Keeping your eye on profits at peak

Keeping your eye on profits at peak

Is anyone feeling overwhelmed this time of year? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone!

I ran a print-on-demand plant for quite a few years. Looking back, as financially attractive as peak season is, I don’t remember the great profits as much as I remember the stress! 

Operating in a 7-day 2 and 3-shift pattern coupled with challenges like equipment breakdowns, delayed stock deliveries and rostering hassles just makes it a really hard time for everyone. 

With the sheer size of the cash receipts and absolute gross profit, it’s easy to focus on the dollars earned, rather than the operating margin. 

So you shift your financial focus a bit. Does it matter? When so much energy is going into the day to day work, it’s tempting to let the focus slip to delivery and away from other elements. 

Issues like staff productivity, wastage levels and margin by product code are, quite frankly, lower priority.

Unfortunately, this is where the real money is made.

Taking your eye off the ball can cost you significantly in the long run.

So what’s my advice?

At this time of year, more than ever, it’s so important to be able to see where performance, error and productivity affect your overall performance.  

I know it’s a stressful time but, despite the pressure everyone is under, don’t let your gaze wander too far from your financial and yield fundamentals – your profit outcome hinges on it.

Efficient scheduling is a critical component for success, as it plays a vital role in reducing costs through optimized scheduling. By aligning production schedules with demand and resource availability, businesses can minimize downtime, enhance workflow, and ultimately improve profit margins.

Reflections on post-peak performance are crucial for understanding how well your operations have fared during high-demand periods. Analyzing site performance after the peak season allows businesses to identify strengths and weaknesses, enabling better planning and resource allocation for future demands. This reflection can lead to continuous improvement and greater resilience.

Direct mail services during peak seasons require meticulous planning and optimized processes to handle the influx of orders efficiently. By leveraging automation and strategic scheduling, businesses can ensure timely delivery, reduce bottlenecks, and maintain profitability under pressure.

During peak season, businesses face unique challenges that can impact profitability. The video on managing risks during peak season provides insights into effective strategies to navigate high volumes and potential pitfalls, ensuring that operations remain efficient and profitable despite increased demand.

Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith is the CEO of ZenSmart, a leading workflow automation platform that streamlines manufacturing in On Demand plants across the world.

Categories

Comments

Scroll to Top