Whether you’re moving your family from one house to another or you’re involved in a manufacturing facility relocation for work, you might feel like your to-do list is never-ending. There are even more moving parts and considerations to keep in mind when you’re planning for a factory move. Even seasoned manufacturing executives might not know the right plan of action to execute a move with so many parts.
Thankfully, our team at Alliance Moving & Storage is here to guide you every step of the way! Our factory relocation experts have helped countless manufacturing companies safely and effectively move from one location to another. Here are the steps to follow.
You’ll want to give yourself as much time as you can to plan for your move. It’s typical to run up against time constraints, but the more time you have to plan and assess risks, the more successful your move will likely be. This can be tricky if you need to keep up with production, so consider using a project management tool.
As part of your planning process, you’ll want to put energy into your target relocation. There are some manufacturers who want to expand their existing facilities and maintain their current workforce. Others might be looking for operational, fiscal, or logistical incentives by packing up shop and relocating to a different city or region. How close you are to your vendors and customer base can lessen the cost of transportation.
If you’re worried about how the move and potential downtime will impact your business, you’ll want to get in touch with legal, accounting, or consulting experts who can give you realistic answers to these lingering questions while taking into consideration your operational commitments.
As part of your new manufacturing facility checklist, don’t forget to assemble a capable team who can execute different parts of your move. For example, you’ll want to identify a team of people who can design the new shop floor layout and gather contractors who can build facilities to your specifications. Don’t forget to assemble teams to oversee the safety of the move in addition to an HR team and union reps.
Don’t shy away from engaging with your staff during this process. After all, factory relocations can have a large impact on their lives. The sooner you involve them, the sooner you are able to address potential issues that they might have.
A verbal plan can only go so far. You’ll want to make sure that you have accurate drawings of both your current and future factory space. Although they may not seem essential, these drawings will most likely become pivotal tools for your contractors and your team. All drawings should be verified by eye if possible.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
Manually checking your drawings is also helpful in surfacing things that you have already grown accustomed to that need to be factored into your move.
Always look over the condition that your equipment is in and document it in a safe location. Some manufacturers are surprised that some machinery that they have isn’t in the condition that you originally thought. It’s best to make any decisions about equipment relocation, refurbishing or abandoning before you move forward with the packing and organizing process.
One way to improve this process is by giving each item a unique asset tag. If you record everything against that tag, you can help your team find the information they need to ensure they’re working with the right machine. It’s also helpful in tracking items to make sure they arrive as they should.
Another key to relocating manufacturing facilities is resource and equipment management. For example, consider putting together an equipment ID that has requirements for mechanical, environmental, material handling, and foundational needs. Putting this information into a digital library makes it easy for key stakeholders to access this information.
All design engineers and contractors should be involved in both the design and the relocation to your new facility. Feel free to include these documents in the contract documents to help preserve the project schedule and budget while simultaneously promoting the overall success of the project.
Don’t forget to factor in the supply chain and how your move will impact it! Even if you experience a move that goes off without a hitch, there will still be changes to the way that you supply products and how products are supplied to you. Factor in any issues that could impact your installation timeline or any delays that your new supplies could cause.
Create a schedule that helps you meet your goals. For example, maybe you need the ability to maintain at least partial production at your existing site during the move. Even though it’s possible to complete a factory move without downtime, a schedule is key in making this happen.
Moving a factory successfully requires a significant amount of detail. Make sure to explain how each piece of equipment will be disconnected, cleaned, packaged, loaded, protected in transit, unloaded, reconnected, and ultimately restarted. The same could be said for your site once you’ve moved your machines.
Creating these instructions can also help outline your requirements. For example, maybe you need customized packaging for your machines for transportation, or maybe wooden crates are sufficient. You can assign a team member to review the installation instructions to make sure the machines are properly connected before turning them on.
Last but certainly not least, you’ll want a trusted and hardworking moving company on your side. Our team of industrial movers is only a phone call away and we’re ready to assist you with your manufacturing move. Our experience allows us to plan one step ahead and make sure that your move is efficient and successful. For additional information on our services or to get a free quote, we encourage you to get in touch with us today!
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