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The recession may not be over, but New Zealand manufacturing companies report an increase in capacity utilisation to 91 percent, up from 86 percent last quarter - the largest quarterly increase in capacity utilisation since data measures began in 1961, according to the latest Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion from the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER).
NZIER says that the increase in capacity utilisation shows that firms are running leaner operations - and that when demand picks up, they are likely to need to increase selling prices as they increase capacity.
Running a lean business means continually focusing on removing every form of waste. "It's not just about reducing rubbish or scrap," says Competenz Competitive Manufacturing expert Andrew Brownlee.
Waste can be everywhere in a business, from over-production to downtime. We help our customers get training in CM so that they can eliminate waste - and focus their resources on being more productive and more profitable."
Competitive Manufacturing (CM) encompasses continuous improvement across all areas of business - processes, products, services and people. Giving employees training in CM gives them the tools and skill sets to adopt and implement Competitive Manufacturing.
And it appears businesses are more optimistic as well as leaner. Only 10 percent of all firms surveyed said they expected a reduction in their own trading activity over the next three months, a significant improvement on the 36 percent who expected a decline last quarter.
"Businesses are less pessimistic than they have been in the past six months," said Jean-Pierre de Raad, chief executive of the NZIER.
Competenz can guide you on your journey to a CM-enhanced business. For more information call 0800 526 1800 or email
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