Manufacture Smarter Blog

12/18/2020 - BY: JESS CRUZ
I am privileged to meet with and support many small to mid-sized manufacturers in Michigan. They bring great value with their products proudly made in Michigan. However, many of these manufacturers are unaware of the information and opportunities associated with Industry 4.0 technologies. My hope is to provide some insight and encouragement for those who are considering their next steps towards technology adoptions.

12/11/2020 - BY: JOHN SPILLSON
When building anything of quality or value, you must first start with a solid base. You can’t build a house without a foundation, you can’t assemble a car without a frame, and you certainly cannot develop and maintain a robust food safety system without the foundation of solid Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs).

12/4/2020 - BY: GEORGE SINGOS
In my role as a Business Leader Advisor, I often speak with small manufacturers in Michigan that are looking to grow. Many have found that their growth is stagnant and they don't know why. In situations such as these, the first step is to begin with evaluating the organization’s structure.

11/26/2020 - THE CENTER
Wishing you & yours a Happy Thanksgiving!

11/20/2020 - THE CENTER
The holidays are just around the corner – but they may look a little different this year.  To ensure you and yours stay protected this holiday shopping season, our team at the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center has assembled a list of special, Michigan-made products that you can order online from the safety of your own home.

11/13/2020 - BY: KATRINA GLOWZINSKI
With engagement and recruitment being some of the largest challenges faced by today’s manufacturers, the importance of workplace culture cannot be understated. The benefits of creating and maintaining a strong company culture are clear – but the path to get there is not as obvious. 

11/6/2020 - BY: ANDY NICHOLS
A few weeks ago, we posted a blog dissecting the various requirements of ISO 9001:2015 related to the “control of documented information” and addressed how cyberattacks can affect customers, management, employees and even regulatory compliance. Now that the value of information security has been established, we’ll discuss how to incorporate safe cybersecurity practices to further support your organization’s controls of documented information.

10/30/2020 - BY: DAVE NELSON
Building a relevant, effective training plan is key to developing all employees, regardless of their role or level within the organization. Manufacturers seeking additional funding and support for their training initiatives can find it through the Going PRO Talent Fund.

10/23/2020 - BY: MIKE BEELS
We have talked for many years about the importance of “engaged” employees – those who are highly involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their workplace. As of May 2020, the percentage of engaged employees in the U.S. was at 38% – the highest it’s been in the past 20 years – but still only 38%. So, what can organizations do to improve those numbers?

10/16/2020 - BY: GEORGE SINGOS
This year’s unique business challenges required manufacturers to be more flexible and efficient than ever before. As companies worked to rapidly adapt by shifting product offerings and implementing new safety practices, one factor emerged as a clear key to success: technology.  To further educate manufacturers on the benefits and uses of a number of Industry 4.0 technologies, Automation Alley will hold its fourth Integr8 event November 9-10, 2020 – this time, it will be completely virtual.