I've been thinking about the value of continuous learning. I am in the fortunate position of learning something new with each client and from each Board meeting (with my APICS and ProVisors groups). Last week, I met with a prospective client and saw interesting machines and manufacturing processes. I [...]
Creating an innovative business environment means opening your company up for some disruptive changes – in a great way – but none the easier. Creating an innovative culture is cornerstone to success! In today’s new normal business environment, customers expect “stand above the crowd” service with high-value products and [...]
With every business looking for a customer service edge your CRM system should set you apart from your competitors to create customer loyalty. Keeping with the customer theme, I thought a brief discussion on CRM would be in order. In the last 5 years, I've seen the importance of [...]
Business opportunities are fleeting – prepare to capitalize on them before your competition does. One of the keys to successful growth is learning to spot opportunities - and leveraging them. While working with clients of all shapes and sizes, I find that opportunities are all around us; however, we [...]
With your focus on everyday business acting on trends can be challenging. It helps to have your systems and processes ready to act when you do spot an opportunity. I find that keeping an eye on trends is one of the best ways to ensure long-term success. If you [...]
A brand new year is the logical time to look for business growth opportunities. The trick is in spotting the right chances and acting on them. It seems like a good idea to look for opportunities to grow your business, elevate your business performance and/or dramatically increase the value [...]
Working in partnership with your customers delivers winning results on both ends. Customer collaboration has become cornerstone to success in today’s supply chain driven world. We are all part of a supply chain, and so we must look for ways to thrive within our supply chains. Undoubtedly, those who [...]
Surviving and flourishing in today’s business environment increasingly demands more of the supply chain professional, including excelling at soft and technical skills. According to a 2013 Gallup poll, 70% of U.S. workers are not engaged. What a startling statistic! Through observation of clients, trade association members, and colleagues, I'd [...]
Actionable data drives the most successful businesses. To cut through today’s information overload a data driven leader has to be incisive, creative, and decisive. One of the concepts that came out of APICS 2014 was the concept of a data driven leader. We are overloaded with data and messages [...]
Published October 10, 2014 I recently read an article in the Wall Street Journal about the fast rise of manufacturing wages in some areas. The largest increase has been in Texas at 25%; however, wages are beginning to rise across the board. According to my skills gap research study, [...]
