Top 4 Ways to Stop Losing Money on Your Shop Floor: Smart Strategies for the Fenestration Industry

In today’s competitive fenestration market, reducing operational costs without compromising quality is crucial. Whether you’re fabricating windows, doors, or curtain walls, streamlining your shop floor processes can significantly impact your bottom line. Here are four proven ways to save money on your shop floor.

1. Embrace Automated Measuring Tools

Human error in measuring can lead to costly mistakes—wasted material, lost time, and quality issues. Enter automated measuring systems like TigerStop’s positioning systems, which ensure precise cuts, reduce rework, and eliminate the need to double-check measurements.

These systems allow operators of any skill level to achieve exact results. With a TigerStop, you’re not just cutting material—you’re cutting out errors and inconsistency.

Bottom Line: Improve accuracy, reduce mistakes, and speed up production—all of which translate to serious cost savings.

2. Only Cut What You Need

It may sound simple, but many shops fall into the trap of overcutting—either due to inefficiencies in scheduling, communication breakdowns, or lack of integration between sales and production.

Using software-integrated tools like TigerSaw™ systems, you can load cut lists directly from your ERP or inventory system and produce exactly what’s needed—no more, no less.

Tip: Adopt a “just-in-time” cutting strategy. It reduces overproduction, simplifies material tracking, and lowers inventory holding costs.

3. Reduce Scrap Through Smarter Optimization

Scrap is one of the biggest drains on profit. Whether it’s aluminum, vinyl, wood, or steel, every inch of wasted material is money out the door. Implementing cut optimization software, like TigerStop’s Dynamic Optimization, helps you get the most out of every stock length.

These systems automatically nest parts together to reduce leftover material, which dramatically lowers scrap rates. Plus, less waste also means lower disposal costs and a greener footprint.

Pro Tip: Track scrap over time and use the data to refine your process. The less you scrap, the more you save.

4. Set Up an Efficient Material Handling Process

Even the most precise cutting system can’t compensate for inefficient material flow. Wasted motion, poor staging, and disorganized layouts create bottlenecks, increase labor costs, and slow down output.

Invest in material handling accessories like Wakefield’s racks, carts and dollies to move parts quickly and accurately from one station to the next. These enhancements reduce the time between processes, keep materials organized, and minimize the risk of damage or loss.

Key Advice: Map your material flow from receiving to shipping. Identify any friction points and redesign for efficiency.

Wrap-Up: Invest in Efficiency to Boost Your Bottom Line

Small changes on the shop floor can lead to big results. By adopting automated measuring systems, cutting only what’s needed, reducing scrap, and improving material handling, fenestration businesses can gain a significant edge—boosting productivity while reducing waste and cost.

Wakefield Equipment’s industry-proven tools are designed to deliver these savings without disrupting your workflow. If you’re ready to upgrade your shop floor and protect your margins, now’s the time to invest in smart automation. Let the experts at Wakefield help you review your fenestration manufacturing floor and recommend products to help you save money.