Erick Poock

Understand the right tool for the objective

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The ability to repair equipment is another critical area for domestic manufacturing that is quickly disappearing. The capacity to repair is also necessary for a truly sustainable future. https://lnkd.in/eV-RscvQ

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Becoming too important as a manufacturing manager or owner ironically makes you the weakest link! When you’re too critical to daily operations, the entire system relies heavily on you, making it vulnerable. If you can’t step away without everything falling apart, it’s a clear sign that processes and team autonomy need improvement. Empower your team, delegate responsibilities, and establish robust systems so the plant runs smoothly, even in your absence. True leadership ensures the business thrives without you being there 24/7. Need to implement a system that isn’t fully reliant on you? Download the Lean Manufacturing Starter Handbook —> https://lnkd.in/dqbWr4FH #Leadership #ManufacturingManagement #TeamEmpowerment #OperationalExcellence #WorkLifeBalance #LeanManufacturing #ManufacturingOperations

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The Silent Killer of Manufacturing Projects: Scope Creep Scope creep is the insidious enemy of successful manufacturing projects. What starts as a small, seemingly innocent change request can quickly snowball into project delays, budget overruns, and a compromised end product. As product managers, we're often caught between the desire to deliver maximum value and the need to maintain project viability. The key to preventing scope creep lies in proactive planning and ruthless prioritization. - Define clear project boundaries from the outset. - Involve stakeholders in the decision-making process. - Establish a change management process to evaluate new requests objectively. - Prioritize features based on their impact on business goals. By adopting these strategies, you can protect your project from the devastating effects of scope creep and deliver products that truly meet customer needs. #manufacturing #productmanagement #projectmanagement #scopecreep #projectdelivery

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Catch the latest clip from Episode 595 of the Lean Blog Interviews podcast, where I sit down with Art Byrne , former CEO of Wiremold and renowned author of “The Lean Turnaround” book series. 🌟 Art shares the transformative power of #Lean principles in business. Despite the initial lack of recognition from GE for dramatically dropping inventory, the real impact was undeniable: • Enhanced customer service 💼 • Reduced costs 💰 • Improved quality 📈 • Happier employees 😊 • Neater, cleaner, and safer shop floors 🛠️ It’s a powerful reminder of how lean practices can drive holistic improvements across an organization. Don’t miss out on these valuable insights! 🎧 Full episode: https://lnkd.in/d7yASP9g #LeanManagement #LeanLeadership #ContinuousImprovement #CustomerService #EmployeeEngagement #QualityImprovement #LeanPodcast #MarkGraban #ArtByrne #TheLeanTurnaround Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comments! Let’s keep the conversation going.

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Take It to the Limit (Reasons SPC Initiatives Struggle, part 3) It's not uncommon to "walk the line" and see a control chart where multiple subgroups are out of control, yet no comments, notes or actions are listed. The usual answer is "well, they are all within specification". Yep, you got me there, they are in specification. They are also telling you that the process behavior is changing and that you need to take action. Failure to act increases the variation within the products and could result in products eventually becoming out of specification. We also have to consider that consistently ignoring control limit violations leads to a mistrust of SPC and control charts, which in turn can lead to a "SPC doesn't work" attitude. During your SPC training you must be sure that everyone fully understands the difference between control limits and specification limits. Specification limits are defined by the customer. They referred to as the "Voice of the Customer". Imagine a set of walls, let's say a car wash stall (yes, I like car analogies). The walls are solid boundaries built by the customer. Control limits on the other hand are representations of the process behavior. They are the "Voice of the Process". Let's continue with the automotive theme and say that the process is represented by a car or specifically, the sides of the car. The car and the car wash stall are not connected in anyway. We can drive the car inside of the stall or we could miss it altogether and just drive away. Likewise, the specification limits and control limits are independent. Hopefully our control limits, or process, are within the specification limits, but they could also easily be outside of the specification limits. As centering a car in a car wash stall allows us to move around the car, centering a process within the specification limits allows a little room for our process. Not taking action when control limit violations occur reduces the area and increases our risk, just as parking your car too close to the wall increases your risk of denting a door. The goal of this post is the understanding that specifications as limits set by the customer while the control limits represent process behavior. We'll continue the topic in the next post by discussing Capability Indices. These tell us how well our car fits the stall and how well it is centered. Until then, please leave enough room not to dent your door!

