All Posts in the Category "Blog"...
Measuring Inventory
February 2012.
Advice and Assistance for Manufacturers.
Dave’s Fabrication Company (DFC) has $2 million in inventory on-hand. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? It could be vital to the business or it could be a tremendous drain on resources. It could be exceptionally good, given the size of the business and typical position in my industry (competitor inventory levels) or it could be a disaster.
Improve your business forecasting
This unusually mild and snow-free winter calls to mind thoughts of forecasts and how inaccurate they can be. Does your business depend on the weather? Demographics? Economic cycles? Some other outside factor that may or may not be predictable? If so, then accurate forecasts may be particularly challenging. Is there a cure for the bad forecast blues?
Adaptable Inventory
The goal of most manufacturers is to reduce inventory, but not at the risk of increased shortages. The key is to have the right amount of the right inventory at the right time and place.
8 Content Marketing Ideas
January 2012
Here are eight ideas that might get you started or improve your current content marketing strategy and drive awareness of your products.
Seeing Green
While there are considerable regulatory, special-interest, and market-driven pressures to go green, companies are unlikely to do much more than the bare minimum unless there also are good business reasons to do so. That is especially true in these times of economic
Master the art of forecasting
At year’s end, we are often caught up in thinking and planning for the current year. Did 2011 turn out the way you expected? Will 2012 be dramatically different? Are there other factors — things we are planning to do; things we think our competitors might do; outside forces such as changing tastes, demographics or economics — that might change the course of business in the coming year?
Physical Inventory
January 2012.
Sadly, many companies are going through the annual physical inventory process at this time of year, wasting the company’s money and resources while providing no real value to the business or its customers. Why do they do it? Two reasons: (1) the accountants and auditors insist and (2) there is little confidence in the inventory records because of questionable processes and controls .
Logistics, supply-chain mastery play key roles in achieving success
Two of the largest and most successful companies in the world achieved and maintain their success by mastering the supply chain. Wal-Mart took logistics to new heights, bringing big city, low prices and convenience to rural areas. Apple dominates its chosen markets through innovation but also benefits greatly from a single-minded focus on operational excellence.
December Schedules
December 2011.
Advice and Assistance for Manufacturers.
December is often a rather strange month in the life of the manufacturing plant. There may be some seasonal demand effects to deal with (lower actual demand and lower production objectives in many cases) and there are often schedule reductions to be accommodated due to holiday shut-downs and the policy in many companies of encouraging employees to use vacation time before the end of the year.
