Communication: The Hidden Machine

What if improving your production numbers had less to do with machine settings... and more to do with conversations on the floor? 🤔
Communication is the hidden "Machine" Behind Production Efficiency

When production slows down, or even when it's running well but we want more bottles in the box, our first instinct is usually to look at the machines: tweak settings, run maintenance, or push for upgrades.
But sometimes, the real "machine" that needs adjustment isn't made of valves and cams, it's made of people and conversations.
Clear, consistent communication is just like a machine:
✅ It needs regular maintenance.
✅ It needs the right inputs to produce the right outputs.
✅ And when one part breaks down, the whole system suffers.

On more than one occasion, I've increased production simply by clearing up confusion around defect identification.
For example:
A defect was being called out, but a different root cause was actually behind it.
The wrong people were trying to fix the wrong issue, making potentially unnecessary moves and creating more issues, (which is another topic for another post! ) 😄

The real problem was the defect name popped up on the screen, but the actual bottle with the defect wasn't being shared with the operator for hands-on examination.
Once we made a simple adjustment, physically showing the bottle and discussing it, accuracy and the speed of resolving defects improved immediately... And ultimately production numbers increased.

Proactive communication makes a difference, too.
Holding a short meeting before running a troublesome job gives everyone a chance to prepare for known defect risks ahead of time.
We also use that time to target maintenance on critical machine parts, helping prevent issues before they impact production.

Production thrives when communication flows smoothly, before, during, and after the run.
❓ Are you maintaining your communication systems as carefully as you maintain your machines?