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I’ve got something special for you today, even if I hit the wrong day when publishing. My bad for being a day late – but trust me, it’s worth the wait! This week on the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Keith Pfeifer, the President at Aerobotix. Keith's journey from a controls engineer to leading a company in the aerospace and defense industries is incredible. Aerobotix is about transforming the entire manufacturing culture. Keith shared how their cutting-edge robotic solutions drive cultural change, make work more fulfilling for employees, and ramp up production quality. It’s all about empowering people, embracing innovation, and shaping the future of manufacturing. Keith discussed the importance of hiring smart, passionate people and giving them the freedom to take ownership of their work. This leadership lesson is as practical as it is powerful. We also discussed how automation improves employee quality of life—something I know many of you care deeply about. You can catch the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts, on YouTube, or our website at https://lnkd.in/gnmDbCuu. If you’re passionate about manufacturing, leadership, and innovation, this episode is a must-listen. Give it a listen, share it with your friends, and let’s keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in our industry. #ManufacturingCulture #Leadership #Innovation #Automation #Robotics #Podcast #EmployeeEngagement

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INVENTORS - what is VALIDATING your product mean and why is it so important? Validating by definition is the process of ensuring there is market demand for a product before investing in manufacturing or development. Armed with this knowledge, you now know that trying to ensure that people actually WANT your product is very important! Spending thousands of dollars to develop a product without knowing if anyone may want to buy it is a risky proposition at the very least. So how do you VALIDATE? There are a handful of ways including performing consumer surveys, hosting focus groups, reaching out to perspective retail buyers or company executives, and even crowdfunding. All of these methods are used by large brands and so we know they can be effective, but for the average inventor, they may put themselves at risk by exposing their product ideas without having any patent protection. Asking friends and family is not a preferred way in my opinion, as those people like/love you and may not want to hurt your feelings and so they may say your product idea is great - even if they think it’s not. Getting objective opinions is always best as strangers have no vested interest or may not care about voicing their opinions to a stranger about their product ideas. So what to do? Filing a provisional patent application may afford you some protection. (Always consult with a patent attorney to be sure), hosting a local focus group whereby the attendees sign a non disclosure can be helpful. All that being said, people can still copy your idea and run with it, but doing nothing to attempt to validate your product and not sharing it with the right people will only mean your product idea will never see the light of day, and hence never having any chance at success! #inventing #licensing #patents #crowdfunding #success #retail

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The new version of Quality Progress, the ASQ published magazine notes the expected manufacturing job hole we are walking into. There are a few ways to look at this. I'm not a fan of the doom and gloom side. The solutions I am interested in are in the hands of business owners in the manufacturing space. Process improvement and optimization. Deep commitment to removing waste. To making the people you have efficient and helping them feel rewarded in their work. I've spent most of my professional life working towards these types of solutions. Finding the "how can this be smarter?" and "how can this be easier?" I can help you on the path to your own solution. My Start. Somewhere. Operations program is exactly what you need to figure out where and how to move systems in the right direction. Better yet, it is based around teaching you. Giving you skills to move forward. Skills to facilitate addressing the potential workforce shortage we have. Setup a free consultation today. Lets Start. Somewhere. together. #startsomewhere #asq #quality #processimprovement https://lnkd.in/gK-gmaD8

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🔍 Looking to enhance your manufacturing operations? Explore the power of Lean manufacturing principles and Six Sigma methodologies to optimize efficiency, minimize waste, and elevate product quality. Get started on your journey of continuous improvement and unlock the full potential of your business: https://ow.ly/tlNa50RK27t 💼 #Manufacturing #LeanSixSigma #ContinuousImprovement

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If you read this and are wondering how can we get started with lean so we can build a CI culture, this guide will help!

