Podcast Series: Finish Strong® – Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc.

Most of us hire people to fill a slot — a given role. That happens all too often because we hire in a reactionary mode, … The post Cross Training for Capacity Management first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

When I worked for TRW in the 1980’s, the company required everyone with purchasing responsibilities to take the Chester Karrass negotiating course. At that time … The post Maximizing Profits is a Strategic Mistake first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Phil Spector was a very successful music producer and songwriter, who was also convicted of murder and serving a long sentence when he died in … The post What's Love Got To Do With It? first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Why would a senior employee keep tricks of the trade secret from others? For one reason only: a lack of confidence. Someone who acknowledges his … The post Why Seasoned Employees Don't Share first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

A few years ago I volunteered to support the Continental Cup activities in Cleveland. This is an international sporting event that included 2500 youngsters from … The post SUCCEEDING WITH SMALL SHORT-TERM TEAMS first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

A majority of adult Americans do not vote in our elections. Why is that? Simply because they don’t believe their vote matters. They believe nothing … The post Listen for the Silence Too first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

An effective operation may have bad days, but they are a rarity. When you walk through operations, is the angst palpable? Clearly that swamp monster … The post Swamp Monster Got Your Tongue? first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Even the best of us can benefit from cold water to the face occasionally. In mid-2022 I finally quit making excuses and enjoyed a 3-week … The post No More Excuses first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Excerpted From: © 2021 Manufacturing Mastery: The Path to Building Successful and Enduring Manufacturing Businesses; Taylor & Francis, Author: Rebecca Morgan “I have long advised … The post Determining Your Speed of Change first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Your people are no doubt working hard to do a good job. The question is: Have you given enough structure for them to know what … The post Staying Busy is NOT the Objective first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

While the worst of the supply chain fiasco of 2020-2022 is behind us, elements certainly continue to challenge us daily. What we should have done … The post Is Expediting Your SCM Strategy? first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Wouldn’t you love to see an organization that was fully aligned across all functional arenas? We talk about specific excellence, like Nordstrom and service or … The post Can Silos Be Aligned on Strategy? first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

In the late 1970s, Ken Olson, co-founder of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), and Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, had very different predictions for the future … The post Are Drones The Answer? first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

In my lifetime the US economy has experienced bank and savings and loan failures, inflation and full employment, a 20% prime rate and a Fed … The post The Hits Just Keep On Coming first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

As fast as the world turns these days, it is not easy to stay abreast of the latest concepts and management trends. While it is … The post Instead of Innovation first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

You’ve all heard that great strategy with poor execution is no better than poor strategy with great execution. Operational effectiveness requires excellence at both levels. … The post Two Levels of Operational Effectiveness first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Partner. Relationship business. It all sounds so good. But then reality slaps you up the side of the head. In a true partnership, can one … The post Partnerships and Unilateral Changes first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

I’ve invested the vast majority of my long career in operations. I find it fascinating. Regardless of industry, operations includes the technologies, processes, materials, and … The post Your Career in Operations first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

We manufacturers know that we are responsible for the outputs of cost, quality, product performance and delivery; we also know that many others in our … The post Manufacturing Outputs For Your Future first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Why are some manufacturing businesses a hot mess, while others are a great place to work as you provide exciting value to the market? A … The post Seven Levers to Shape Your Manufacturing Business first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Manufacturing has played a major role over time in advancing automation, computerization, digitization, and more. Our industries are amazingly different now than they were 15 … The post ChatGPT and Manufacturing first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

There are business buzzwords, and then there are important business concepts you cannot afford to ignore. Resilience is one of the latter. Resilience emanates from … The post Becoming Resilient first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

It was not that long ago that most manufacturers and distributors carried entirely too much inventory. The drag on cash flow was never offset by … The post Please Stop Building Inventory! first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Strategy is one of those important business concepts that many cannot recognize, develop or implement, yet businesses that endure have mastered. “Growth” is not a … The post Building Your Strategic Mindset first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

The business model in manufacturing and distribution has long been own it, sell it, get paid for it. For most of those companies, it still … The post Could You Make A Forever Promise? first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Are you a pneumatic tube operator? A COO is not a COO is not a COO. While the title Chief Operating Officer should indicate range … The post How Outdated is Your Job? first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

