Every shop wants to improve productivity but making that happen can be tricky. Once productivity goes up, so does the bottom line and all sorts of other things, but getting started can be difficult. This is especially true if you’ve already tried to make your shop more productive and have run out of ideas. Below…
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A job can’t run without materials. That necessity is part of why purchasing and ordering are so important, but they can have an even bigger impact on your shop. It’s critical your shop has a program for purchasing and ordering that can keep up. Otherwise, you could be spending too much money and sending out…
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As we welcome 2020, we also take one last look back at 2019. Below are our top 10 blog posts from last year. It looks like many people wanted to make their shops more efficient, figure out scheduling, and improve their shop overall. Then again, who wouldn’t? Let’s get started with the tenth most popular…
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The best part of having an ERP system is how much it improves your shop. How it makes your shop better depends on what you need it to do and how you use it. For example, you may need an ERP system that tells you exactly where your jobs are so you can meet tight…
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We’ve all heard that technology can make our lives better, but it can be hard to know, specifically, what technology to use. There are plenty of examples of technology that can be used in a job shop. Some things, however, work better than others. Below are five examples of technology that can do wonders for…
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You probably already know how getting ISO certified can help your shop. Potential customers like to see that your shop is meticulous enough to have earned this certification, and in some cases, they require it before giving your shop work. So, it’s understandable that shop owners would like to have this certification. However, shop employees…
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Every journey starts with a single step. When you’re trying to improve your shop, it’s easier to start with small changes and goals. This is kaizen in a nutshell. Kaizen literally means “continual improvement”. When used at work, there are 5 key principles to kaizen: know your customer, let it flow, go to Gemba (or…
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Who would have thought that keeping old records would save the day? For Dan Rozwadowski at Eagle Grinding and Plating, those scanned-in records helped save a customer and get them more business. Sharing Knowledge Recently more and more Baby Boomers are retiring and they’re taking knowledge with them that was never written down. This is…
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Keeping employees around and working at the top of their game has always been important, but as more employees retire, it becomes more important to keep the younger ones around. Motivated employees stay longer with a company and work harder. So, the question becomes how to motivate your employees. There’s more than one answer to…
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Implementing a new ERP system is one of the most difficult parts of using a new system. One often-forgotten part of this process is moving information over from the old system into the new one. If the old system was spreadsheets or another ERP system that will let you export your information, this process should…
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These days there are more options than ever for customers of manufacturers. In order to bring in new customers, you have to make your shop stand out. Of course, you can improve your percentage of jobs delivered on time and lower your percentage of rework, but customers are looking for something a little more personal….
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As anyone who’s ever worked in a group knows, communication is key. It’s no good telling someone to use the press brake if they bend the material in the wrong place. It’s even worse if someone tells you there’s enough sheet metal for a job, but they were looking at the wrong numbers, and you…
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ERP systems make many things easier in manufacturing shops. However, there are still gaps in some software packages. For example, if a manufacturer gets a CAD file from one of their customers, it would be easiest for the manufacturer if that CAD file could update in their ERP system. However, for many ERP systems, this…
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As it gets closer to the end of the year, accounting savvy manufacturers will be thinking about how to maximize their tax deduction under Section 179. Not accounting savvy? No problem. Section 179 is essentially part of tax law that allows manufacturers to write off their purchase price for qualifying equipment and/or software that they…
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Many people have the idea that manufacturing has left the US. While it is true that many plants have been moved offshore to other countries, manufacturing as a whole is still alive and well in the US. In fact, it’s getting stronger. Manufacturing is Getting Stronger Far from dying away, manufacturing in America is growing….
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IT costs can add up quickly, but shop owners rarely sit down see how much they’re spending. It can be surprising how much everything costs when you put it all together, especially if you host your ERP software yourself. Below is a list of IT costs that accompany an ERP system if it’s hosted at…
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Google isn’t just a way to answer your questions. It can also be a marketing tool for your job shop. Because Google is such a popular search engine and advertiser, it’s a great idea to take advantage of its tools. Using Google effectively makes it easier for customers to find your shop, and some of…
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No one is really ready when disaster hits their shop. However, the more you can prepare before a disaster hits, the better off you’ll be if one does happen. If you have a plan in place, then you don’t have to try to figure out what to do in the middle of a disaster. You…
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Whether you’re changing a process in your shop or implementing new software, there are specific ways to address change in every kind of shop. For instance, just because some things work well for repetitive manufacturers, doesn’t mean they’ll work well for a job shop. You need strategies that work with your shop’s operations. Below are…
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There’s a lot to think about when you’re replacing your legacy ERP system with a new one. One of the biggest considerations is how you’re going to get your data out of your old ERP system and into your new one. While there is no absolute rule that works for everyone when it comes to…
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Being a great boss is difficult anywhere, but working in a job shop has its own set of challenges. However, the more effort you put in, the more payoff you’ll see. Having a great boss makes it more likely that an employee will be engaged. According to a Gallup study, businesses that have the most…
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It’s hard to find employees for manufacturing jobs today. Hiring qualified employees is even more difficult. However, there are a few things your shop can do to make it easier. The following checklist lays out what you can do to give your shop the best chance of getting qualified manufacturing employees. Check Your Job Posting…
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There are many things you can try to make your shop succeed. However, your shop can’t succeed if your employees have to wrestle with outdated software. The software’s purpose is to assist your shop. If used effectively, it will become like a partner to your shop and help it grow. E2 has been this partner…
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When you start looking at ways to make your shop more efficient, lean manufacturing is one of the first strategies that come up. Lean manufacturing is a strategy to eliminate waste from your shop. Waste can come in the form of wasted time or resources. Job shops typically find it difficult to use lean manufacturing…
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It’s likely that you chose to work in manufacturing and run a shop because you want to. However, while you enjoy some parts of your job, there are other parts that you probably don’t enjoy. There’s a lot that goes into owning a shop and not all of it is fun. Thankfully, there are a…
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