Do You Have a Plan for Becoming Part of the EV Supply Chain?
By David Boulay Reposted with permission from nist.gov. The growth of electric vehicles (EVs) poses various degrees of risk to auto suppliers that make parts for internal combustion engines (ICE). While no one can say
Business Continuity Planning
By Gene Russell, Manex President & CEO The sky is falling! What do we do? Chicken Little overreacts to perceived danger, so much so that she misses the clear signs of real danger in
Harnessing Your Supply Chain: The Competitive Edge for Manufacturing Companies
By Manex Supply Chain Consultant Richard Montellano In today's highly competitive business landscape, manufacturing companies strive to gain an edge over their rivals. While product quality and innovation are crucial, companies often overlook the
Balancing Reactive and Proactive Management
By Gene Russell, Manex President & CEO Reactive management is when team members and leadership respond to crises and issues as they arise. Proactive management is when you anticipate needs and challenges so that
George Chao: From His Own Startup to Helping Other Startups in Silicon Valley
Reposted with permission from nist.gov. This blog is part of series recognizing the contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders to the manufacturing industry. George Chao first learned about the MEP National NetworkTM when
Job Quality Toolkit
The challenge of attracting and retaining a diverse, productive, and engaged workforce has grown. Workers seek quality jobs, and companies that prioritize job quality become employers of choice. Job quality is not just about
Manex Secures ETP Funds for Manufacturers
Manex has a multi-employer contract. As a cost offset to Manex programs in the form of a rebate, this is a phenomenal tool to increase skill sets and job satisfaction in your company. We
Pricing Complexities and Solutions
By Gene Russell, Manex President and CEO Pricing a line of products in a complex and competitive market is not simple. It represents one of the most difficult jobs in manufacturing. If set too low,
Gross Profit Margin Drives Your Business Model
By Gene Russell, Manex President and CEO I’ve been writing strategy and financial plans for forty years. From the big one, AT&T, down to my various start-ups and turnarounds. In this blog, I want to
California Winemaking and Lean Production
By Gene Russell, Manex President and CEO California winemaking is massive as one might expect. The business is complex requiring many skill sets including farming, science, production, marketing, and finance. During the pandemic, wineries struggled
A Kaizen Success Story for Soapy Faith Soap Co.
Let’s see, what’s in my shopping cart this morning? “Patience is Power” and “Have Some Self Control.” What? It’s soap and it’s fantastic. The names and packaging are driven by self-affirmations which are almost
Online Job Fair to Connect Manufacturers With Job Seekers
The Association of Manufacturers Bay Area (AMBayArea) and Bay Area Community Colleges (BACC) will hold a region-wide manufacturing job fair online to connect manufacturers and jobseekers on Wednesday, March 15, from 3 to 5
When in Crisis, Manufacturers Can Look to Kata
By Sarah Burlingame Reposted with permission from nist.gov There is more to lean manufacturing than improving a few processes. Sustainable lean success requires a companywide culture of continuous daily improvement. Companies that develop their people
Corrective Actions in Food Manufacturing Without the Collective Complaining
Manex President and CEO Gene Russell interviewed Manex Food Manufacturing and Safety Consultant Michael Guerrini, Ph.D. about the coming year and areas the C-suite needs to acknowledge as ongoing challenges and opportunities. What’s one
5 Things We Learned in Germany
By Matthew Fieldman Reposted with permission from nist.gov I’m sure you’ve heard the buzz around the German apprenticeship system – but does it really live up to the hype? That’s what a recent mission of 16