Manufacture Smarter Blog

11/8/2019 - BY: STEVE VAMPLEW
After much anticipation, the 1st Edition AIAG/VDA FMEA Handbook has finally been published and automotive suppliers are starting to become familiar with its contents. One of the most noticeable changes in this new edition is a structured and prescriptive framework defined within the 7-Step Approach.

11/1/2019 - BY: ROGER TOMLINSON
In any organization, if you do not know how you are performing, there is no way to know where you're going. This is where Lean waste walks come in.

10/25/2019 - BY: BEN WOOD
Leaders wear many hats; they're a coach, a mentor, and a support-system for their team. Just because an employee has worked long enough to know the ins and outs of an establishment and has relationships with co-workers and clients does not mean they have the proper skills to take on such heightened levels of responsibility. 

10/18/2019 - BY: MICHAEL MCGRAY & CHUCK WERNER
Provided on-time delivery is above 95%, not too much product is hitting a scrap hopper and a little more money is coming in than going out, many leaders assume their business is functioning successfully. Hidden issues (and costs) may well be felt, but are not properly identified in a way that lends to their elimination. Today, many affordable tools are available to help us truly understand the factors that drive profitability. 

10/11/2019 - BY: CHARLIE WESTRA
There are times when tasks are delegated to us and we are happy to do them, only to be discouraged as soon as micromanagement and control come into play. On the flipside, sometimes when we are the ones delegating, we might find ourselves closely monitoring others’ methods and critiquing them to perform more like us, with a “my way or the highway” type of paradigm. 

10/4/2019 - BY: GARY MARLEY
When I meet with manufacturers to discuss business improvement strategies, the overwhelming message I hear is that they are all too busy working in the business that they do not have any time to work on the business. While this approach may work in the short term to keep the business afloat and functioning, in the long run this lack of planning and strategizing can be detrimental to the company's culture, competitiveness and bottom line.

9/27/2019 - THE CENTER
Michigan manufacturing is in need of a resurgence if there is any hope to fill the 100,000 open skilled trades jobs by 2022. To support this goal, industry, government and education have had to come together in recent years to address misconceptions about manufacturing and position it as a viable career path for incoming generations to pursue. One such strategy is through Manufacturing Day.

9/20/2019 - BY: TERRY HOSSINK
As with any business environment, continued learning should be an integral part of the business plan. Training should be an equal part of the improvement and investment plan that a company creates and revises each year.

9/13/2019 - BY: ANDY NICHOLS
Commonly, internal quality auditors conduct their audit assignments only to make sure everyone is "following procedures." Unfortunately, this approach fails to address the effectiveness of only doing what is written down. This neglect results in important facets of any QMS being overlooked.

9/6/2019 - BY: JAMIE HEADLEY
Anyone working in manufacturing today knows the number one issue facing the industry is the ability to attract and retain talent. And anyone dealing with this "talent shortage" knows that Millennials, or Generation Y, are the most viable labor pool. But with so many perceived differences in career desires among Millennials, how can manufacturers tap into this generation of potential workers?