Optimising Job Scheduling and Material Management in an Engineering Company

The goal was to reduce production delays and confusion by creating clear job scheduling and better tracking of raw material orders.

Previously, all operational information, including job progress, schedules, and material orders, was held by one long-term admin staff member (it is a pattern that we identify in many small – medium sized businesses). Most details were managed through emails, notebooks, and memory, which meant key information wasn’t always visible to others. When that person was unavailable, production often slowed as staff tried to piece together what was due next or which materials had been ordered.

Your Local Admin reviewed how information flowed between the office and the workshop and identified where visibility was breaking down. We introduced a Kanban board to track each job through its stages and highlight material status in real time. At the same time, we improved how the existing ordering system was used, ensuring every material request was recorded, monitored, and linked to its job.

The new process brought structure and clarity to daily operations. Everyone, from the admin team to workshop supervisors, could see job priorities and supply needs at a glance.

Communication became faster, production interruptions dropped, and the business no longer relied on one person to keep everything moving.