4 Ways to Slash Production Downtime

Implement Accurate Inventory Management

Avoiding downtime starts with efficient organization so you always have sharp blades on hand. 

Start with storage.

• Designate an area to store blades that aren’t in use.
• To make safety a priority, only store blades in containers specially designed to protect the blades.
• Separate ready-to-use sharp blades from dull blades.

Track your inventory.

• Maintain an accurate blade count by establishing a process to track dull blades as they are sent for sharpening.

Look ahead.

• Establish an ongoing schedule for industrial knife sharpening in advance instead of waiting for blades to become dull.
• Set routine reminders to order new blades before you need them.
  

Choose Wisely—Blade Quality Matters 

Blades with low quality may break or result in poor cut quality, which brings production to a halt. Machinery must be stopped to replace blades and ruined materials must be thrown out and redone. This production downtime is costly.

Blades made with durable materials such as D2 steel, carbide, 52100 high-carbon steel and A11 last longer and result in better cut quality, so orders are fulfilled accurately and on time. In addition, protective blade edge coatings or custom packaging can extend the blade life so there’s more time between blade changes. 

Thoroughly Train Employees

Any safety incident contributes to downtime. Thoroughly training employees reinforces safety and speeds up blade changes. It also equips workers to identify potential issues before they become larger problems. 

Cross training can also help reduce production downtime. If an employee is out sick or leaves the company unexpectedly, you’ll have someone familiar with the process so there’s no additional time needed for new training. 

Optimize Operations with Valley Grinding’s Blade Management Program

To help reduce your manufacturing downtime, Valley Grinding offers a Blade Management Program. This program manages your blades to free up time on your end, provide consistency and ensure you always have sharp blades available. 

Stay on schedule with professional inventory tracking.

• Auditing of slitting systems, machines and blades. We’ll perform slitter section audits with a detailed mechanical inspection of the slitter section. 
• Track where knives are kept. 
• Industrial blade sharpening services. 
• New blades delivered before the old blades are too dull.

Plan your budget with predictable pricing.

• Guaranteed monthly program pricing
• Monthly billing

Maximize efficiency with training and troubleshooting.

• Operator training. Operators are trained on the principles of shear slitting, how the slitter section is designed to work, setting up knife holders and what they can look for in upset conditions to correct the slit edge. 
• Winder shutdown assistance
• Troubleshooting

Enjoy the convenience of easy transport.

• Free pickup and delivery services
• Convenient scheduling

Keep Your Production Lines Moving

When you reduce downtime in production, you reduce costs and run your business more efficiently. For help overseeing your slitting program, get a quote and connect with an industry expert.