Take a closer look at the infographic: SQA Services- Supplier Performance Management (1) Find out more about SQA Services online, or Join SQA at the upcoming American Manufacturing Summit 2016, taking place on February 29th – March 1st in Chicago!
Read More →End-to-End Supply Chain Synchronization: The importance of Predictive Analytics & Lean Pull
A major focus within this blog has been looking at methods to drive efficiency and enable operational excellence in manufacturing. One aspect we haven’t yet explored is end-to-end supply chain synchronization. Synchronizing the supply network with final customer demand is a key factor in driving operational excellence. By using actual customer demand across the supply network manufacturers can enable better service and conversion costs with less inventory. Shertrack LLC has released a fascinating case study that highlights the key elements in achieving end-to-end supply chain synchronization. To find out more about demand-driven predictive manufacturing and the benefits of synchronizing your supply chain, visit: http://shertrack.com/
Read More →How fit is your organization?
Many organizations struggle with executing their short and mid-term strategies due to organizational gaps. Achieving strategic objectives and transforming to a culture of enterprise excellence requires a revolution in organizational design that is often very complex. EFESO Consulting, a global consultancy specializing in operational excellence, has taken the time to outline 6 key steps that organizations can take to build the ‘holistic fitness’ needed to thrive in volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) environments. In the following Whitepaper Virginie Fiacre, Principal at EFESO Consulting draws a playful parallel between corporate and physical fitness to illustrate this process of change and describe the steps an organization can take to ‘get in to shape’ Building a Fit to Win Organization Find out more about EFESO Consulting and how you can build your strategy for success>>
Read More →Mitigating Manufacturing Costs: How General Motors Saved $21 Million
There are a number of options that manufacturers can explore when looking to reduce their manufacturing costs; material management, supplier negotiation, workforce optimization, process overhaul, inventory carry over and energy consumption are all factors that can be considered. Energy spend, however, accounts for a large portion of manufacturing costs and provides a unique opportunity for cost reduction. To effectively manage energy spend, manufacturers must first acquire insights into the three cost drivers of energy consumption and identify areas for effective change. How energy is purchased, how energy is used and when energy is used will greatly affect the overall cost of energy consumption. One company that has effectively reduced their long term manufacturing costs through energy consumption management is General Motors. With operations in 25 countries, GM is one of the world’s oldest and largest manufacturers of vehicles and vehicle parts. Through their partnership with EnerNOC and the implementation of Energy Intelligence Software, General Motors has managed to save over $21 Million dollars in energy spend. The General Motors case study provides some interesting insights into the long term efficacy of implementing Energy Intelligence Software as well as the steps that are taken to achieve these savings. For details, check out the General Motors Case Study.
Read More →Not All Parts Are Created Equal: Choosing the right CNC Machining Company for the Aerospace Industry
Precision machining techniques are needed to produce aerospace components that are instrumental throughout an aircraft. These components are often ‘life-critical’, intricate parts that need to meet very precise specifications with high tolerance thresholds. “Quality is a given, because these parts are going in jet engines and landing gear, all across an airplane. It’s what we call ‘life-critical’. There is no room for failure.” explains Scot Barton, VP Sales at Pointe Precision. Given the vital nature of the components, selecting the right CNC Machining partner is a critical aspect of an aerospace manufacturers’ process. When selecting a CNC Machining partner there are a couple of key factors to consider: Technological Capabilities When it comes to machining high quality precision parts, the first and most important aspect is the in-house equipment that your potential partner is utilizing. The ideal machining partner will have: A full complement of high-quality machines with the ability to process large volumes quickly and seamlessly. Multi-tasking capabilities to allow machining in a single operation as opposed to only offering multi-fixture operations. This machining capability will allow for greater reliability in the generation of aerospace parts. Multi-tasking capabilities also allow for improved internal flexibility as operators move from machine to machine, going where the work is. Sam Crueger, Engineering Manager at Pointe Precision explains that “the quality is (also) better when a part can be completed on a single machine.” ‘One-Stop-Shop’ offerings: Ensuring that all of your CNC Machining …
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