Manufacture Smarter Blog

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. 

6/5/2020 - BY: BEN WOOD
In the world of manufacturing, it seems like everyone has a boss. Growing up, I remember listening to my dad talk to my mom about his boss. Sometimes it was good, sometimes it was bad – regardless, I remember thinking, I don’t know if having a boss is a good thing. What would it be like if everyone had a coach, a mentor, an advisor, a teacher instead of a boss?

5/12/2020 - BY: JESS CRUZ
While the many changes and disruptions that came from the COVID-19 pandemic were not expected as we entered 2020, leaders in all industries have worked hard to restore our nation’s prominence and success as the world continues to respond and recover. So, how does this impact the business activities of small and medium-sized manufacturers?

5/8/2020 - BY: PETE SCHMIDT
After visiting hundreds of companies throughout the country, one thing I have consistently observed among successful companies is they have less resistance to change compared to those that think they have their processes under control and are working at their highest efficiency. Do not fear change – embrace it for the good it can do for your organization.

5/5/2020 - BY: TERRY HOSSINK
It’s hard to disagree that the business world has changed drastically and will likely never look the same again. If you own or manage a business, now is the time to start thinking about the next stage.

4/10/2020 - BY: BEN WOOD
Much has changed in the last few weeks. Things we used to take for granted, like going to the grocery store, eating at a restaurant or getting a haircut, are now unrecognizable or even impossible. Evidence of how quickly things change is all around us, and individuals and companies everywhere are scrambling to adapt to this new reality. As a leader in your business, how quickly can you change?

4/7/2020 - BY: CHARLIE WESTRA
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to heavily impact businesses, with operations partially or completely shut down and many team members working from home, leaders are left wondering how they can ensure employees are feeling valued, engaged and secure in their roles. While the pandemic has already caused much disruption and distress for manufacturers as they consider what the future holds, there are still ways companies can work right now to strengthen both their business and their workforce to better position themselves for the eventual return to normal operations.

3/20/2020 - BY: ROB STAUFFER
Many project managers tend to stick to “their way” of managing projects, regardless of how successful their methods may be. But digging deeper, most would realize that their strategies are not only ineffective, but are costing their organization much time, money, and effort with each failed project.

1/24/2020 - BY: MIKE BEELS
In last week's blog, we discussed the importance of creating an organization-wide succession plan, complete with tools to use in the beginning steps. Once these steps have been completed, organizations can move onto the next phase of planning, which involves digging deeper into position requirements and identifying relevant training needs. 

1/17/2020 - BY: MIKE BEELS
In the past few years, much attention has been devoted to employee engagement. There is no longer any doubt that more engaged employees lead to enhanced profitability and organizational growth. What many leaders do not realize, however, is that an important part of this engagement process involves creating a plan for every employee in your organization.