Will Robots Pay Back?
Robots shouldn't be viewed as a hammer. Think about what you need to accomplish and evaluate robots as one tool / solution to a business issue.
What Should Manufacturers Be Thinking with Potential Tax Changes?
There has certainly been a lot of conversation about the potential tax law changes! Michael Kouyoumdjian, managing shareholder of RP&B CPAs did a great job of going through the potential changes and impacts in a discussion with trusted advisers to manufacturers and distributors.
Wisconsin Provides HUGE Incentives to Lure Apple Manufacturer
What might seem impossible to us might not be! Do you tend to write off ideas before considering their full value? Perhaps we should take a page from Wisconsin's playbook and look at the big picture, think long-term and mix it up a bit.
Manufacturers Upbeat But Worry About Skills Gap
According to Industry Week, the Fed's survey of the economy expressed optimism; however, it also noted that labor markets are tightening. Since I'm also embarking on refrehsing my 2013 Skills Gap research report, thus far, I've noted the same concerns for high-skilled positions. I hear far less conversation about [...]
Trump’s Major Increase in Defense Spending and Related Impacts
When military spending increases, defense-related manufacturing booms. It isn't rocket science to figure that out; however, it can be tempting to wait too long for confirmation of orders.
Thinking Long Term
Don’t be short-sided and make quick fixes that won’t be profitable over the long run. Take a longer, more strategic view, to grow a profitable business. We all know we should think long term. And we talk about thinking long term. But, do we actually think long term - [...]
The Impact of China’s Slowdown
January 18, 2016 It is somewhat of a coincidence that I've heard a few presentations about China recently (thanks to international attorney and China guru John Tulac as one of these experts) which synced up with the stock market plunge in China - and in the U.S. (and thus [...]
Why My Best Clients Focus on Responsiveness
As customers continue to demand shorter lead times, it becomes imperative for manufacturers and distributors to become more responsive and improve order fulfillment cycle time. I've been working on my book The Amazon Effect lately, and it brings to mind the critical importance of responsiveness. There is no doubt [...]
Leveraging Supply Chain Trends
Slashing lead times is one of the most pressing supply chain trends. By identifying trends early on you can devise ways to leverage them to your advantage. I spoke to ISM (the Institute for Supply Management) last night about supply chain trends, and it reminded me of the importance [...]
The Good & Bad of Using Temps, Contractors & Consultants
When facing short-term staffing challenges, supplement your needs with temps, contractors or consultants. To be successful, be clear on the purpose and staff accordingly. I find that almost every one of my clients and prospective clients are growing significantly. One complication of growth is to find, upgrade and keep [...]