When a recorded message for customers is considered a snide comment you’ve failed. Yet the way to fix that is not to prevent customers from … The post My Call is Not Important to You first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

The Cleveland Clinic is widely recognized as one of the best medical systems in the world. And its delivery of medical services deserves that recognition. … The post Excellence Betrayed by Mediocrity first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

A number of manufacturers have announced plans to leave China, primarily due to the upheaval in Hong Kong and impacts of the government’s “zero covid” … The post Moving Manufacturing Operations From China Because..... first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

As we advanced from craftsmen through the industrial revolution, Henry Ford decided the best way to make automobiles was a 100% vertically integrated business model. … The post Is Yours a Supply Chain, Or Supply Mush? first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

These are strange times for the workforce. Disney, the picture of stability, recently fired the CEO they had groomed for the job, and brought back … The post Why Not Replace Yourself? first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

In 2019 manufacturers were struggling to onboard and retain important workers, to obtain supplies when needed, and to meet the level of performance that customers … The post A Chip is Not a Chip first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

My computer is running slow today. They keep moving things around here. Someone called off so I’m doing it all myself. And now, it’s the … The post C'mon Man! Stop Blaming Your Supply Chain first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

In manufacturing we constantly talk about continuous improvement to move ever closer to excellence. But if we increase productivity by 5% per year, are we … The post Does Your Excellence Matter? first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

The coal industry did not change for decade after decade. Being forced to improve safety demanded exhaust systems, better lighting, and a bit more, but … The post Fads, Trends, Seismic Shifts, and The New Normal first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Maximizing current profits by definition sacrifices the long term investments that attaining your mission requires. My concept of “strategic profits” addresses how to think about … The post Building Business Muscle first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Do you ever say “what was she thinking!” in exasperation? Most of us do. And if we’re honest, we also ask “what was I thinking?” … The post Make Better Decisions first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Following the inflation, high interest rates, and economic downturn of the late 1970s and early 1980s, American manufactures felt significant price pressures. They, wrongly, believed … The post Stop the Pendulum! first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Could your manufacturing company utilize a retiring Brigadier General who has led small and large international groups in theaters of war and in standing up … The post Leveraging Diversity first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

We all know we have to be innovative. Many of us demonstrate that by introducing new products regularly. Do they all make sense? Should we … The post Product Rationalization first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Not all markets are good markets for you. Not all customers are good customers for you. And not all orders are good orders for you. … The post Firing Customers first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Every one of your employees must clearly see how his actions and decisions impact execution of the business strategy. This is accomplished through a line-of-sight … The post How to Deploy Your Strategy Effectively first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

No manufacturer can afford to ignore the concept of Digital Transformation. Yes, there continues some small need for manual lathes, but don’t plan your future … The post Choosing Your Digital Transformation Partner(s) first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

It is always smart to start with a business case before deciding to move forward with a specific technology in your digital transformation. The same … The post Digital Transformation: Blockchain first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Prior podcasts have introduced the digital transformation business categories of “machine health” and “connected employees.” In this episode we discuss “smart products.” Some manufacturing products … The post Should Your Products Be Smart? first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Connected employees is a phrase that can intimate workers and confuse leadership. When clarified, it becomes an integral part of your digital transformation. Connected employees … The post Digital Transformation - Connected Employees first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

In manufacturing, reliable healthy equipment is a fundamental requirement. Yet so many of us struggle with unplanned downtime due to equipment failures. Digital transformation often … The post Machine Health and Digital Transformation first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

If you can’t lead change, your company cannot succeed. The rate and types of change that success requires continue to expand. Digital Transformation is a … The post Using Data to Transform Your Manufacturing Business first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Why are our supply chains in such a mess? While Covid made it much worse, it merely reflected the weakness in how most companies view … The post Addressing Supply Chain Risk first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

“Round up the usual suspects” — a line from Casablanca — unfortunately describes the hiring strategy of many manufacturers. Don’t be one of them! If … The post Great Places to Find Great Employees first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..

Practice makes perfect. We all know that to be largely true, so let’s use that axiom to prepare our businesses for change. Your organization likely … The post Preparing For Change first appeared on Fulcrum ConsultingWorks Inc..