Manufacture Smarter Blog

12/20/2019 - THE CENTER
Wishing you Happy Holidays!

12/13/2019 - BY: JEFF WILLIAMS
Over the past decade, cyber threats have grown exponentially more sophisticated and frequent, with trillions of dollars lost each year due to cyber-attacks. This threat is especially prevalent for those in the defense industry, as suppliers at all levels are being targeted.

12/6/2019 - BY: ANDY NICHOLS
Former versions of ISO 9001 detailed the need for a Quality Manual, documented procedures and, at the process-control level, work instructions. These types of documents are no longer prescribed by the international standard.  However, once an organization has determined specific documentation is useful, that documentation must still be controlled to an extent. 

11/28/2019 - THE CENTER
Wishing you & yours a Happy Thanksgiving!

11/22/2019 - BY: KARA KUCINSKI
With the holiday season in full swing, now is the time many of us begin searching for the perfect gifts for family, friends and business associates. To help inspire your gift ideas, our team at the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center put together a list of some of our state's manufacturers' most exciting products on the market.

11/15/2019 - BY: MIGUEL GOMEZ
It's no secret that the manufacturing industry is facing a hiring crisis. If leaders have any hope of filling their talent gaps long-term, they must work to align their company values with those of younger generations.

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.