Email is such a seamless part of everyday life that it is easy to take for granted just how vulnerable anyone can be to a well-crafted effort to steal your identity or confidential financial information. One of the most effective methods used by hackers is phishing, which entails trying to trick you into clicking on a link or attachment in an email. Instead of the attachment you thought you were opening, you have inadvertently opened the door to hacking from an outside source, usually without your knowledge.

What can you accomplish with the time saved on machine or product setup? A quick changeover plan or Single Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED) is a lean manufacturing technique intended to improve process efficiencies. Let’s take a look at how quick changeover is applied on the racetrack.

There is always room to improve any process or operation. By equipping team members to apply lean manufacturing principles and techniques, companies gain a competitive edge internally and externally. Continuous improvement is a method designed to implement incremental changes that will improve efficiency, increase profits and eliminate waste.

 This is an original article written by Alpine Security.

The number of healthcare cybersecurity breaches is on the rise with tens of millions affected in larger breaches, but hackers may target even regional insurers, smaller healthcare facilities, pharmacies, and individual physician’s offices. These breaches put medical facilities, insurers, and practitioners in the hot seat because they are liable for the security of the information they gather. 

What will happen when you to refine, standardize, streamline and integrate all of your business processes across finance and accounting, IT, HR, R&D, sales, distribution, and other departments with an effective ERP system? You will see greater efficiency in your practices with an organization performing at its peak.

"Before implementing a new ERP or manufacturing information system, a company should recognize that a new system, alone, cannot solve work-arounds and inefficient processes. Investing time to improve your internal workflow in conjunction with the new system will allow for a smoother transition to a more effective implemented solution. Don’t let fear of failure or going over budget keep you from taking your company to the next level." – John Remsey, Technical Specialist (IMEC)

How much time does your company spend gathering and distributing information?

Did you know that 2.78 million fatalities occur in workplaces around the world each year? Keep your company from becoming part of a statistic and reduce your work related fatalities and injuries; learn about the new ISO 45001, released in March 2018.

By embarking on the adoption of ISO 45001, an occupational health and safety management system, you can begin to transform workplace processes that can often lead to work-related tragedies and injuries. This new standard builds on the OHSAS 18001 framework, while integrating health and safety responsibilities into the management of an organization. The new standard also focuses on risk management, which will help organizations become more proactive in ensuring safe work environments and earn the reputation as a “safe place to work”, leading to reduced injuries and increased productivity.

In a world where information security threats are constantly looming, it is important for companies – and required for manufacturers with Department of Defense contracts – to ensure they are protected and compliant. With the December 31, 2017 deadline for U.S Department of Defense’s cybersecurity compliance behind us, government contractors are required to demonstrate compliance in order to keep their contracts and gain new ones in 2018.

“Manufacturers have a variety of tools available to help pursue comprehensive organizational security, starting with cybersecurity. The first step is to determine one’s existing cybersecurity protections and tools and identify easy gaps to fill. Taking protective steps can decrease the time and resources spent on a security breach.”  - John Remsey, Senior Technical Specialist (IMEC)