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I had a great conversation with Jeffrey Fiala on the Manufacturing Culture Podcast that got me thinking. 🎧 Jeff's the CEO of Transmission, and he's changing the way factories communicate. It's about ensuring everyone's on the same page, which we can all appreciate, no matter where we work. Jeff shared how their system helps keep everyone informed and connected, from the front office to the factory floor. It's impressive to see how small changes in communication can make a big difference in any business. 👂 Give it a listen: https://lnkd.in/gnmDbCuu. I think you'll find it thought-provoking, especially if you've faced challenges with team communication. And I'm curious: Have you ever seen a simple change make a significant impact at work? What do you do to make sure everyone in your team feels heard? I'd love to hear your stories. Comment below, and let's get into it. If you think someone else could benefit from this episode, feel free to share it. #RealTalk #TeamCommunication #ManufacturingCulturePodcast

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FMEA Quick Tip Series: Design FMEA and Process FMEA Interaction   🔍Are you ready to take your FMEA knowledge to the next level? Our Quick Tip Series unveils the crucial role of interaction between Design and Process FMEA. Learn how to enhance risk assessments and incorporate physical reality into your analyses.   Stay tuned for some more valuable tips!   #dietzconsultants #FMEA #Design #Process #RiskAssessment #quicktip #tips

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Can you afford the $500K-$1M cost of Losing a CI Leader?   Consider a scenario where a Continuous Improvement Manager leaves a manufacturing plant.    This individual was leading a major initiative to streamline production processes, reduce waste, and improve efficiency, saving the company an average of $500,000 to $1,000,000 per year.   The immediate costs include: - Recruiting a replacement - Potentially hiring a consultant in the interim - Time required to bring the new hire up to speed In the meantime: - Production inefficiencies may persist, leading to higher operational costs and missed savings - Team morale might dip as colleagues feel the loss of a respected leader - Clients awaiting improved delivery times and lower costs might become frustrated, potentially impacting future sales and contracts Mitigation Strategies 1. Invest in Retention: Provide career development opportunities, competitive compensation, and a positive work environment to retain top talent. 2. Knowledge Management: Implement systems to capture and share critical knowledge across the organization to mitigate the impact of employee departures. 3. Succession Planning: Develop a talent pipeline and ensure that key roles have potential successors ready to step in. 4. Engage Employees: Foster a culture of engagement and recognition to keep employees motivated and committed to the organization. Addressing the multifaceted costs of losing CI leaders requires a strategic approach to employee retention, knowledge management, and succession planning.    By doing so, companies can minimize disruptions, maintain a competitive edge, and protect the $500,000 to $1,000,000 in annual savings generated by these valuable team members.   Ready to safeguard your CI investments and retain top talent?    Send us a Chat to Contact Beneva Group today to learn how we can help you develop effective strategies for employee engagement, knowledge management, and succession planning. Click Like, Share, Comment, and Tag a Colleague if you find this post useful.   #TalentRetention #EmployeeEngagement #WorkplaceCulture #ContinuousImprovement #BusinessStrategy #OperationalEfficiency #CustomerSatisfaction

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Imagine a workplace where efficiency reigns supreme, waste is virtually eliminated, and continuous improvement is not just a goal but a way of life. This is the promise of Lean manufacturing, a methodology that has revolutionized industries worldwide. Now, you have the unique opportunity to delve into this powerful approach through our "Lean Manufacturing Expert with 38 Lean Tools Live Training Program." This program is a comprehensive journey designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to become a Lean expert. You'll learn to identify and eliminate waste, streamline processes, and foster a culture of continuous improvement. But what sets this training apart is its hands-on approach. You'll engage with 38 essential Lean tools, each meticulously chosen for its proven impact on operational efficiency and effectiveness. Our live training sessions ensure you gain practical experience, guided by industry experts who bring real-world insights and examples. You'll have the chance to interact, ask questions, and apply what you learn in real-time, making the concepts not just theoretical but actionable. Whether you're a seasoned professional looking to refine your skills or a newcomer eager to make a significant impact, this program offers unparalleled value. The benefits of Lean manufacturing are clear: reduced costs, improved quality, faster delivery times, and, most importantly, a more engaged and motivated workforce. By becoming a Lean expert, you're not just enhancing your career prospects; you're becoming a catalyst for positive change within your organization. Dive into our article to discover more about the "Lean Manufacturing Expert with 38 Lean Tools Live Training Program" and see how it can empower you to drive excellence in your workplace. #leanmanufacturing #lean #operationalexcellence #problemsolving #leanthinking

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