“Trust is based on perceptions that are formed by behaviors.” ~ Randy Conley At this week’s ATD 2019 conference in Washington, D.C., you expect to hear a lot about methodologies and theories, about Net Promoter Score and the Kirkpatrick model, and about software and systems.... Continue Reading
What are the three types of data, and which one is most important? Industry 4.0 will change the way goods are manufactured. Concepts such as predictive maintenance, demand forecasting, and digital twins not only reduce downtime and quality excursions, but can also help optimize production... Continue Reading
Companies looking to improve workplace safety have a number of methods at their disposal, but to embed a sustainable safety culture, they must overcome the mind-sets that underlie unsafe behaviors. No one would deny that safety in the workplace is critically important. Most large industrial... Continue Reading
A well-run plant requires both. Figure 1 In this plant, all eyes are on the daily output numbers. But what if those numbers fall short? Then what? It’s impossible to improve the outcome without improving the upstream processes. Should you focus on processes or outcomes? You’re... Continue Reading
In the face of rising uncertainty, get ready for the unexpected. To build resilience, accelerate productivity improvement and operational flexibility. Economic and business uncertainty is rising across the world. After more than a decade of strong growth, expansion in many major economies has... Continue Reading
Business schools teach that high barriers to entry in an industry can create better price elasticity, which leads to the ability to generate better margins. To many business experts, this is "Business 101." I've observed some leaders still practice this methodology to help them scale their... Continue Reading
To prevent accidents as prevalent as those related to the eyes, taking a predictive approach to planning is key. Despite their small size, our eyes are pretty big targets when it comes to workplace injuries. Every day, 2,000 Americans suffer eye injuries on the job, resulting in about 27,000... Continue Reading
Spend more time on defining what you’re trying to solve, and get better results. A problem well put is half-solved. This statement, attributed to philosopher John Dewey, highlights the value of a good problem statement. Even if you’re not using a structured problem-solving method,... Continue Reading
Digital technologies are transforming operations, changing the daily duties of nearly every employee. Automation is changing the needed workforce skills. The demand for technology skills will rise by 55% by 2030, according to the 2018 McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) report, Skill Shift:... Continue Reading
Procurement has an opportunity, indeed an imperative, to transform from an enabler of cost reduction to a creator of sustainable competitive advantage. Traditionally, procurement has been the efficient workhorse for organizations, driving cost savings percentage point by percentage point,... Continue Reading
What’s the point of marketing in manufacturing? Many companies do not have a product that they can sell through the click of some advertisement because there are too many specifications involved—so why even spend the money to create the ad? These sentiments are shared by the... Continue Reading
A systems integrator/cybersecurity analyst outlines the risks associated with letting third party partners—and internal engineers—into the manufacturing network, and the things that can be done to avoid trouble. Manufacturers are often in need of help when it comes to deploying a... Continue Reading
