We all know it’s coming. The skills gap is an unfortunate side effect of the “silver tsunami.” More baby boomers are retiring from manufacturing than new hires are coming in to replace them, and those new hires don’t have the same skills and years of knowledge the baby boomers do. One of the biggest problems… Reads more »
Virtual Manufacturing Software Training Knowledge is power, especially in manufacturing. The more knowledge your team has about processes, software, production methods and more, the more value you can offer to your customers. Employee knowledge can also drive efficiency, as a better-trained and more informed team can identify areas for improvement in your processes. Of course,… Reads more »
With the calendar recently flipping over to November, many shops are preparing for their least favorite time of the year – downtime. But this slow time may also be the perfect time to implement new shop software. Nearly every shop in every industry has some period of downtime. Some industries experience downtime in the summer… Reads more »
A machine or other piece of equipment is only as valuable as the person operating it. You know that better than anyone. You can invest all the money in the world in a new piece of machinery. However, if the operator doesn’t know how to use it properly, you won’t get the maximum potential return… Reads more »
Another graduation season has passed. In many shops, that means a fresh influx of new graduates from high school, trade school, and community college. If you have openings due to retirement or growth, there’s a good chance you’re filling those jobs with younger workers. Whether they’re aware of it or not, today’s graduates are part… Reads more »
Do you feel like your machine shop is in a rut? There’s plenty of work and you and your team are always busy, but still, you never seem to get ahead. It feels like there’s always a cash crunch looming or there’s always a crisis that you have to deal with. Sometimes you may even… Reads more »
There are lots of ways to increase your company’s value. You can grow sales. You can pay down debt. You can implement job shop software to make your shop more efficient. You can even upgrade your machinery and facility. However, one of the best ways to grow your bottom line and increase the value of… Reads more »
There’s one surefire way to make your job shop more profitable this year – by becoming more efficient. Eliminating waste and getting more production out of your team is a guaranteed formula for increased profitability. Greater efficiency is easier said than done, though. That’s especially true when you’re juggling a wide range of customer demands… Reads more »
There’s no doubt that job shop software can improve your shop’s efficiency, productivity, and overall profitability. However, just having the right software isn’t enough. You also need to make sure your team members are using it properly. Even the best software won’t produce results if your workers aren’t implementing it to its fullest capabilities. Most… Reads more »
Do you dread the idea of implementing new job shop software? Have you purchased software that’s subsequently gone unused because you don’t know how to manage the transition? You’re not alone. For many job shops, the challenge isn’t in finding the right software; it’s in implementing the new software. Most job shop owners see the… Reads more »
What does your job shop have in common with Pike Place Fish Market, the Seattle landmark where they throw fish to customers? Hold the fishy smell jokes, please. According to Shoptech’s business development manager, Gerri Schuh, we all can take a cue from that famous fish market and learn some big lessons on how to… Reads more »
A new device or piece of equipment may be dynamic and powerful. But without the user being aware of all its capability and understanding how it operates, its full potential cannot be realized. Thorough training, therefore, is critical when it comes to implementing a manufacturing software package, and more specifically, enterprise resource planning (ERP) or… Reads more »
As technology becomes more prominent in our personal and professional lives, our reliance on technical support also continues to increase. In the business world, with all the similarities existing between the many enterprise resource planning (ERP) software packages available, it is often the support aspect that makes the difference in which program a company chooses… Reads more »