Complexity abounds in manufacturing management; can you rise to the challenge? Complexity abounds! Supply chains are extended. Risks must be mitigated. Rules and regulations are increasing. Talent is in short supply. 95% of business is outside the U.S. yet expanding internationally brings challenges and complexity. Customers are demanding more [...]
How we look, communicate and relate to people makes a statement about us that may have lasting results. Always start off on the right foot. I've discovered that as much as content and results are king, presence matters. First impressions can be paramount. Don't despair if you "missed your [...]
Extract the right data at the right time in a meaningful format for decision-making. Almost every company I work with seems to get caught up in the bells and whistles of their new or upgraded software; however, when push comes to shove, the bells and whistles mean nothing if [...]
Warehousing is often overlooked for its simplicity, but it’s one of the strongest links in your supply chain. Warehousing is an often-overlooked area of the business. We store and ship. How hard can it be? Well, there are plenty of ways to dramatically improve your warehousing service and efficiency. [...]
You can't give attention to work priorities to grow a more profitable business if you aren't collecting data, measuring variables and tracking trends. I refer to one of my core service lines as "Eagle Eye" since I've found that selecting the right priorities to work on is half the [...]
Published in prnewswire on Jan. 28, 2014 “Many businesses already know how focusing on supply chain management can drive dramatic increases in customer service and accelerate cash flow, but they haven’t realized that the benefits can extend further to combining green benefits with cost savings and becoming a better [...]
Successful companies forge partnerships with their IT departments to create an ERP system that provides data to make good decisions and provide their customers with an exceptional experience. Is IT viewed as a partner to the business? Or a necessary evil? Or something in-between? Successful companies go down the [...]
Although I've been mentioning the Amazon effect a lot lately, I thought it deserved it's own priority. It's become the phrase that means "exceptional service" (Sunday deliveries, no-hassle refunds), rapid delivery (same day shipping is becoming commonplace) and the latest technology (drones). It syncs up 100% with what I'm [...]
The key to success isn't to think about profit but instead to think about profit drivers. What business isn't interested in profit? None I can think of - even non-profit businesses need to be concerned about whether they'll come out "a wash". I find that the key to success [...]
With an increasingly complex business environment, businesses need to know how to resolve skill gaps in their workplace The skills gap is a rapidly growing issue for manufacturers and distributors. Almost every day that I go into a client, go to a trade association meeting or talk with colleagues, [...]
