You’re struggling to manage your time in Manufacturing Engineering. What’s the best way to get back on track?

1 Assess your priorities

The first step to managing your time better is to identify your most important and urgent tasks and allocate your time accordingly. You can use a tool like the Eisenhower matrix, which divides your tasks into four categories: do, delegate, defer, or delete. Do the tasks that are both important and urgent, delegate the tasks that are important but not urgent, defer the tasks that are urgent but not important, and delete the tasks that are neither important nor urgent. This way, you can focus on the tasks that add the most value and avoid wasting time on trivial or irrelevant activities.

3 Eliminate distractions

Another key to managing your time well is to eliminate or minimize distractions that can disrupt your focus and efficiency. You can do this by setting clear boundaries and expectations with your colleagues, customers, and managers. For example, you can communicate your availability, preferred communication channels, and response time. You can also use tools like a do-not-disturb mode, a noise-canceling headset, or a timer to block out unwanted calls, messages, or notifications. Additionally, you can avoid multitasking and switch off or limit your use of personal devices and social media.

5 Delegate and collaborate

Managing your time effectively does not mean doing everything by yourself. You can leverage the skills, expertise, and resources of your team members, peers, or external partners to delegate or collaborate on certain tasks or projects. You can use tools like a RACI matrix, which defines the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder in a project: responsible, accountable, consulted, or informed. A RACI matrix can help you clarify expectations, avoid duplication, and ensure accountability. You can also use tools like a cloud-based platform, a video conferencing software, or a project management software to communicate, share, and coordinate your work.

6 Review and improve

The final step to managing your time better is to review and improve your performance and processes. You can use tools like a feedback form, a survey, or a meeting to collect and analyze data and feedback from your customers, managers, and colleagues. You can also use tools like a SWOT analysis, a root cause analysis, or a PDCA cycle to identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and to plan, do, check, and act on your improvement actions. By reviewing and improving your performance and processes, you can learn from your mistakes, celebrate your achievements, and set new goals.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?