Search

Are your efforts focused only on reducing the cost of labor? Manufacturers like HindlePower and MBX Systems are reminders not to overlook the ways your workforce provides strategic advantage. What [...]

How do manufacturers meet the challenge of business longevity? By embracing change. The Clorox Co. turned 100 earlier this year. Originally making a single product--liquid bleach--for industrial customers, the $5.5 [...]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Having a diverse workforce is a competitive advantage and not merely a human resources initiative, according to Cate Roberts, director of diversity and community affairs at Textron Inc. […]

Business strategist Gary Hamel envisions a future in which employees are empowered to create change within their organizations. And lean strategies, while a start, don't go far enough. He has [...]

Studies show that some 40% of executives hired externally fail to achieve their objectives within the first year at a new company. That's because, despite the considerable time, effort and [...]

Just as some technologies will have a bright and sunny future in the near term, others could be in for a rude wake-up call in 2009. Vince Kellen, senior consultant […]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What technologies should manufacturing enterprises be focusing on in the coming years? According to IT research firm Gartner Inc., they should pay particularly close attention to any strategic […]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There always seems to be an audience for new statistics, however trivial they seem to be. To keep up with how suppliers are performing, many manufacturers have started […]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Responsible spending is a tall order in today's economy. But according to a report from financial services firm JPMorgan, effective procurement card compliance continues to make that job […]

The floors were drab, stained by the ink of decades of running presses and rewinders. The company was just treading water, scraping by with a 1% profit margin. Morale was [...]

When service functions are disconnected and service information is separated in silos, it's nearly impossible to coordinate and optimize your service performance. Your people are just tactically reacting to service [...]

Almost by definition, continuous improvement is a long-term business strategy to improve your business in terms of customer value and satisfaction, quality, speed to market, flexibility and reduced cost. In […]

Recent entries include: * Supply chain risks. They seem to be everywhere. * P&G builds supply chain for its future self. * What's your relationship with your suppliers? Sponsored by […]

Creating a strategic plan for your business is like working with an architect to develop a set of blueprints for your dream house. Policy deployment is akin to the general […]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As a purchasing professional, are you seen as an equal partner in your organization, or merely as a technician? If it's the latter, then it might be time […]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] So your latest IT project was delivered late, or it failed for no discernible reason. Or it could be that the project as derailed due to constantly changing […]