In December’s newsletter the topic of practical supply chain automation presented the concept of gravity flow racking to automate the movement and transfer of stored materials. Another practical and affordable method of material transfer small manufacturers can utilize is using basic mechanical conveyor systems. What are the common types of conveyor systems? There are a…
When you think about supply chain automation what often comes to mind are mega-corporations with expensive and complex robotics running people-less factories and warehouses with endless arrays of software and robots moving materials and churning out products. How can a small manufacturer possibly afford automation? The answer is they can, but with more practical and…
Strategic Sourcing drives substantial results. After organizing for success and developing a portfolio of improvements, it’s time to develop commodity strategies and action plans, and deliver on the promise of substantial improvements. Strategic Sourcing is not a one-time event and must become a way of life in your organization. Well-developed Strategic Sourcing processes are a…
In our last blog, we discussed the roadmap to a successful new product development effort. Here we will review things to do to improve your chance for success and to achieve the key deliverables. Waterfall vs. Agile One of the strategies worth reviewing at the outset is whether your process specifies a “Waterfall” or “Cascade”…
We all learn from our past mistakes so we want to share some best practices that can help you improve any Data Management and Governance process. Here are several things to consider: Choose a Great Team Find your data heroes/stewards and work with them to build and communicate relevant, clear data policies. Don’t underestimate the…
Data Security We’ve all seen the horror stories of data and security breaches where personal information held by large companies has been put in jeopardy by hackers. But what are your vulnerabilities? Consider this possible scenario: Several people in your organization buzzing about an employee who had just been fired. The employee found and accessed…
A key realization for your organization, and any well-run company, is the knowledge that your data is an asset and you need to be ready to take the necessary steps to ensure its value is protected. There are four basic steps you need to consider for Data Management and Governance excellence. There’s no mystery to…
The best way to bring your new products to market in a timely and successful manner include these four best practices that should be embraced in all New Product Introduction Charters. Define Requirements One of the single most important aspects of a successful product development effort can also be the most demanding. Defining ALL the…
Most successful manufacturing companies continually release a stream of new products. These new products are an essential key to growth and future revenue sources. A void of something which attracts new customers and provides a reason to retain past customers can spell doom for an enterprise. Hence, a robust, speedy and reliable new product development…
Once you are organized for success (see previous blog), the next step is to dig in and find as many opportunities for improvement as you can. In order to develop a portfolio of opportunities, you must evaluate the data available to determine what improvements can be made. In our Roadmap, you can follow these steps:…
