Cutting Hours Instead of Jobs December 19, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, workforce.Tags: economy, workforce
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Rather than firing people to meet difficult financial challenges, companies like Rhode Island-based Pilgrim Screw Corporation are cutting work hours instead. In this “work sharing” process, employees receive partial unemployment to compensate for the lost income. Washington, D.C., and twenty-two other states have adopted the work sharing program. Rhode Island officials claim Rhode Island’s unemployment would be higher without the program.
Check out the Wall Street Journal article here.
Cutting Hours Instead of Jobs December 19, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, workforce.Tags: economy, workforce
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Rather than firing people to meet difficult financial challenges, companies like Rhode Island-based Pilgrim Screw Corporation are cutting work hours instead. In this “work sharing” process, employees receive partial unemployment to compensate for the lost income. Washington, D.C., and twenty-two other states have adopted the work sharing program. Rhode Island officials claim Rhode Island’s unemployment would be higher without the program.
Check out the Wall Street Journal article here.
Building a 15-Story Hotel in Less Than Six Days April 20, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, green business, lean.Tags: economy, green business, lean
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China continues to throw down the gauntlet with its architecture. Broad Group showcased its ability to build rapidly by constructing the 15-story Ark Hotel using 200 workers in less than six days. Within 46.5 hours, for example, the steel structure had been erected. Not only was the building so rapidly built, but the Ark Hotel is environmentally friendly. It used one-sixth the material of a normal, similarly-sized building –and can withstand a 9.0 magnitude earthquake.
Check out the GizMag article about the Ark Hotel here.
Building a 15-Story Hotel in Less Than Six Days April 20, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, green business, lean.Tags: economy, green business, lean
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China continues to throw down the gauntlet with its architecture. Broad Group showcased its ability to build rapidly by constructing the 15-story Ark Hotel using 200 workers in less than six days. Within 46.5 hours, for example, the steel structure had been erected. Not only was the building so rapidly built, but the Ark Hotel is environmentally friendly. It used one-sixth the material of a normal, similarly-sized building –and can withstand a 9.0 magnitude earthquake.
Check out the GizMag article about the Ark Hotel here.
Workshop Tackles Extreme Manufacturing April 20, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, government, manufacturing.Tags: economy, government, manufacturing
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According to IndustryWeek, Washington is paying attention to manufacturing in America. A workshop meeting conducted by multiple government agencies discussed what technological advances would make American manufacturing more competitive in the future. Key to the workshops was focusing on technology, and thinking in terms of big strategy, rather than incremental tactics. Among the conclusions? Rethink government funding, which is aimed at mission objectives rather than economic growth, specifically.
Check out the article here.
Workshop Tackles Extreme Manufacturing April 20, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, government, manufacturing.Tags: economy, government, manufacturing
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According to IndustryWeek, Washington is paying attention to manufacturing in America. A workshop meeting conducted by multiple government agencies discussed what technological advances would make American manufacturing more competitive in the future. Key to the workshops was focusing on technology, and thinking in terms of big strategy, rather than incremental tactics. Among the conclusions? Rethink government funding, which is aimed at mission objectives rather than economic growth, specifically.
Check out the article here.
To Encourage Small Business, Learn from Europe February 4, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, government.Tags: economy, government
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According to Scott Shane at Bloomberg Businessweek, American policymakers can learn a lot from European policymakers when it comes to small business. Whereas European small businesses are doing relatively well, American businesses –compared –do not. Among the reasons are lower European tax rates, lower regulatory barriers to starting small businesses, and loans are easier to obtain, among other things.
Check out Mr. Shane’s article here.
To Encourage Small Business, Learn from Europe February 4, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, government.Tags: economy, government
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According to Scott Shane at Bloomberg Businessweek, American policymakers can learn a lot from European policymakers when it comes to small business. Whereas European small businesses are doing relatively well, American businesses –compared –do not. Among the reasons are lower European tax rates, lower regulatory barriers to starting small businesses, and loans are easier to obtain, among other things.
Check out Mr. Shane’s article here.
