Manufacturing

If you’re looking for specific analytical approaches, this resource provides distinct tips and strategies centered on reducing machine idle time. It also contains a few specific strategies, such as in-person observation of specific workstations and cycle time analysis, complete with examples and tutorials.

6. Five Ways to Minimize Manufacturing Downtime

This short article hits some important points about making processes within factories more effective in order to reduce machine idle time, and contains some good ideas for solving some common problems and aligning the team around company goals.