At some point in time, businesses that grow and expand require more space to keep up with demand. This often means moving to a new plant to accommodate an increase in scale. In order for a smooth relocation, meticulous planning is required.
When moving to a new factory or manufacturing plant, this is the ideal time to review, determine inefficiencies of the current layout, and then lay the best course of action for the new facility.
Factors that affect this can include workflow, utility consumption, and environmental impact. Through these initial meetings, Roberts Onsite will carefully study clients’ needs and wants for expansion plans. Gaining a clear picture of these requirements will determine the next steps in the expansion process.
Before proceeding, it’s best to review current plant layouts, existing infrastructure, the logistics of internal plant movements, an audit of existing equipment, determine raw material storage and delivery sources, and finally, the finished product storage and shipping.
During this phase it is often determined whether it is best to provide new utility infrastructure and support equipment, rather than risking the use of the existing with anticipated life spans. An example would be to upgrade to more efficient equipment components, rather than using older components that potentially could be deemed close to end of use. Another aspect is during the move from one facility to the other, the mere act of transporting equipment could loosen or rattle fasteners or parts from equipment, which in some cases can be detrimental to the lifespan of equipment.