How Apple’s iPhone Widens the Trade Deficit with China (And How to Fix It) January 22, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, government, supply chain.Tags: economy, government, outsourcing, supply chain
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Though the iPhone is an American invention, it is contributing $1.9 billion to the trade deficit with China. Developing countries export the high-tech products that affluent countries themselves invent. If Apple were to pursue American workers instead of Chinese workers, the manufacturing cost of a phone would rise from $6.50 to $68 per phone –but selling it for the going rate of $500 would still give Apple a more than-50% profit margin. And if the U.S. produced and sold its own phones, that $1.9 billion trade deficit would disappear –and the U.S. would add $5.7 billion to U.S. exports.
Check out the FastCompany analysis here.
How Apple’s iPhone Widens the Trade Deficit with China (And How to Fix It) January 22, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, government, supply chain.Tags: economy, government, outsourcing, supply chain
add a comment
Though the iPhone is an American invention, it is contributing $1.9 billion to the trade deficit with China. Developing countries export the high-tech products that affluent countries themselves invent. If Apple were to pursue American workers instead of Chinese workers, the manufacturing cost of a phone would rise from $6.50 to $68 per phone –but selling it for the going rate of $500 would still give Apple a more than-50% profit margin. And if the U.S. produced and sold its own phones, that $1.9 billion trade deficit would disappear –and the U.S. would add $5.7 billion to U.S. exports.
Check out the FastCompany analysis here.
Lean Won’t Work in 2011 January 22, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, lean, strategy.Tags: economy, leadership, strategy
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My good friend and colleague Greg Fields was interviewed for an insightful piece in IndustryWeek recently. If your company survived 2010, chances are you’re here to stay –according to Greg. Innovation and tweaking only get your so far. Investing in entirely new systems is key. Small incremental improvements are fine, but much of the business landscape has changed, and your business model may need an overhaul using radical improvement.
The editors at IndustryWeek certainly chose a title to attract eyeballs, but it may be a bit misleading. Greg describes how continuous improvement, kaizen, may be inappropriate for some business models, and that they need a radical makeover, also known as kaikaku. Both approaches, it turns out, are part of lean process improvement, so lean will continue to be universally applicable to all businesses in 2011, as it has been for half a century. We should not forget that the Toyota Motor Works began as a radical reconception of the mass production model just after World War II, as were the beginnings of the Toyota Production System.
Check out the IndustryWeek article here.
Lean Won’t Work in 2011 January 22, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, lean, strategy.Tags: economy, leadership, strategy
add a comment
My good friend and colleague Greg Fields was interviewed for an insightful piece in IndustryWeek recently. If your company survived 2010, chances are you’re here to stay –according to Greg. Innovation and tweaking only get your so far. Investing in entirely new systems is key. Small incremental improvements are fine, but much of the business landscape has changed, and your business model may need an overhaul using radical improvement.
The editors at IndustryWeek certainly chose a title to attract eyeballs, but it may be a bit misleading. Greg describes how continuous improvement, kaizen, may be inappropriate for some business models, and that they need a radical makeover, also known as kaikaku. Both approaches, it turns out, are part of lean process improvement, so lean will continue to be universally applicable to all businesses in 2011, as it has been for half a century. We should not forget that the Toyota Motor Works began as a radical reconception of the mass production model just after World War II, as were the beginnings of the Toyota Production System.
Check out the IndustryWeek article here.
Lean Won’t Work in 2011 January 22, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, lean, strategy.Tags: economy, leadership, strategy
add a comment
My good friend and colleague Greg Fields was interviewed for an insightful piece in IndustryWeek recently. If your company survived 2010, chances are you’re here to stay –according to Greg. Innovation and tweaking only get your so far. Investing in entirely new systems is key. Small incremental improvements are fine, but much of the business landscape has changed, and your business model may need an overhaul using radical improvement.
The editors at IndustryWeek certainly chose a title to attract eyeballs, but it may be a bit misleading. Greg describes how continuous improvement, kaizen, may be inappropriate for some business models, and that they need a radical makeover, also known as kaikaku. Both approaches, it turns out, are part of lean process improvement, so lean will continue to be universally applicable to all businesses in 2011, as it has been for half a century. We should not forget that the Toyota Motor Works began as a radical reconception of the mass production model just after World War II, as were the beginnings of the Toyota Production System.
