Can outsourcing mitigate labor shortages?

June 1, 2023  |  Business, Management

I was recently speaking with a group of operations managers and they raised the topic of outsourcing. Outsourcing of services has always been something that my clients have traditionally shied away from. They often outsource functions in the early years, but as they grow, there is a tendency to brin…
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Leadership and management

April 1, 2023  |  Business, Management

Leadership and management are closely related; however, despite often being spoken of in the same breath, they are certainly not synonymous. If we use those terms interchangeably, we tend to behave as if these roles are interchangeable and equivalent. Doing so means we miss critical components of ex…
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Checklists are the key to preventive maintenance

December 1, 2022  |  Business, Management

Don’t you hate it when things don’t work in the warehouse? You jump on the forklift, ready to unload a 40-ft. trailer, and the battery is dead. As you are cursing your misfortune, you grab the pallet jack and the hydraulic pump is shot.
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Attract the hourly workforce

August 1, 2022  |  Management

The rapid pace of change due to COVID-19 and its impact on hiring and retaining hourly employees demands a new source of insight to distinguish yourself as an employer. Historically, most employers turn to benchmarking as a first step toward enhancing their employee attraction and retention efforts.…
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U.S. sanctions compliance

June 1, 2022  |  Business, Management

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, new sanctions/restrictive measures have been issued by the U.S., EU, UK, Switzerland, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Iceland, Australia and New Zealand. As a result, Russia is now the most heavily sanctioned country in the world.
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Developing the team

April 1, 2022  |  Business, Management

Every business owner I have ever worked with has always wanted to surround themselves with better people. Having a solid team of highly skilled individuals with differing strengths will ultimately make running the business easier. It’s really satisfying when you don’t have to look over every asp…
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The ethical dilemma of ransomware attacks

December 1, 2021  |  Management

The recent proliferation of well-publicized cyberattacks has revealed ransomware to be a serious national security threat. Still largely hidden from public view, however, are the attacks on small businesses, including many within the industrial, specialty and advanced textile industry, that don’t …
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Supporting employees’ mental health

October 1, 2021  |  Business, Management

As we continue to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, many have been reflecting on the year that was—or perhaps wasn’t. For a vast number of folks, priorities have shifted from simply surviving to remaining strong in the face of what has passed and what is to come.
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Succession strategies

August 1, 2021  |  Management

Determining the true value of your company. by Larry Oxenham Succession planning can be a tricky matter, especially if you’re passing your business on to a family member. Sometimes keeping it in the family is viable, but not in every case. If it comes time to sell the business instead, you should …
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Books to improve your business skills

June 1, 2021  |  Business, Management

Education is a valuable asset when it comes to success in life and business. Going to college is the standard road map many people use to get an education that helps them succeed, but I never really enjoyed the classroom. I wanted to get out and get busy. I did better with hands-on learning, either …
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