At one time or another in our lives we’ve all called up a buddy or two and paid them in beer and pizza to help us move. Sure they grumbled, and maybe a few things got broken, but at the end of the day you all had some laughs and the job got done.

Fast forward to today, and now you have the responsibility of moving millions of dollars of equipment to a new location. And while relocating a retail or manufacturing facility is a lot more complicated than moving a couch, you still need friends you can count on.

We’re the Friends that Help You Move (Your Business)

There are hundreds of reasons you should choose a professional relocation company, and not just hire some guys and a truck. From cost assessment, planning, insuring and permitting – to minimizing operational interruption – the relocation professionals at CMS make facility relocation a smooth, efficient, virtually turnkey process.

Listed below are six important factors that make CMS your company’s “best friend” when it’s time to move your plant, restaurant or retail operation.

(1.) Identification and Traceability

We put a plan in place to ensure all of your identification and traceability requirements will be maintained before, during, and after the move.

This includes a complete inventory and condition check of your property (and any customer property in your possession) that is maintained and tracked during the moving process. This eliminates loss, damage or misplacement of your equipment, products, materials, parts, tooling, and more.

(2.) Secure Records & QMS Document Moving

We create a plan for moving all of your records and QMS documents. We can also assist you in preparing them for reissue at your new facility, reflecting the changes in your distribution plan that will result due to the relocation.

Your company’s records and data storage will be relocated to the new facility in a secure manner to ensure that no important documents are lost in transit.

(3.) Product Preservation during Transit

We preserve the current condition of any products being moved, including any and all products with a shelf life and/or refrigeration needs. Products with a shelf life are relocated in a manner that ensures that first product in is the first product out. And our large fleet of specialized trucks and trailers – including freezer and refrigeration units – ensure climate controlled transport whenever necessary.

(4.) Calibrated Equipment is Transported with Care

We understand calibrated equipment, and how to pack and transport it in a way that keeps the equipment within its operational tolerance.

Once we deliver and setup calibrated equipment at the new facility, we thoroughly inspect and recalibrate it before its first use, as an added measure of protection.

(5.) Testing Equipment Before and after the Move

If you are a manufacturer, we have your team make a test piece on every production machine that is moved. This is then compared to a new test piece made upon relocation, to verify that the machines are in the same good working order after the move. This ensures that there are no surprise problems with any equipment before you go into full production mode at the new facility.

(6.) Turnkey IT Relocation

Few relocation companies offer our level of expertise in turnkey IT migration. CMS will work with your IT department and internet services providers to execute a flawless IT and data center move.

In addition to carefully packing and moving delicate computer hardware and peripherals, CMS can help arrange all IT disconnect and reconnect services. Additionally, all data cabling is installed and tested before we arrive to setup the network and other equipment.

We also coordinate secure backups of your company’s data storage with your IT department, in case of unforeseen loss, damage or disaster during the move.

Business Relocation Company Kalamazoo

CMS’s comprehensive, turnkey commercial and industrial moving and business relocation services can handle every aspect of your move from start to finish – minimizing interruptions, reducing stress and getting your organization back to work as quickly as possible.

We provide state-of-the-art business relocation services for offices, retail, restaurants, and manufacturing facilities in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Lansing and across Southwest Michigan.

Call CMS when you need a “friend” to help you move!

The post Hiring a Relocation Company first appeared on Clark Logic.

Total Cost of Manufacturing Facility Relocation

Of course your real estate investment is one of the biggest costs of relocation. Comparing greenfield (with no building) and brownfield (with existing facility) properties is a starting point. Depending on your facility’s dimension and dock requirements, building a new plant may be lower or higher in cost than retrofitting an old one. We also examine the possibility of renting versus buying a new location.

However, real estate costs are just the tip of the iceberg when determining ROI. Utility usage can account for one of the biggest line items in your budget, and energy costs can vary greatly. Additionally, in many facilities up to 30 percent of energy is wasted. So assessing your new plant’s projected utility usage and energy efficiency is paramount.

Other costs to be evaluated include everything from property taxes and insurance costs to the transportation costs that are related to the proximity of your raw materials, customers, and distribution centers.

Total Return on Manufacturing Facility Relocation Investment

A new facility also offers many excellent opportunities for a high return on a relocation investment. Manufacturers can find new opportunities for making their production processes even leaner than they were before. For example, a new, improved, well thought-out floorplan can enhance efficiencies over older facilities that grew haphazardly.

Labor savings can also be realized with new equipment or improved automation that reduces operator hours. And while key management and skilled laborers will likely relocate with you, a move may mean savings in terms of a larger, more skilled or even cheaper available labor force.

Moving closer to your raw material supplier, distributors, and end customers can also contribute to significant returns in reduced transportation costs. Additionally, locating closer to ports, rail hubs or terminals can provide you with more shipping options as well as more competitive pricing.