Check out the IndustryWeek article here.
Lean Won’t Work in 2011 January 22, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, lean, strategy.Tags: economy, leadership, strategy
add a comment
My good friend and colleague Greg Fields was interviewed for an insightful piece in IndustryWeek recently. If your company survived 2010, chances are you’re here to stay –according to Greg. Innovation and tweaking only get your so far. Investing in entirely new systems is key. Small incremental improvements are fine, but much of the business landscape has changed, and your business model may need an overhaul using radical improvement.
The editors at IndustryWeek certainly chose a title to attract eyeballs, but it may be a bit misleading. Greg describes how continuous improvement, kaizen, may be inappropriate for some business models, and that they need a radical makeover, also known as kaikaku. Both approaches, it turns out, are part of lean process improvement, so lean will continue to be universally applicable to all businesses in 2011, as it has been for half a century. We should not forget that the Toyota Motor Works began as a radical reconception of the mass production model just after World War II, as were the beginnings of the Toyota Production System.
Check out the IndustryWeek article here.
Lean Won’t Work in 2011 January 22, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, lean, strategy.Tags: economy, leadership, strategy
add a comment
My good friend and colleague Greg Fields was interviewed for an insightful piece in IndustryWeek recently. If your company survived 2010, chances are you’re here to stay –according to Greg. Innovation and tweaking only get your so far. Investing in entirely new systems is key. Small incremental improvements are fine, but much of the business landscape has changed, and your business model may need an overhaul using radical improvement.
The editors at IndustryWeek certainly chose a title to attract eyeballs, but it may be a bit misleading. Greg describes how continuous improvement, kaizen, may be inappropriate for some business models, and that they need a radical makeover, also known as kaikaku. Both approaches, it turns out, are part of lean process improvement, so lean will continue to be universally applicable to all businesses in 2011, as it has been for half a century. We should not forget that the Toyota Motor Works began as a radical reconception of the mass production model just after World War II, as were the beginnings of the Toyota Production System.
Check out the IndustryWeek article here.
Lean Won’t Work in 2011 January 22, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, lean, strategy.Tags: economy, leadership, strategy
add a comment
My good friend and colleague Greg Fields was interviewed for an insightful piece in IndustryWeek recently. If your company survived 2010, chances are you’re here to stay –according to Greg. Innovation and tweaking only get your so far. Investing in entirely new systems is key. Small incremental improvements are fine, but much of the business landscape has changed, and your business model may need an overhaul using radical improvement.
The editors at IndustryWeek certainly chose a title to attract eyeballs, but it may be a bit misleading. Greg describes how continuous improvement, kaizen, may be inappropriate for some business models, and that they need a radical makeover, also known as kaikaku. Both approaches, it turns out, are part of lean process improvement, so lean will continue to be universally applicable to all businesses in 2011, as it has been for half a century. We should not forget that the Toyota Motor Works began as a radical reconception of the mass production model just after World War II, as were the beginnings of the Toyota Production System.
Check out the IndustryWeek article here.
Costco vs. the Just-in-Time Consumer January 10, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in customer focus, economy.Tags: customer focus, economy
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Kevin Meyer over at Evolving Excellent heralds the return of the “just-in-time” consumer –the shopper who buys things as they are needed. In his analysis of a Wall Street Journal article, Mr. Meyer highlights how fewer people are buying in bulk and resorting to buying necessary quantities of few products. He notes how the number of items in an average medicine cabinet, pantry, and cosmetics bag for example, has fallen from 404 in 2006 to 369 today. Corporations and companies are also beginning to meet the trend by offering smaller-portioned size products.
Check out Mr. Meyer’s blog post here.
Costco vs. the Just-in-Time Consumer January 10, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in customer focus, economy.Tags: customer focus, economy
add a comment
Kevin Meyer over at Evolving Excellent heralds the return of the “just-in-time” consumer –the shopper who buys things as they are needed. In his analysis of a Wall Street Journal article, Mr. Meyer highlights how fewer people are buying in bulk and resorting to buying necessary quantities of few products. He notes how the number of items in an average medicine cabinet, pantry, and cosmetics bag for example, has fallen from 404 in 2006 to 369 today. Corporations and companies are also beginning to meet the trend by offering smaller-portioned size products.
