Lean Implementation

October 13, 2010

In the world of Lean Principles,  the goal is to reduce the total time the product is in the production stream.  Lean is predicated on the fact that for most manufacturing companies the amount of time the raw material are being worked on is a very small part of the total time of production.  In […]

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Manufacturing Lead Time – What is it?

October 13, 2010

Ask anyone in a manufacturing company about their manufacturing lead time and you will get a wide variety of answers.  The definition  of manufacturing lead time is directly related to the person you ask and their role in making the product.  A fascinating exercise is to challenge managers in a company to define the manufacturing […]

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Gaining Control of Production – The Master Schedule

September 8, 2010

Many manufacturing managers find themselves constantly at wit’s end trying to make sure the right customer orders are receiving top priority from all production work centers while trying to keep everyone busy.  It seems that priorities change daily, if not hourly, and surprises such as equipment malfunctions, late suppliers and missing work force serve to […]

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Intentional Leadership: Find the right people – then LISTEN!

August 20, 2010

So, if you are seeking to understand what’s really going on in your organization, how do you know who to talk to?  After all, you can’t talk to everyone — and still deal with the fires burning on your desk!  But, like taking the time to know you blood pressure number, you must take time […]

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ERP Software Selection & Implementation

August 11, 2010

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) programs can be powerful tools for improving a business organization.  Many businesses recognize the need to improve their information flow and decision systems.  In most cases this need comes from the realization that isolated departmental systems (or spreadsheets) must be integrated to pass information more efficiently to all departments.  In an […]

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Project Management — A Short Course

August 11, 2010

James P. Tate, Cogent Management Resources, LLC January 26, 2010 Project management has often been taught as a course in Gantt charts or CPM diagrams with the implication that these tools will solve all the problems encountered in managing a project. This essay seeks to put these tools in perspective and give a brief overview […]

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Small Business Conference – Rep. Bob Goodlatte

August 11, 2010

Congressional Representative Bob Goodlatte of the Sixth Congressional District is planning to host a conference of small business owners in September.  The purpose of this conference is to allow Rep. Goodlatte to gain insight into the problems and issues of small businesses.  As soon as the details of the conference are announced, We will keep […]

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Saving Your Business

August 2, 2010

James P. Tate, Cogent Management Resources, LLC February 26, 2010 Recent studies have shown that over one third of all businesses collapse when the owner retires or dies. The prime reason for this unnecessary demise is the lack of foresight and planning by the owners. Most business owners are engrossed in their work and enjoy […]

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Intentional Leadership: Get up now. Go talk to someone.

August 1, 2010

Today, many leaders have their heads down, focusing on their goals, which likely include pulling themselves and their company out of the effects of the recession. This is all good except when the same goal oriented manager loses touch with the people in the organization.

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Education: Why It Matters in Business

July 16, 2010

In a recent report on the June employment report, Philip J. Orlando, chief economist at Federated Investors, Inc. had a provocative vignette on the skills shortage in the current labor market. In an admitted extreme example, Orlando relates that a “pharmaceutical company in Cleveland interviewed 3,600 candidates for 150 job openings, and they were able […]

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