I am blessed with a network that brings me interesting problems to solve. Most of the project management and operations engineering work that I do is through a fractional leadership model. Relationships are of utmost importance. I used McGuffins to keep my network alive during the lockdowns. Here’s how this networking method works: A McGuffin […]
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A Plan for Every Part
A Plan for Every Part drives waste out of inventory and warehousing operations. It is the foundation for the continuous improvement of your procurement and material handling activities. Here’s how to get started: A Plan for Every Part is exactly as named: a compilation of facts and figures about all of your part numbers. While […]
Ice Racing
My annual Minnesota ice racing adventure is trip into a parallel universe. A front-wheel drive modified street car with studded tires on ice drives nothing like a Formula Ford with slicks on pavement. Inside out, upside down. For one weekend, I must relearn how to drive a race car. Tire characteristics explain most of the […]
Capacity Expansion
I am providing fractional leadership on a capacity expansion project. What are the key deliverables in the initial workplan? The project is likely to have a 12 to 18 month timeline. Therefore, it is essential to build a solid foundation with basic project management tools: a project plan, a Gantt chart, and a punch list. […]
Supply Chain Risk
Supply chain risk is readily evident with COVID-19 related plant shutdowns across the country and across the globe. Outsourcing and off-shoring have increased the length of supply chains. Lean Manufacturing has reduced inventories. Just-In-Time / Just-In-Sequence deliveries leave little time for the unexpected. Here is a simple method to assess supply chain risk. The method […]