Manufacture Smarter Blog

6/3/2016 - THE CENTER
From point-of-origin raw materials to finished goods delivery, Supply Chain Management (SCM) controls the entire production process. It ensures the efficient management, movement and storage of raw materials and work-in-progress/finished products. While proper supply chain management can have amazing results, poor management can be devastating to the viability of your business.

5/27/2016 - THE CENTER
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported there were 12,293,000 employees holding manufacturing jobs, accounting for nine percent of the workforce in the United States in March 2016. These employees earn an average hourly wage of $25.72, equivalent to more than $50,000, not including benefits or overtime pay.

5/20/2016 - THE CENTER
New product development and innovation are critical to survival and growth in the manufacturing world. Bringing new products to market is important to the long-term health and success of your business. Relying on successes of the past is a quick path to extinction, and manufacturers must continually seek new ways to serve their customers.

5/13/2016 - THE CENTER
For years, one of the requirements for ISO 14001 was to make the Environmental Policy “available to the public”. The most common way to accomplish this was to place it on the company’s website. With ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015, the current requirement is to make the policy: “available to interested parties” (ISO 14001:2015 Clause 5.2) “available to relevant interested parties, as appropriate” (ISO 9001:2015 Clause 5.2.2) Identifying “Interested” So, the question is: Outside of the website, how do you make the policy available?  Before you start jumping through hoops, let’s find out what hoops need to be jumped through.

5/6/2016 - THE CENTER
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are essential tools used in manufacturing management. These metrics can be used to measure the overall success of an organization or manage daily functions. Measurements help determine if operations are effective or if changes need to be made in order to avoid future inefficiencies and problems.

4/29/2016 - THE CENTER
For those of you whose organization has a Quality Management System (QMS) and an Environmental Management System (EMS), the act of integrating both systems into one can prove difficult. When ISO 14001:2015 was released, a sign of relief was heard around the world when it was discovered it followed the same High Level Structure (HLS) as ISO 9001:2015.

4/22/2016 - THE CENTER
Poor leadership when business is good can be hidden, but poor leadership in bad times is a recipe for disaster. No matter how qualified an individual is to hold a position, or how prominent that position may be, they are still human like everyone else and have flaws.

4/15/2016 - THE CENTER
It would be wonderful if we lived in a world where each part perfectly matched the design model. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a perfect world! Although imperfections are a reality in the manufacturing world, it’s crucial to work towards continuously reducing project inadequacies.

4/8/2016 - THE CENTER
In today’s age, it is amazing that some manufacturers have not yet heard of “Lean”. The question is: How are they surviving in today’s competitive market without it? The issue is that, in many ways, the customer sets pricing.

4/1/2016 - THE CENTER
Manufacturers are continuously looking to diversify their customer base, expand into new markets, and grow business. Conducting market research is a crucial component of developing a strong growth strategy.