Business Management - Operations

From the Editor: Hide in Plain Sight
March 2, 2017 at 11:35 am

Over the past week I had two conversations about outsourcing, one with a vendor and the other with a manager. One theme that popped up in both chats was how important it is for in-plant managers to have a good relationship with the vendors who call on them — even the vendors whose companies have outsourcing divisions. You can get a lot of great ideas from vendors, they both said.

Open Your Door to Vendors...Defiantly
March 2, 2017 at 11:10 am

I hear it over and over again when in-plant managers talk about copier vendors: on one hand, we need these companies because they manufacture the equipment we use, on the other, we feel threatened by them. I spent the last few months working very closely with one of these vendors, and I can tell you what I think works.

Why In-plants Need Lean/Six Sigma
December 12, 2016 at 4:25 pm

What is your philosophy of quality, and what are you intentionally doing to combat poor quality issues?

Five Preflighting Errors to Avoid
December 12, 2016 at 12:37 pm

The ability to spot an error before a job is sent to production is an invaluable skill that saves time and money.

Planning: It's All About the Customer
December 5, 2016 at 5:03 pm

Don’t waste time on the ‘offset or digital’ question. Focus on how your in-plant can best help customers be successful.

Tough as Tires
November 16, 2016 at 4:39 pm

Don’t mess with Cheryl Buxton. At 62, she can renovate a kitchen, build a Goodyear tire and even sell guns — sort of.