Creating a Healthy Work Environment: Tips from a Novice Gardener
My big project for this spring was to build a new garden. Research told me that the key to a thriving garden is sunlight, fertilizer and water. So, I spent quite a bit of time picking the perfect location, building raised beds and moving over 5 yards of dirt into...
Technology – Boom or Bust?
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS A member of my family recently purchased a new car with all the bells and whistles. This car came with a navigation system, internet access, adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning. Learning all...
Is It Time for YOU to Re-Fuel?
A SUCCESSFUL TEAM NEEDS AN ENERGIZED LEADER Over the past week, I’ve been watching the Olympic trials. This is Michael Phelp’s fifth Olympic games and he has really transformed himself, especially over the past four years. After qualifying in the 100M Butterfly,...
You Want Me to Do This Because Why?
Understanding Your Operators Resistance to Change How many times have you heard the phrase, “I’ve been doing this for over 20 years and this hasn’t been an issue before” Or “What makes you think we need to change this now?” I think those phrases are code words that...
A Glimpse into the Mindset of a Millennial
TIPS TO KEEP MILLENNIALS ENGAGED IN THE WORKPLACE I recently had an opportunity to serve as judge for a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) middle school project titled “The School of the Future.” The project was based on 4 criteria: the learning...
Please Don’t Judge Me!
USING INTERNAL AUDITS TO OPTIMIZE YOUR PROCESS I’ll be honest, I’d be embarrassed if you ever saw my work shop. I tend to be one of those people who works around my messes. I don’t normally detect how dirty my workspace is until my husband gently suggests that I...
The Cure for Summertime Blues
BENEFITS FOR HAVING A CROSS-TRAINED WORKFORCE If you are like me, you have summer on your mind. This is my favorite time of the year in the Northwest – the rain stops and the sun comes out. Long days, warm nights. And family vacation season! Without good cross...
A Hard Skill to Identify the Soft Art
CAPTURING THE NUANCES OF YOUR SKILLED WORKERS In a survey recently conducted by AKT and the Northwest Food Processors Association, manufacturers expressed concern about finding employees with the necessary skills to fill open positions while nearly all respondents...
We Tried That, But, It Didn’t Work
OVERCOMING THE OBSTACLES OF BEING A UNIQUE ORGANIZATION As you look at your organizational challenges, do you have some nagging issues that you can’t seem to resolve? One manufacturer shared they do a good job of implementing process improvements, but, they don’t seem...