Customization: The Future of Manufacturing
Nowadays, consumers want their products designed specifically for them. They can buy a new car as if they’re ordering a sandwich: red exterior, with a side of leather seats, hold the sunroof. This isn’t just a segment of the population or a trend that will diminish. It has become an expectation. A lot of manufacturers […]
Running Out of Room? Consider a Mezzanine
If you are a tenant of an older warehouse or manufacturing and distribution facility, chances are you could have unused space that isn’t found in newer buildings. A mezzanine can be a great way to increase square footage without having to relocate or build out. They are fairly flexible in the shape they are arranged […]
Transformation to a Highly Effective Manufacturing Culture
Changing and improving your manufacturing and distribution culture has to come from the top to be lasting and effective. Here are some new ways to connect workers. New ways of communication can go a long way. Staff need to feel valued to be engaged. Have new employees meet with executive management upon their hire. Start […]
What Do Your Warehouse Workers Value Most?
When it comes to worker retention, employers need to know what is most important to their employees. Surveys of hourly warehouse workers have concluded that the number one employment issue is pay. Aside from layoffs, the top reason workers left their jobs was because they found higher paying jobs elsewhere. According to the survey, job […]
April is National Welding Month
Welders create the world around us. National Welding Month is the perfect opportunity to spotlight this growing profession. Welders are in short supply in today’s economy, but it hasn’t always been that way. The decline began in the 1980s, when there became a reduced need for welders. However, with the increase in domestic manufacturing, there […]
RFID: The New Barcode
Remember how the barcode revolutionized the way people do business and measure inventory? That was back in the 1970s, but what’s next? Radio frequency identification technology (RFID) is the future for manufacturers. RFID is helping manufacturers distributors and retailers more efficiently collect data. Although RFID has been around since the 1990s, it has steadily gained […]
Reevaluating Your Pricing Strategy
Distributors can be reluctant to change the way they figure out pricing. There are many factors that determine pricing structure, but keeping it simple may not be the best way to maximize profits. Pricing should be about the value of products, not the cost. A good place to start is with product category, region, and […]
Goals for Continuous Improvement
How committed are you to continuous improvement across multiple plants? Do you have plants that perform better than others, even though they produce the same products? Here are the things you need to begin this process: Clear vision of how you would like things to function Outlined path to achieving excellence Comprehensive plan of communications […]