If you manufacture products for the U.S. government or for defense-related applications or if you supply components to prime contractors who do your company must comply with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Violations carry civil penalties up to $1.3…
In today’s competitive manufacturing landscape, you’re most likely well aware of your suppliers’ key performance indicators, as well as the impacts of handling, shipping and distribution on your overall unit costs. But what do you know about tracking employee skill…
The Internet of Things — or IoT — is a buzzword used frequently in everything from white papers and case studies to articles and blogs. But what exactly is the Internet of Things, and what is it doing for manufacturing?…
Just like the actions, beliefs and social norms that make up the general culture we live in, a workplace with a vibrant safety culture has a shared vision about what constitutes a safe work environment. Since most professionals in manufacturing…
Many modern employees expect transparency, accessibility and new levels of interactivity in the workplace, and plenty of industries are engaging in strategies geared toward those qualities. While they're common in medical fields, as well as education and real estate, 360-degree…
Even though the deadline to be DFARS 7012/NIST 800-171 compliant passed over a year ago (December 31, 2017, to be exact), we have noticed a significant uptick in demand for these assessments. This is because the government has tasked the…
From Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things to business process automation and robotics, manufacturing in America is facing disruption from almost every facet of technology. Of course, while most of us are bombarded by marketing messages like “new and…
In the business world, it is critical to get a sales proposal — sometimes referred to as a business proposal — absolutely right. It’s important to understand that a business "proposal" isn’t the same as a business "plan." While business…
Why Cross-Train Employees? If you’re a manufacturer, you probably don’t need to be reminded that you’re also in the customer relations business. From fulfilling last-minute rush orders to working with your suppliers to get the best materials at the best…
From a busy intersection at rush hour to security check-ins at airports, we’re surrounded by bottlenecks. In real-world scenarios, since most of us are forced to navigate bottlenecks every day, it’s easy to forget how costly they can be to…