Why can’t we get a more accurate forecast from sales?
Manufacturing managers the world over have the same complaint.
Maybe the word “forecast” is tripping everyone up.
A forecast is a prediction. Maybe it is based on some kind of market analysis, maybe even asking the dealers what they think they will sell. It could be based on [...]
How can some companies not only survive, but thrive when operating in “high cost labor” areas, while others are struggling even as they are busy chasing the lowest possible costs?
I would like to suggest that one key difference is the attitude toward people. On the one hand is the “people as cost” model. This model [...]
I have been in, or encountered, a number of organizations which had (or were working on) ISO-900x quality registrations. While I am fully aware of the intent of the ISO requirements, in the cases I have seen, the effect seems to fall well short of the goal.
On the surface, the types of processes mandated by [...]
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
As I promised, I am going to continue to over-play the afternoon my team spent with Steven Spear.
In his forthcoming book “
Chasing the Rabbit” (to be published in the fall), he profiles what is different about those companies which seem to easily be increasing their lead against competitors when there is no apparent external advantage.
One [...]
Thursday, November 15, 2007
As we near the end of 2007, most of our respective organizations are looking at what we are going to do in 2008.
Part of that is usually to take a look at this year and look at where we are right now. There are a couple of ways to go about this, and I want [...]
I encountered a new level of sophistication in comment spam engines today. This one actually hosts a “blog” of its own. The engine parses quotes from other blogs, posts them as comments in those blogs and links back to itself. On its host site, it looks like a “blog” but, in reality, it is nothing [...]
Monday, September 17, 2007
There is lots of “Lean Training” out there, and the quality ranges across the board.
“Lean training” is a megabucks business, and anyone who can assemble a pack of PowerPoint slides and a web site is offering “lean training” out there. It is certainly a case for buyer-beware. So how do you evaluate all of the [...]
Monday, September 10, 2007
If you are the “lean manufacturing expert” you probably know. But what answer do you get if you ask the question in the work area?
Here is a quick diagnostic for you: Go to the shop floor and ask a supervisor, “What is your takt time?”
A reply of “Huh?” is pretty self-explanatory. Either the entire concept [...]
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
A couple of days ago I wrote about how to host a tour. Here are some thoughts on how to get one. As always, I’d love to hear your comments and experiences.
Don’t expect your hosts to change your “cement heads.” I have had requests from groups who wanted to send their “resistant managers” to our [...]
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
When one of my operations at “a previous company” started to really show some results, they began to get a lot of requests for tours from other groups. Obviously they are not in the business of giving tours, and these requests were beginning to impact on their time. Here are some guidelines I gave them [...]