Home The guide to moving your factory
Local

The guide to moving your factory

Contributors

businessMoving a factory is not the easiest task on the roster. You have to plan carefully for months to avoid unnecessary complications at the last minute.

There are a large number of reasons why you might want to move your factory. You may want to upgrade to a bigger facility, or you may have found a better location. Either way, you need the shifting process to be smooth to avoid any unexpected losses.

Changing a production facility can become complicated and costly if you do not execute it properly. If you want to be sure that nothing goes wrong when you are moving, then you should chalk out a clear schedule. Check out factory equipment from reliable sources like AAmachinery.com, and you might have a little less to worry about.

Top Things to Remember When Relocating Your Factory

When you are moving your factory, you want to minimize lost production time. This will not be possible unless you think of the future and plan ahead. The following steps will help you get through the ordeal with the least amount of hassle.

  1. Decide if Relocation is Worth the Trouble

Once you have decided that you want to move your factory, make sure that you do not take impulsive steps. Take time and ask yourself if it will be a significant improvement. Do not forget to review your decision objectively. You have nothing to lose. Understand the risks involved and the legal implications. You will also have to take some legal steps to be sure that the relocation is complete.

The location should also be scrutinized before you sign the contract. You do not want to move your factory to a place where it fairs worse than the previous location. Make sure that the new location has all the necessary resources.

  1. Convey Your Decision

You should inform your workers, authorities, clients and investors of your decision to relocate well beforehand. You can use a press release or internal memos to give everyone the necessary details. Take steps to be sure that your best workers do not abandon ship due to the new location.

  1. Sketch a Layout

If you have an idea of how you want your new factory to look, then put it on paper. Having a sketch of the layout will allow you to position the equipment and workstations properly so that the transition is smooth. If you want to rearrange anything, now is your chance.

  1. Draft the QMS Documents and Records for Transfer

Collect all the quality management system documents, and prepare them to be reissued at the new facility location. Do not forget to make the necessary changes in your distribution plan or else people will be left confused. You should also take steps to shift your data storage from one factory to another.

  1. Understand what Your Identification and Traceability Requirements are

You must see to the fact that your company’s identification and traceability requirements are maintained at every point of time during the move. If you are in charge of any customer property, then have them inventoried to minimize loss.

  1. Be Careful During the Transit

If you are moving items or products, then you need to take precautions to preserve them during the transit. The company should try to retain the original condition of the products if you want to avoid extra costs later on.

  1. Take Special Care of Calibrated Equipment

If you have machines and equipment that usually need calibration, then you should pack and transport them carefully. They should not suffer damage, or else they will not be operational when they reach the new location. Inspect them thoroughly before you begin using them again.

  1. Give All Machines a Test Run

If you have shifted production machines from the old factory to the new one, then you need to verify that they are working once the move is complete. You should not risk using the machines without first organizing a test run.

  1. Audit Everything

Once you have managed to get your new factory up and running, you need to perform an internal audit. Check your inventories and ensure that the production process is going smoothly. The audit will also give you an opportunity to make changes in the production process that will save you some money.

  1. Inform Everyone that the Move is Complete

Make sure that you inform the authorities and regulatory bodies once the new facility is operational. You should also send out notices to frequent customers.

Now all you have left to do is conduct a thorough survey of the new facility. You can always make new discoveries in a new space.  You need to plan everything out well; moving a factory is much different than moving a household.

Contributors

Contributors

Have a guest column, letter to the editor, story idea or a news tip? Email editor Chris Graham at [email protected]. Subscribe to AFP podcasts on Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandora and YouTube.