It’s likely that you chose to work in manufacturing and run a shop because you want to. However, while you enjoy some parts of your job, there are other parts that you probably don’t enjoy. There’s a lot that goes into owning a shop and not all of it is fun. Thankfully, there are a few ways to trim down what you’re doing and get some of the unnecessary jobs off your plate.
Delegating
Running a shop isn’t easy. One person can’t do everything, and they shouldn’t. This is where delegation comes in. Delegating can make a huge difference in your workload. The hardest part is getting started. That said, once you figure out what tasks you can delegate and who will be responsible for these tasks, the hard part is over. As long as those people can handle the assigned tasks, it’s a great way for them to develop new skills. Delegating gives you more time to do what really matters and gives others a chance to work on some higher-level tasks. It’s a win-win.
Using an ERP System
As you figure out what tasks to delegate, you may find some things that software can handle. This is where an ERP system comes in. An ERP system can free up a lot of time by tracking information, creating reports, or even sending routine communication. If you already have an ERP system, make sure you’re using it to its fullest capacity. If you don’t have one, check out our guide to ERP systems and see what a difference they can make in your shop. Using an ERP system to complete your tasks will help make sure you don’t have to give them to anyone else. That means you can free up some of your time without taking up any of someone else’s.
What’s Leftover
Once you’ve delegated tasks to people and an ERP system, what’s leftover should be things you enjoy. There will probably be some things that only the owner can do and it’s possible these tasks may not be ones you enjoy. However, once you’ve gotten some other responsibilities off your plate, there won’t be as many things you need do or dread doing. For the most part, whatever is leftover should be things that are part of the reason you wanted to own a shop in the first place. Instead of being bogged down by work, you can get back to what you enjoy in machining and running a shop.
Looking for more ways to improve your shop? Checkout 3 Management Tips to Make Your Job Shop More Efficient.
