Hope Neal, Contributing Editor
Articles
Measuring business performance
With thousands of SKUs and up to 12 quality control tests being run on each one, BGF Industries, a manufacturer of fiberglass and other high-performance fabrics, had collected approximately 5 million data points solely through its lab testing operations. But getting the data out so that it could be analyzed was virtually impossible, making it difficult for the company to determine if there were...
24-hour product development
While scenarios for sharing design data may invoke grandiose thoughts of enhanced collaboration or disparate design center interactions, sometimes all a company really needs to do is make it easier for two engineers sitting in the same office to work together on a project. Just ask Black Diamond Equipment, a Salt Lake City-based manufacturer of climbing and skiing equipment.
Web-enabled workflow: Synergy solution simplifies collaboration in smaller organizations
Collaboration technology isn’t just for big companies anymore. Today it’s just as important—and readily accessible—to small and midsize businesses.
Skillfully social: Companies embrace wikis, blogs, collaboration tools found on the lofty Web 2.0 landscape
In January, PTC, a supplier of product life-cycle management (PLM) software, released Windchill ProductPoint, describing it as a social product development tool. While Windchill ProductPoint brings more collaboration to the product development process, the social product development descriptor refers to the collaborative functionality the software offers, such as blogs, wikis, instant messaging...
The intersection of lean and green
Once considered to be of interest only to “tree huggers,” sustainable or green business practices are more widely embraced now by companies. But it’s not sheer concern for the environment that’s driving these initiatives. Instead, companies are discovering that business practices that preserve the planet’s future can pay substantial financial dividends today.
Cooking up success: Grill maker cuts call-center volume, customer complaints with CRM
When Memorial Day rolls around, millions of Americans get ready to start grilling. That’s when the phones ring at the call center for Meco Corp., manufacturer of the Aussie Outdoor Living line of electric, gas, and charcoal grills. Meco recently turned to customer relationship management software to handle the volume and garner customer feedback.
World view: Manufacturers make the most of the multiplant model
In 1999, saddled with an antiquated IT system from a vendor that had gone out of business, Brooklyn-based Lee Spring, a privately held manufacturer of industrial components, issued a request-for-proposal (RFP). The manufacturer was looking for a new system by which it could run its operations. One of the key requirements was the ability to support several sites.
Smart product design: It’s getting easier to be green
通过明智的设计决策和使用right tools, manufacturers can take the necessary steps toward making greener—or more eco-friendly or sustainable—products. That's because many of the things considered in everyday good design decisions also are great sustainability design decisions.
The complete picture: Supply chain solutions balance inventory management with transportation costs
For years, when it came to inventory, most manufacturers were focused on one goal: cutting inventory levels as low as they could go. It was a trend that could be called inventory minimization. But a new trend may be emerging—one that, in some cases, proves less isn't always best. “Most supply chains are built on the unwritten rule, or the unwritten assumption, that transportation co...
Multiple personas: Knowing what each user needs from a service is critical to SOA governance
Multiple personalities can be a good thing—at least when it comes to a service-oriented architecture (SOA) governance strategy. That’s the conclusion offered by analysts at Stamford, Conn.-based Gartner, who argue that the best solutions for managing an SOA are offered by vendors that realize that people with a variety of roles—or personas—must be part of the SOA governance process.