Businesses throughout the world are doing a better job of more effectively engaging their workers, according to a recent report from Aon Hewitt. Worldwide engagement climbed to 58 percent in 2011 from 56 percent in 2010, with North American companies ranking well above that average. The survey, which analyzed more than 3,000 companies and nearly
Continue reading »Toyota, the Japanese automaker known as being the founder of Lean manufacturing, will now be leaning heavily on its production system to ride out the economic recession. The yen has been trading high as the American economy continues to wane, with exchange rates hitting 79 yen for the dollar – down from 100 yen in
Continue reading »It should go without saying that developing effective leadership is not only key to running a profitable business, but also to creating innovative and meaningful products and services. Most company heads and upper management would say they do an excellent job at leading their businesses in ways that foster the development of new and innovative
Continue reading »The economic recession is drawing to an end, and that means many companies are refocusing on growth and expansion. For unengaged employees, this could also mean new opportunities are opening up elsewhere. Now is the time for companies to launch employee engagement programs to ensure their workers don't leave for other openings. According to a
Continue reading »Continuous improvement and the Kaizen methodology were first developed by Japanese automaker Toyota, so it's not surprising that other car companies are implementing Lean manufacturing as a way of improving their plants' profitability. Chrysler Group's return to profitability leans heavily on a new continuous improvement initiative developed by parent company Fiat. Speaking at a conference
Continue reading »Some of the most successful companies in the world have a “hire from within” mindset, meaning that instead of recruiting high-ranking executives from other businesses, they train their existing employees. However, these companies need to nurture their employees and invest in them in order to create successful leaders. There are several ways businesses can do
Continue reading »Supply chains are complex beasts, involving a number of different partners with various roles in the production of goods. As a result, supply chains tend to be laden with wasteful processes and procedures at every step of the way, regardless of whether it's production, transportation or assembly. This negatively affects the delivery time of the
Continue reading »For many companies, switching to Lean manufacturing means a lot of changes. To ensure everyone is on board, it often helps to have a person who's passionate about Kaizen and willing to champion the transformation. This individual – preferably a high ranking employee – will provide answers to any questions that others may have about
Continue reading »When setting forth to create a workplace that adheres to the 5S philosophy (sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain), it's also crucial that businesses – particularly manufacturers – also contemplate what many consider to be the sixth S: Safety. The Lean philosophies encourage the elimination of wasteful processes. However, that doesn't mean companies
Continue reading »The Pallet Network (TPN), a network for all sizes of consignment across the U.K., Ireland and Europe, was recently honored in the environmental sustainability category at the recent Small Firms Association (SFA) Awards. The network cited its Lean processes as a major reason the company has been so successful. Hyland Express Cargo, an Irish member
Continue reading »
