I have had the opportunity to coach a number of different leaders. Sometimes I am asked to observe how a leader interacts with their team members and then provide the leader with feedback about the impact of their behavior on the team. When I observe a lack of engagement in a leader’s... Continue Reading
If you don't know where you're vulnerable, someone else will find out. We live in a digital era – one in which data collection and sharing happens instantaneously across channels, creating enhanced efficiencies and providing faster results. The internet of things (IoT) is changing the... Continue Reading
Millions are at stake when it comes to maintaining planes, plants, and mission-critical industrial equipment. It's money worth fighting for, and it could be yours if you master the digital thread. For many years, the question of who manages the maintenance of complex products like airplanes,... Continue Reading
New systems open door to big operational equipment efficiencies, less scrap, better quality and Batch Size 1 New systems, software, and processes are replacing so-called islands of automation with seamless, automated manufacturing lines that boost overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) from 30... Continue Reading
Job openings in the manufacturing sector recently soared to the highest reading since January 2001, with 451,000 openings in April, up from 421,000 in March. Overall, the pace of manufacturing job openings has trended higher, consistent with the tight labor market seen in other data. While the... Continue Reading
We walk through the key steps and essential building blocks required to develop a disaster recovery strategy and how to write a disaster recovery plan. The main aim of IT disaster recovery planning is to generate a detailed recovery plan that can be executed upon in the case of an unforeseen... Continue Reading
The connected worker is proactive not reactive. Timely data, automation, and information mean their attention is redirected toward more valuable activities like continuous improvement. You might have noticed smartphones and wearable technology made for the average consumer now being integrated... Continue Reading
With summer fast approaching, it’s prudent to examine the factors that determine the price of electricity and natural gas supply throughout the United States. Summer is typically a “demand” season – a season where the energy needs of the country necessitate that we expend... Continue Reading
Artificial intelligence is positioning itself as the transformative technology of the century. The speed at which it is improving manufacturing operations leaves the industry with two options: Embrace the machines or get left behind. It's difficult to identify exactly what Stephen Hawking will be... Continue Reading
There were continuing signs of strength in the U.S. manufacturing sector in the latest data. For instance, the IHS Markit Flash U.S. Manufacturing PMI inched up to 56.6 in May, its strongest expansion pace since September 2014. Employment and future output helped to lift the overall headline... Continue Reading
There’s a symbiotic relationship between MES and ERP systems. Your competitive advantage depends on the integration of data from the shop floor up. For more than 10 years I have been following a number of companies in the implementation of manufacturing execution systems (MES). My... Continue Reading
A look at how selecting the right plastic can reduce material and manufacturing costs while improving durability. When engineering-grade resins were introduced in the 1950s, some auto manufacturers were unfamiliar with the benefits of metal-to-plastic conversion, i.e. how to design plastics into... Continue Reading
