[avatar user=”mikeringstaff” size=”160″ align=”left”]Mike Ringstaff
Chairman of the Great Lakes Ice Association[/avatar]
GET A JUMP START ON YOUR NEXT BUSY SEASON
“Never look back unless you are planning to go that way.”
– Henry David Thoreau
The winter holidays are done, the big ball has dropped at Times Square, and now you’re back at work. In many parts of the country, the ice business tends to slacken off in this first quarter of the year.
It’s always nice to have more time to take stock of your operations, review last year’s business results, and feel a little less pressured for time. Keep in mind, though, that now is the perfect time to plan ahead for the rest of this new year – and beyond.
Here are four proactive steps you can take between now and the start of the second quarter. Each of these moves will give you a jump-start on the upcoming busy season and help position you for greater success moving forward.
Upgrade your plant (or plants) with new equipment. You probably know where the chokepoints and bottlenecks are in your operations already. (If not, there’s no time like the present to find out!) Why not fix the problems you’ve already identified now, instead of later when you’re running at full throttle? By being proactive during this relatively slow season, you’ll be positioned for growth when things get crazy.
Simplify your life and streamline your operations with automation and controls. Want to be able to access your facilities remotely, from the comfort of your home? Are you looking for greater efficiency and reduced headcount? Today’s ice-plant automation and control systems are amazing, and there’s a solution to fit every business and any budget.
Maintain and repair your equipment. When you’re running full-bore to meet customer demand, the last thing you want to do is shut down your machinery to replace worn or damaged parts. Likewise, you may have postponed basic maintenance to keep your ice plant humming. To avoid future shutdowns and delays, this is a great opportunity to clean, calibrate, fix, or replace key equipment.
Stock up now on poly ice bags and other basic supplies. In the ice business, downtime means you’re losing money and wasting resources. It’s important to get the “consumables” you need as quickly as possible, rather than waiting until you’re almost out of stock and need to scramble to get your order expedited. Now is the perfect time to build up your inventory of those needed consumables.
Of course, not all these steps apply equally to every business. It’s wise to focus first on those areas that will yield the greatest return on investment, or could potentially save you the most time and effort later in the year when things get hectic.
As John F. Kennedy once said, “The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.”
In business in general, and in the ice business in particular, you will never regret heeding JFK’s sound advice.