During my career in manufacturing, I held various positions, and many of them required making changes to the way things were done. Change can be difficult—and it can be even more difficult to communicate. People come to work and try to do the best job they can. They are proud of their work and […]
Guest Blog: 7 Tips to Implement Change Management Read More »
As EPA rules change and sustainability becomes a bigger topic, manufacturing practices are changing. Much of that change is driven by governmental regulations, companies themselves, and end users. Also, a new generation of employees want to work for companies that are socially and environmentally responsible. Before I go into what manufacturing can do to
Guest Blog: Sustainability Trends for Manufacturing Read More »
At a high-level, what is cybersecurity, and why should manufacturers care? Are there benefits to utilizing an active versus passive protection system for manufacturers? Cybersecurity is about protecting your industrial computer systems from unauthorized access, preventing theft, damage, or manipulation of those systems. Unfortunately, industrial control networks were designed decades ago, before cyber
Guest Blog: Cyber Security for Manufacturers Read More »
W. Edwards Deming once said, “End the practice of awarding business on the basis of a price tag. Instead, minimize total cost. Move toward a single supplier for any one item, on a long-term relationship of loyalty and trust.” These are some of the wisest words I have heard regarding suppliers in a manufacturing
Guest Blog: How to Create Positive Relationships with Your Suppliers Read More »
If you have read some of my previous blogs, you know I’m a huge supporter of lean manufacturing. During my time in manufacturing, I always felt a good management team knows what is happening within the operation, and lean manufacturing is one of the best ways to accomplish this. On today’s high-tech manufacturing floor, we
Guest Blog: Creating a Visual Factory Read More »
Is your IBM hardware still supported? IBM systems have proven their reliability over the years and with that some customers have become somewhat complacent about maintenance. If you have an “older” system that is not covered under maintenance and you needed a replacement part what impact might that have on your business? How much time
Is Your IBM Hardware Still Supported? Read More »
We all have a number of online accounts for which a password is required; the bank, credit cards, your physician’s portal, social media, shopping sites, etc. At ISE we trust that you are diligent at constructing a password that you can remember, but also that others would not easily be able to guess. That can
$@&* passwords! (Multiple post-its vs. SSO) Read More »
Infor has recently announced that it will be moving to the Corretto 8 version of Java. Some of ISE’s customers have asked what this means for them, and that is the focus of this article. In 2018, Oracle announced that they would start charging businesses for the use of Java SE in January 2019.
Infor’s Move to Corretto 8 Java Read More »
I think we all realize how crucial a company’s leadership is for success. As Acuity’s manufacturing consultant, I see a wide range of companies, and one common thread among the successful ones is a strong leader. For simplicity’s sake, this article will refer to the leader of a company as the CEO. We know
Guest Blog: Evaluating Leadership at Your Manufacturing Business Read More »
Do you know if your equipment is making or costing you money? Can you answer this question confidently and accurately, or do you have to guess the answer? Before we get to the bottom of this ever-important question, I want to dig into a few of the terms I will be using so we are
Guest Blog: How to Determine Your Equipment Effectiveness Read More »
Developing or maintaining a competitive advantage requires continuous investment in your ERP and users. You need to effectively modernize your system and processes without disrupting day-to-day operations. A health check of your ERP to measure your system’s effectiveness is as necessary as regularly servicing your automobile. Why take an ERP health assessment? Why wouldn’t you
Is Your ERP Healthy? Read More »
Quality Management Made Easier with a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) Quality management professionals are concerned about all aspects of production operations that impact quality performance and customer satisfaction. The processes, tools and procedures all come under the spotlight when failures or deviations occur. Consistency in methods used throughout the manufacturing process fall under scrutiny of
Quality Management in Manufacturing Read More »
Accurate Data & The Production Floor Accounting professionals require accurate data from all sources throughout the company. In a manufacturing company, the production floor represents an incredible challenge when it comes to obtaining complete, detailed and accurate information for raw materials inventory, WIP, finished goods. Don’t forget time and attendance, production, labor and quality costs
Accounting and Material Tracking in Manufacturing Read More »
