Summer Shutdowns: How to Prepare Your Manufacturing Schedule Without Losing Productivity

As temperatures rise and calendars fill with vacation plans, summer can be a tricky time for manufacturers to stay on track. At Mills Machine Works, we’ve found that a little foresight goes a long way when it comes to managing summer slowdowns, staff time off, and customer demand.

1. Plan Ahead for Employee Time Off

Vacations are important, but so is coverage. Get ahead by:

• Creating a clear vacation request policy

• Requiring requests in advance (e.g., 30 days)

• Cross-training team members to fill in when others are out

This ensures no single person becomes a bottleneck in your process.

2. Use Downtime Strategically

If you know July will be slower, it’s the perfect time to:

• Conduct equipment maintenance

• Deep-clean the shop floor

• Organize inventory and raw material stock

• Revisit internal process improvements

We like to call it “cleaning house” for smoother operations year-round.

3. Keep Communication Tight

Let customers know your summer schedule early, especially if you’re taking a formal shutdown. Set clear lead times and due dates. Customers appreciate transparency and will often adjust their needs around your availability.

4. Evaluate Your Workload Now

Don’t wait until it’s too late - check the schedule for spikes or gaps. Can you pull in a job earlier or push another out? Staying agile keeps cash flow stable and reduces stress on your team.

Final Thoughts
At Mills Machine Works, we view summer not as a slowdown, but as a strategic window. With the right planning, your team can enjoy well-deserved breaks while your business continues to run like a well-oiled machine.

Have questions or need help fitting a job into our summer schedule? Contact us today - we’d love to help.