Efficient working space layout of the coffee roasting factory
The layout and use of space reasonably and thoughtfully are essential for a coffee roaster to achieve maximum efficiency. The aim is to increase productivity in each stage of operation. So how can you do that?
The first step is to make sure that each of the different stages has a certain amount of space. Green coffee storage, roasting area, parking area, storage area for beans after roasting. Each zone must be clearly defined and arranged logically to form a complete production line.
Francesco Impallomeni is co-founder and roaster administrator at Nordhavn Coffee Roasters in Copenhagen, Denmark. He says the workflow needs to have a clear direction. This is to eliminate overlap and rotation. Reasonable division of duties helps workers not criticize and interfere in each other’s work and lead to actions that cause friction with others. It also makes it easier to control various production inputs.
Andy Sprenger is the founder of Sweet Bloom coffee roasting company in Lakewood, Colorado. Andy says a smooth flow of products has to be in the manufacturing process. This ensures that each step in the cycle goes on without interfering.
Plan a time planning for the coffee roasting
Have a specific work plan
Make a specific work plan or schedule to avoid wasting time. If you plan your workday correctly, you will maximize your efficiency.
Lucasz Jura is the owner of Coffee Proficiency, a supplier of green and roasted beans in Krakow, Poland. Lucasz shared that when he first started this roasting business, roasting six batches of coffee was a challenge that lasted 7 hours.
Now, everything has become much faster. Once you don’t need to focus on the simple things, you can use your time on the things that matter. Lucasz says his business is always trying to maximize automation. So they don’t need to spend too much energy on unnecessary things.
Always revise your plan until it’s right
Not only need to consider planning the day with dedicated time for each task. Evaluate how close you are to accomplishing your plans. Has anything changed? Did product packaging take 15 minutes longer than you expected? Are deliveries on schedule?
Modify your schedule every day until you get accurate results. This will help you plan for the introduction of new coffee samples. Suppose a task seems to keep you from doing it. Consider whether it can be automated. Or is there a tool you can invest in to do it faster?
Choose a space big enough for the coffee roasting factory
Setting up the cheapest space available makes more sense for the coffee roasting factory as a beginner. But be careful when choosing somewhere too small—or poorly laid out for your needs because you may be making your process inefficient and limiting growth.
A well-designed workspace should be a top priority. No matter the size of the business. A well-designed roaster simplifies everyday operations, even for simple appliances like microwave ovens. This can save you square feet and reduce rental costs.
Are your employees working in a friendly environment? And it would help if you moved the boxes to make room for packing. Your best bet is to move to a larger, more expensive space. Because working in a small area not only doesn’t save you money. But it also costs you more money due to inefficient work productivity.
If you want to entirely focus on your work, you need more space around you. Even if your goals are just small things, be aware of the potential of your business. It can be further developed. Does your space have room to hold more coffee beans if you receive a large order one day? And if you receive a large order, do you have the ability to increase the output?
And another factor to consider is whether you have enough space to accommodate growth. Are you setting up your first roaster in such a way that opening a second or third roaster can be done quickly? We cannot see the future. But plan for your future.
Optimizing the design of the coffee roaster becomes necessary on a larger scale. Every mistake costs energy, time, and money on a larger scale.
Set up a coffee storage system
It is also essential to have enough warehouses to store and preserve the coffee roasting factory. People often hold green coffee and roasted coffee near the roasting area to avoid wasting time.
But because the temperature and humidity can change a lot during the roasting process. So try to set up a room with a cool, separate temperature and not much light to ensure the quality of the coffee is not reduced.
Lucas says it’s a relatively small roasting company. So storage space is limited. But by working with manufacturers and importers, who can deliver part of the contract at a time, the company doesn’t have to hire extra storage.
Francesco says coffee storage depends on the size of the business. At Nordhavn, green coffee is stored in cold storage separate from the roasting area. So far, the preservation of roasted coffee has not been an issue. Because they mainly ship coffee a few days after roasting.
Choose the right device
Buy gear that’s right for your goals
If you buy a roaster with too much capacity, it will be wasteful and expensive. But if you buy one with a small degree, the productivity may be less efficient.
Before purchasing a roaster, make sure you have researched and made a proper business plan for the expected production volume. And keep in mind that a large roaster can be used under full power. But you can’t use too much power for a small roaster.
It is wise for roasters to purchase machines with a capacity that exceeds their initial needs. This additional investment in fixed capital allows growing startups to scale quickly. And from there meet the growing demand.
Consider problems when equipment fails
And in addition to planning for growth, you also need to consider what will happen if the roaster breaks down. Replacement parts and services should not be overlooked. If your roaster is not in use, you are losing money unjustly. In an emergency, you will have to find a professional who can help.
Two days of hiccups can kill your schedule for the next two weeks. So consider the cost of replacement parts and whether technical support is available in your area before purchasing a roaster.
Consider choosing other support devices (roasted)
Aside from the roaster, other devices can impact production efficiency. For example, you may need a packaging line if you are doing bulk production or want to automate as much as possible. This is a complete system with packaging filling and sealing functions.
If you produce less than 3,000 kg of coffee per month, you could quickly go the manual packaging route. But if your productivity is more significant, this is not possible.
In addition, you should monitor the quality to avoid waste or canceled orders. If you have a coffee shop, you can get feedback from there. Otherwise, you must purchase equipment to measure the quality. You should use devices that measure the moisture content and color of the coffee.
Learn about the business & Small finance of the coffee roasting factory
The efficiency of a coffee roaster doesn’t just depend on its actual layout. It also depends on how the business is set up. You must make a business plan that includes the expected production quantity.
Knowing what volume you produce can help you decide how many coffee beans to buy. How much packaging to order and how much to invest in equipment and staff? Gain insight into revenue and expenditure streams, including fixed and variable costs. This will make a business more likely to survive the first few years.
If you are a new roaster, you should do what you need. You have to invest a lot, but do not focus on the interior. You don’t need an Italian chandelier above your cooling tray. Invest in machinery, equipment, and labor.
Once you start, you will earn nothing for a while, and you still have to pay rent, electricity, gas, labor, delivery, and additional storage. It would help if you were willing to pay for all these for a few months without any profit. The most important thing is to set a realistic goal and make a plan to achieve it.
Setting up a coffee roasting plant at maximum efficiency requires careful planning. It also takes a lot of time, effort, and money. But by considering your future goals and where to invest, you have a better chance of making your coffee roaster efficient and profitable.
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