“My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.” (— You, probably)
It’s a common refrain from recent automation adopters, and you might just find yourself saying it one day. So, what makes that initial step feel like such a big leap and not just another step in your journey?
The price can sometimes be intimidating, bringing to mind all the possible financial implications and concerns. We often worry about the cost of change, but what about the cost of not evolving? Often, standing pat is the riskier choice.
When you embrace automation, you’re not alone. You gain the support of a dedicated team of people on your side, working with you to make sure your new solution serves your needs. You’ll see labor savings, safety improvements, training reduction, and of course, increased production and efficiency.
Any supplier can tell you the cost of their machines, but the number transcends a simple number on a page. In 30 minutes, Vekta could sit down with you and tell you your throughput improvements, return on investment, leasing or buying terms, and the number on the page would still feel like a big step — because it’s more about changing the status quo.
The Step (not leap) to Automation
Okay, let’s talk straight. If you’re running a prefabricated frame and truss plant, you’ve probably thought about automation. Maybe you’ve even checked out the price tags.
Automation isn’t just about cost, it’s about what that investment unlocks: efficiency, scalability, and resilience in an ever-changing industry. To truly grasp it, you need to envision a future where your business thrives, unburdened by the limitations of manual processes. Investing in modular systems you can upgrade later isn’t just a short-term gain; it’s about making sure your plant is ready for the future and offsetting costs in the long run. It’s about looking beyond the day-to-day and thinking about the big picture for your business and where it is headed in the years to come.
You’ve built your plant to where it is today through dedication and hard work. Automation is not about replacing that foundation but about empowering it for continued success. It is also about ensuring you have the right support system in place. Consider the stability and affordability of the support offered by your automation partner. Choosing a dependable provider means investing in a partnership that will stand by you as you grow.
But what about the consequences of doing nothing? In today’s fast-moving industry, standing still might be the biggest cost of all.
The Cost of Complacency
The best time to think about automation was yesterday, but thankfully, you’ve picked the second-best time to think about automation.
In a continually evolving and competitive industry, plants at all levels are actively adopting innovative technologies to gain a leg up on the competition. The “cost” of maintaining the status quo is not merely about forgoing opportunities for increased profit and efficiency, it encompasses the significant risk of falling behind, finding difficulties in attracting and keeping talent, and losing your established niche in the market.
Let’s think about the cost of just sticking with what you’re doing – that feeling of safety from the familiar. You might be thinking, “We have operated successfully this way for years, why change now?” The answer is straightforward: the world around you is evolving. Your workforce evolves; individuals retire, seek new opportunities, or move on. Relying heavily on individual employees with years of accumulated wisdom and skill presents a considerable risk. What happens when those key individuals need to be replaced?
Construction is already seeing a trend towards deskilling in certain manual roles, highlighting the increasing value of the consistent, high-quality prefabrication that automation delivers. The demand for prefabricated frames and trusses, driven by efficiency and cost considerations, is only set to increase.
Consider this: would a carpenter who has experienced the precision and speed of a modern power saw willingly revert to using only hand tools? Similarly, would someone who has experienced the efficiency of automated frame and truss manufacturing willingly return to relying on multiple pull saws with multiple operators? The answer, in most cases, would be a resounding “no.”
Don’t let the cost of complacency hold your business back. Vekta is ready to help you take the step into automation and unlock a future of greater efficiency, productivity, and success. Let’s talk about how Vekta can future proof your frame and truss plant. Contact us today to explore automation solutions tailored to your business.