How Can Food Manufacturers Prepare For a Second COVID-19 Demand Surge?
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted most industries in the U.S., with food manufacturing being one of the hardest hit sectors. Besides shortages in raw materials, supply chain disruptions, and lockdown restrictions, panic stockpiling by consumers resulted in a rapid shift in demand, further compounding the challenges facing food manufacturers. Many in the food industry were caught off guard by increased consumer demand and, as the U.S. went into national lockdown in March 2020, the following months saw many grocery shelves frequently bare.
Read MoreTopics: Food Manufacturing, Food and Beverage Supply Chain, covid-19
Training Within Industry (TWI) Part 3: Scientific Thinking Enables Innovation and Teamwork
Toyota Kata--a structured approach for creating a culture of continuous learning and improvement--had its beginnings in manufacturing. The word Toyota refers to the Japanese carmaker’s renowned production system methods and tools. A Kata is a routine practiced so its pattern becomes a habit that over time gives workers new skills.
Read MoreTopics: Workforce Development, Employee Training, covid-19, Webinar, Training Within Industry
Training Within Industry (TWI) Part 2: Helping Supervisors Solve Workplace People Problems
The pressure on today’s workforce is considerable. COVID-19 has introduced new challenges. There are new rules about social distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) gear. Workers may be dealing with changes to equipment and floor plan layouts to ensure a safe workplace. All of this means new responsibilities and heightened expectations of supervisors in the manufacturing setting.
Read MoreTopics: Workforce Development, Employee Training, covid-19, Webinar, Training Within Industry
Training Within Industry (TWI) Part 1: Practice Makes Perfect with On-the-Job Training
Even before COVID-19, manufacturers were facing challenges on several fronts relative to hiring and retaining a high-performing workforce. In addition to the easily observed factors – lack of a qualified applicant pool, turnover and absenteeism, and under-performing KPIs – there are various hidden problems.
Read MoreTopics: Workforce Development, Employee Training, covid-19, Webinar, Training Within Industry
Working Collaboratively to Gain Compliance: How 2 Key Cybersecurity Assumptions Are Impacting DoD Suppliers
It is estimated that there are around 300,000 companies in the Defense Industrial Base (“DIB”) across the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors. Roughly 99% of the DIB is made up of small and medium-sized businesses which are companies with fewer than 500 employees.
Read MoreTopics: Cybersecurity, Computer and Electronic Products, Business Management, Manufacturing Resources, SMBs, covid-19
Surviving and Driving Through the Crisis
How can employers protect their employees and workplaces while battling COVID-19?
In order for manufacturers to develop a safety plan for their facilities, they must consider the whole workforce and all visitors. “Your assumption should be that people who look perfectly healthy may be asymptomatic carriers and spreaders,” said Eliot Dratch, a CMTC consultant and manufacturing operations/safety expert.
Read MoreTopics: Change Management, Business Management, Safety in Manufacturing, Employee Training, covid-19
Teleworking Cybersecurity: How to Protect Your Company
For many small and medium-sized manufacturers the great teleworking experiment brought on by COVID-19 has been a painful one. The sudden shift to telework poses numerous managerial, logistical and operational hurdles. To make matters worse, cybersecurity risks are amplified by the needs of a remote workforce.
Read MoreTopics: Cybersecurity, Computer and Electronic Products, Business Management, Manufacturing Resources, SMBs, covid-19