Check out Mr. Meyer’s blog post here.
Evansville Company Sees Growth During Recession January 10, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, lean, manufacturing.Tags: economy, lean, manufacturing
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The Evansville, Wisconsin-based Harvard Corporation, despite the economic recession, has managed to stay strong – and improve business. Harvard, which makes products for equipment in a host of fields – from fishing to power – and also does international business, employs just 10 individuals. Efficiency through employee comfort and suggestions is what has helped reduce the company’s build time by 15 to 20 percent, according to President Otto Knotterus.
Check out the article here.
Evansville Company Sees Growth During Recession January 10, 2011
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, lean, manufacturing.Tags: economy, lean, manufacturing
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The Evansville, Wisconsin-based Harvard Corporation, despite the economic recession, has managed to stay strong – and improve business. Harvard, which makes products for equipment in a host of fields – from fishing to power – and also does international business, employs just 10 individuals. Efficiency through employee comfort and suggestions is what has helped reduce the company’s build time by 15 to 20 percent, according to President Otto Knotterus.
Check out the article here.
Saving American Manufacturing: Easy Political Solutions Won’t Save Jobs December 13, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, government, manufacturing.Tags: economy, government, manufacturing
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As manufacturing jobs hang in the balance in an unstable economy, solutions about how not only to save the jobs – but to engender job growth in manufacturing as well – is the stuff of debate, especially since the midterm elections recently. In an Industry Week article exploring various avenues of the debate (what can be done), writers who were featured suggested everything from changing the language used in exports (from Americanized English to formal English) to elimination of certain tax breaks that count towards restructuring for outsourcing.
Check out the Industry Week article here.
Saving American Manufacturing: Easy Political Solutions Won’t Save Jobs December 13, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, government, manufacturing.Tags: economy, government, manufacturing
add a comment
As manufacturing jobs hang in the balance in an unstable economy, solutions about how not only to save the jobs – but to engender job growth in manufacturing as well – is the stuff of debate, especially since the midterm elections recently. In an Industry Week article exploring various avenues of the debate (what can be done), writers who were featured suggested everything from changing the language used in exports (from Americanized English to formal English) to elimination of certain tax breaks that count towards restructuring for outsourcing.
Check out the Industry Week article here.
Unemployed Find Old Jobs Now Require More Skills October 14, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, manufacturing.Tags: economy, manufacturing
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”The jobs crisis has brought an unwelcome discovery for many unemployed Americans: Job openings in their old fields exist. Yet they no longer qualify for them.” This is “a trend that took root during the recession. Companies became more productive by doing more with fewer workers. Some asked staffers to take on a broader array of duties – duties that used to be spread among multiple jobs.” Mark Tomlinson, executive director of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, noted that “there are jobs available, but the worker just has to have more skills than before.” The trend also “means workers are bearing heavier burdens.”
Read the full story here.
Unemployed Find Old Jobs Now Require More Skills October 14, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, manufacturing.Tags: economy, manufacturing
add a comment
”The jobs crisis has brought an unwelcome discovery for many unemployed Americans: Job openings in their old fields exist. Yet they no longer qualify for them.” This is “a trend that took root during the recession. Companies became more productive by doing more with fewer workers. Some asked staffers to take on a broader array of duties – duties that used to be spread among multiple jobs.” Mark Tomlinson, executive director of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, noted that “there are jobs available, but the worker just has to have more skills than before.” The trend also “means workers are bearing heavier burdens.”
Read the full story here.
State Solar Subsidies Fall Victim to Economic Downturn August 12, 2010
Posted by Jeff Fuchs in economy, government, green business.Tags: economy, government, green business
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State and local subsidies for the upfront costs of families seeking to make their homes go green are being scaled back or eliminated. In some cases, taxes are being raised on those who have gone green. But, as the Smart Planet article points out, the cost of solar arrays are becoming more affordable as time goes by.
Check out the Smart Planet article here.
