My APICS (#1 trade association for supply chain and operations management) chapter hosted an executive panel & networking symposium which was focused on the topic of innovation. Innovation is a critical topic! Problem solving and maintaining the status quo is no longer enough as customers expect more, regulations increase [...]
Bold ideas in employment may be counterintuitive but you have to be willing to fail to win big. I recently attended the Southern California Logistics & Supply Chain Summit hosted by the Center for Supply Chain & Logistics of the Drucker School of Management and the Inland Empire Economic [...]
Missing important clues at work because they’re not obvious or visible is as good as going around with blinders. Part of having an eagle eye is knowing what you don't see. I've found that being observant while walking around a manufacturing or distribution facility can yield many hidden gems. [...]
I constantly go back to what my HR mentor (Debra Daniels) used to say, "It begins and ends with people." She was right! Earlier today, I went to lunch with a 3 trusted advisors who work with the same types of clients as I do. One of them told [...]
If you’re riding a wave of growing demand put systems in place that can support the increased workload and not wipe out your goals. Lately I've been talking with many clients and potential clients who are interested in growth. Although rapid growth is exciting, it can also be one [...]
Quality must be an assumption. The problem with assumptions such as service and quality is that people lose focus because there is little conversation about the topics when "all is well". People are typically not rewarded for things that don't happen. For example, if there is a crisis, people [...]
I was in DC this week for a conference. My theme last week was on continuous learning, and I put that into practice this week. Walked away with several ideas. It just so happens to be in "cherry season" in DC (see below). This is what got me thinking [...]
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 [...]
Keeping up on the latest supply chain trends can be invaluable for your career and your company success. I’ve never believed in “jumping on the latest bandwagon”, just to be in the cool crowd and to have the opportunity to work with the trendy topics. However, [...]
I've been thinking about the power of Amazon since I facilitated an APICS tour of their San Bernardino 1.2 million square feet facility on Friday. It was quite impressive from several viewpoints: 1) warehouse automation. 2) simplicity 3) how they treat their people. 4) the power of continuous improvement. [...]
