Graduate Spotlight: Michael Guffanti
As Kettering University Online’s (KUO) Program Development Manager and Senior Instructional Desig
As Kettering University Online’s (KUO) Program Development Manager and Senior Instructional Desig
Whether you are looking for a job or want to expand your professional contacts, cultivating a professional network is essential to building a successful career.
Effective operational managers understand that the decisions they make every day, whether they are strategic, tactical, or operational in nature have an effect on those employees charged with carrying out those decisions. Ideally the decisions are thoughtfully made and will have a significant impact on process improvement, operational activities, and overall business performance.
Many confuse the concepts of Just In Time (JIT) and Lean Manufacturing. Scott Thompson, journalist for the Houston Chronicle outlines the differences between the two. Thompson writes, “Just-in-time manufacturing is focused on efficiency, while lean manufacturing is focused on using efficiency to add value for the customer. Just-in-time manufacturing can be practiced on its own or as one step in the lean manufacturing process.”
Everyday companies across the globe thrive while others fail. Implementing the tools and techniques of Lean manufacturing could mean the difference.
Looking to find waste in your processes? Value Stream Mapping is a visual tool to identify what is holding up your processes and getting in the way of more efficient work.
Many can recall the famous scene, in the television show I Love Lucy, when Lucille Ball and her best friend work on the candy line conveyor belt. As the belt speeds up, Lucy and her friend fall behind quickly. Hilarity ensures as they stuff pieces of candy in their dresses, mouths, and apron pockets as they try to keep pace. While this situation makes for great comedy on television in business it is not so funny. This problem is called a bottleneck.