Manufacturing Facility Relocation Services Southwest Michigan

If you are wondering if it’s time for your manufacturing facility to move, call CMS, Southwest Michigan’s leader in manufacturing plant relocation. We will help you assess and implement the critical elements necessary for a smooth, successful and cost effective transition to a new facility.

We provide state-of-the-art relocation services for manufacturing facilities large and small in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Lansing and across Southwest Michigan.

Call us today for a relocation consultation and see how we can ensure an efficient and well-orchestrated move that minimizes interruptions and gets your organization back to work as quickly as possible.

The post Is It Time to Relocate Your Manufacturing Facility? first appeared on Clark Logic.

(2.) Communicate Your Intent to Relocate

Your company’s workers, clients, investors, inspectors and other authorities should be apprised of the relocation via internal memo, as soon as the move is a certainty. Include the new address and the expected date of completion – so that employees do not feel shrouded in mystery or uncertainty about their future.

Additionally, provide a Press Release or other formal communication for customers that clearly establishes if and how your move will or won’t affect production timetables.

(3.) Diagram the New Facility Layout

Designing the placement of your company’s equipment well before you arrive is one of the biggest keys to a smooth relocation. This can also be an excellent opportunity to reengineer the placement of your equipment to improve efficiencies.

Consider color coding rooms or departments, and labelling equipment to match. Providing movers with a map and clear cut instructions will greatly shorten your moving time, as well as help minimize your set up time.

(4.) Create a Plan for Moving Records and QMS Docs

Assemble all of your records and QMS documents from your distribution list, and prepare them for reissue at your new facility. Update your distribution list to reflect any changes in your distribution plan that will result due to the relocation.

This step should include a plan for moving all of your company’s records and data storage to the new facility in a secure manner to minimize any risk of losing important documents in transit.  Coordinate secure data backups of your company’s records with your IT department, in case of loss, damage or disaster during the move.

(5.) Organize Identification and Traceability Requirements

Put a plan in place to ensure all of your identification and traceability requirements will be maintained before, during, and after the move – including work that will be in progress at the time of the move.

An inventory and condition check of any customer property in your possession should be maintained and tracked during the moving process to eliminate loss of customers’ materials, parts, tooling, etc.

Manufacturing Facility Relocation Battle Creek

If all of this this sounds like a lot to manage, reduce your stress and ensure a smooth transition by hiring the relocation experts at CMS. Our comprehensive, turnkey industrial relocation team can handle these tasks – and every other aspect of your move – from start to finish.

We provide state-of-the-art relocation services for manufacurting facilities large and small in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Lansing and across Southwest Michigan.

Call us today for a relocation consultation and see how we can ensure an efficient and well-orchestrated move that minimizes interruptions and gets your organization back to work as quickly as possible.

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The post 5 Steps for Successful Manufacturing Facility Relocation first appeared on Clark Logic.

(2.)  Update Your Website

Notify your web developer that you will be moving, and advise them of the exact date to change the address on your website.

Even if you are not a store front with walk-in business, clients still frequently refer to your website to obtain your mailing address. Updating your address on the website will prevent delays from mail that has been sent to the old address and must be forwarded.

While your developer is updating the address on your website, also ask her to add a banner to your home page announcing your upcoming relocation!

(3.) Don’t Forget Social Media

Customers also locate your business information on Facebook. And if you are a restaurant or retail establishment, a large percentage of your customers probably rely on Yelp! to find you.

So don’t forget to task your social media manager with announcing your move, as well as updating your business address, across all platforms!

(4.) Send Change of Address Cards

Finally, while “Snail Mail” may sound old fashioned it can be very effective. A change of address card sent out to your customer mailing list before the move provides a physical reminder of your new location that they can keep.

If you are a retail business, consider including a discount coupon on the postcard for use at the new location. This will encourage customers to seek you out in your new space!

Relocating your operations can help you better serve your existing clients, as well as attract new customers. So follow these simple steps to make sure your old and new clientele can easily find you after your relocation.

Business Relocation Services Kalamazoo

If all of this this sounds like a lot to manage, reduce your stress and ensure a smooth transition by hiring the relocation experts at CMS. Our comprehensive, turnkey industrial relocation team can handle these tasks – and every other aspect of your move – from start to finish.

We provide turnkey, state-of-the-art business relocation services for large and small industrial, retail, commercial and office facilities in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Lansing and across Southwest Michigan.

Call CMS today for a relocation consultation and see how we can ensure an efficient and well-orchestrated move that minimizes interruptions and gets your organization back to work as quickly as possible.

The post Relocating Your Business: 4 Ways to Ensure Customers Find You first appeared on Clark Logic.