Too busy to communicate? Research reveals that communications skills are lacking in the manufacturing and distribution workers. As much as we know that communication is critical, we often ignore this key area. We are swamped with daily work, getting the month's sales shipped out, learning the latest technical gadget [...]
Stay on top of hot ERP system trends to stay ahead of the competition. Those who make a concerted effort to identify and leverage emerging trends outperform their counterparts. As I want to make sure my clients are at the forefront of this path, I pay attention to emerging [...]
Published in "Project Times" website, December 4, 2013Click here for original article. In my 20+ years of experience as both a former VP of Operations of a mid-market manufacturer and as a business consultant and entrepreneur, I’ve yet to see as significant a skills gap as is emerging in [...]
Published in "Project Times" website, November 13, 2013Click here for original article. As we approach year-end, we start thinking about how we can squeeze the last bit of profit out of our projects. Of course, most companies are championing year-end sales and cost reduction projects. Although they aren't poor [...]
Advances in telecommunications have created a new normal business environment that allows collaboration across functions, sites, organizations, and oceans—and continually raises customer expectations. Are you ready for 2014? Managing traditional supply chain teams will no longer be enough! Instead, in order to thrive in the new normal business environment, [...]
On-the-job training is rarely enough! In a survey conducted by my firm, LMA Consulting Group Inc. in conjunction with the APICS-Inland Empire chapter, it was found that on-the-job training is the most frequent methodology used to train workers yet 87% of manufacturers and distributors surveyed are experiencing a skills gap. What [...]
When connecting people and process, think about using customer collaborative programs to link strategy with execution. Collaborative customer programs are becoming increasingly popular in today’s new normal business environment. Customers such as Cardinal Healthcare, Boeing, and the like are searching for ways to partner closely with suppliers in a [...]
Lisa Anderson, president of LMA Consulting Group, in conjunction with the APICS – Inland Empire chapter, conducted a skills gap survey which asked hiring managers and human resources professionals about recruiting and employment trends in manufacturing and distribution. Results show that 77% of manufacturers and distributors are facing challenges [...]
77% of those surveyed are struggling to hire people with all of the required skill sets. Manufacturers and distributors cannot find top talent! In a survey conducted by my firm, LMA Consulting Group Inc. in conjunction with the APICS-Inland Empire chapter, it was found that 77% of manufacturers are [...]
Today’s supply chain managers need cross-functional experience to quickly grasp complex situations. One of the keys to being able to select the "right" strategic priorities at the "right" time in order to ensure business results occur is to be able to take cross-functional experience into account. It can be [...]
