A 2-part series focusing on adopting an inclusive mindset in the workplace.

Equity Through Empathy represents more than a design philosophy; it signifies a commitment to comprehending and appreciating the diverse array of human experiences. As manufacturers, you hold the ability to profoundly influence people's lives through their products. By integrating empathy and inclusivity throughout their design process, you can develop spaces and services that genuinely accommodate everyone, thereby contributing to the creation of a more equitable world.

In the realm of medical devices, ensuring safety and efficacy is not just a priority—it is imperative. One of the key tools in achieving this goal is the implementation of the ISO 13485:2016 standard.

A 2-part series focusing on adopting an inclusive mindset in the workplace.

Innovation in manufacturing involves a constant race to make things faster and cheaper, but what if the key to truly groundbreaking manufacturing lies in understanding the human experience?

In part one of this blog, we discussed time management techniques for your team to get out of firefighting mode. If you missed that blog, you could find it here. In this part, we will discuss some sustaining management practices that will help you monitor and continue to improve your departments efficiency, here are a few things that you should be tracking:

Many of us can remember taking a personality assessment, whether that is in a current position, in a first job - maybe even in college. Personality assessments are typically aimed at identifying strengths and weaknesses. In an educational setting, these assessments may provide the participant with good career matches. In a workplace setting, these assessments can help leadership identify candidate position fit, or overall work team diversity.

The reality of small and medium sized manufacturers is that you spend all your available time chasing deliveries and emergencies instead of working proactively to improve your company’s overall performance. This is the reality that most companies find themselves in because they do not have enough staff, time, or training to improve their situation.

In today's world, where environmental concerns are at the forefront of global discussions, organizations are increasingly recognizing the importance of adopting sustainable practices. Among the various frameworks available, ISO 14001:2015 stands out as a comprehensive standard for environmental management systems (EMS). This blog aims to provide an overview of the requirements outlined in ISO 14001:2015 and how organizations can leverage it to enhance their environmental performance.

“THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL MEETINGS IS NOT THE ‘BIG MEETINGS’, BUT THE SHORT AND POWERFUL DAILY HUDDLE” (Growth Institute Blog)

Working with numerous small to medium sized, mostly family-owned manufacturing companies, I have found there is an ongoing struggle in their lean transformation away from a traditional approach to manufacturing. Why is that?

You probably have seen this plastered across social media, a strong company culture attracts and retains top talent, keeps employees engaged, and creates a collaborative team environment, yet you find yourself like many manufacturers crunched for time, pressure, and cost. Your time, efforts, and money are spent on requirements to meet legal compliance. Yet according to a recent survey conducted by the National Association of Manufacturers, 74% of executives identified attracting and retaining talent as their primary challenge¹.

You have navigated your new employee through socialization, position training, and overall integration into the organization. They are now confidently going through their day and meeting other co-workers. You have noticed they attend your check in conversations with excitement and suggestions for improvement and began answering questions for newer hires joining the organization.