The shop floor management process has three basic phases, shop floor
planning, scheduling and control.
Shop Floor Planning
This step involves the creation of the master production schedule, which
informs which manufacturing orders will be made. Next, the order release
document will tell the shop floor management boards the resources and
manufacturing processes used to create the order.
Shop Floor Scheduling
Shop floor applications are now scheduled for the production of the order.
A detailed workflow of the manufacturing route that the order will go
through and a bill of materials are also created. This phase explains the
workstations the order passes through and the materials and quantities
needed for the order. This schedule allows managers and workers to
understand what needs to be done, who needs to do it and how it needs
to be done.
Shop Floor Control
Shop floor scheduling boards monitor the progress of the manufacturing
order and other production operations to ensure they’re going as planned.
Through software and other tools, the production orders are managed,
progress tracked, resources optimized and risks mitigated. This enhances
efficiency through the use of real-time data monitoring and automation.
The Role of a Shop Floor Manager
A shop floor manager is responsible for the factory floor or work area
which is a very important area of production management. They ensure
that all the various departments in the manufacturing business are
running smoothly, effectively and safely.
The shop floor manager has many responsibilities, including driving sales,
enforcing company policies, ensuring that products meet merchandising
standards, complying with safety regulations and also some financial
administration and site management responsibilities.
Because the shop floor manager executes the operations done on the
factory floor, they’re an essential part of shop floor management. They
create the processes, methods and systems to ensure production is as
efficient as possible.
