It’s no secret. Production costs are at an all-time high in just about every industry. But what if remaining in your current facility or plant is costing you even more because you’ve simply outgrown your space? This is a dilemma many manufacturing plants face every day. Others make the painful decision to move for other reasons such as:
- Better quality of labor in new location
- Infrastructure is lacking in old location
- Moving closer to customers to generate more profit
- Environmental regulations make production too challenging
- Cost of doing business in the old location has increased significantly
Whatever the reasons for relocating your manufacturing plant, it is important to understand that while relocating is a common occurrence in industry, it is still a huge undertaking fraught with risks and complexities that most businesses have never experienced.
Fortunately, the industrial landscape is filled with experts that can handle each and every stage of your move. These experts can help you minimize many of the costs and complications that come with a large-scale move.
Some will handle the most taxing undertakings such as packaging and transporting machinery (large and small), while others will manage other costly aspects of relocating such as:
- Any necessary construction
- Auctioning off machinery
- Disposal of inoperative machinery
- Installation
- Hiring moving personnel
A professional packaging service such as Valley Box can help ensure that relocation is safe and smooth, so your plant doesn’t end up losing days (or even weeks) of production.
Besides aligning your business with the best packaging services and manufacturing plant relocation experts, check out our post "5 Things to Consider When Looking for Machinery Relocation Services", it's absolutely imperative that you plan extensively for a hefty number of months (if not years) in advance. Need help planning? Construction management firm Kitchell Corporation offers this trusty checklist to help you along the way.
- Allow for Design Input from Key Players
- Assign Accountability
- Define and Coordinate Equipment Layouts
- Define Engineering Requirements
- Define the Procurement Process
- Establish a Plant Disposition Plan
- Focus on Transportation/Importation Logistics
- Plan Ahead for Operational Readiness
- Plan for Hazardous Material Handling
- Plan Your Work and Work Your Plan (schedule, assign tasks, review schedule regularly)
- Pre-qualify Contractors
