Manufacture Smarter Blog

10/9/2020 - BY: ANDY NICHOLS
Between 40 and 60% of small businesses fail within a year of any type of disaster – including cyberattacks – unless some type of resiliency plan is put in place. So, what is needed to protect small and medium-sized businesses from such an attack? How can an organization become “cyber-resilient”?  ​While many might not realize it, if an organization already has an ISO 9001:2015-compliant QMS, that can be used as a platform on which to base an effective cybersecurity program.

10/2/2020 - THE CENTER
The Center is proud to join in the celebration of manufacturing nation-wide.

9/25/2020 - BY: REBEKAH MCCARTER
As the world continues to adapt to the changes brought on by COVID-19, market research has gained more traction and attention as a critical tool in business strategy. In order to get the most value possible out of this powerful research method, companies must have a strong understanding of what exactly they're trying to find. This begins with understanding a few of the key terms used in market research.

9/18/2020 - BY: ROGER TOMLINSON
In the ongoing pursuit of improving profitability, is it more important for a company to reduce costs or increase revenue? The answer to this complex question likely depends on many factors, including the type of company in question, industry trends and market conditions. Each strategy has its own benefits and drawbacks – but which is best for your company?

9/11/2020 - THE CENTER
In honor and remembrance of those we lost.

9/4/2020 - THE CENTER
Happy Labor Day!

8/28/2020 - BY: GEORGE SINGOS
I have met with many business leaders who believe they are more profitable than they really are. In evaluating gross margin, they assume all their parts or assemblies are more profitable than reality. However, this perspective fails to account for overhead costs that are not properly utilized. This gives managers an inaccurate idea of how their business is performing.

8/21/2020 - BY: ANDY NICHOLS
Policies. Every day we are governed by them. They provide direction to us on a wide variety of issues, often expressed in simple terms for everyone to understand and implement. “No smoking.” “Mask required.” “No open-toed shoes.” Knowing this, why is it that things often go awry when trying to establish and maintain a Quality Policy?

8/14/2020 - BY: JEFF WILLIAMS
With countless workers now using personal laptops and home internet connections, rather than dedicated servers and equipment with stronger cybersecurity, hackers are provided an easy access point into confidential company data. Due to this heightened and evolving risk, it is now more critical than ever for companies to focus on establishing robust cybersecurity practices if they hope to keep their businesses safe in this new threat landscape.

8/7/2020 - BY: JAMIE HEADLEY
COVID-19 has forced companies to drastically change work environments in terms of safety, location and culture. Amid this workplace transition, manufacturing companies have faced a more complex challenge in determining how to manage employee "office" locations. When evaluating if it makes sense for your employees to work remotely or in-office, here are some key points to take into consideration.