Manufacturing starts with a design and then a plan that’s executed upon to deliver the resulting product. But what sounds simple is in fact an orchestra of factors that makes for complex supply-chain management. Workforce issues further complicate matters. During the absence of key colleagues, many of us improvise and…
While speed is surely better than slowness in today’s business climate, what is perhaps more beneficial for manufacturers is planning for the most optimal speed of product development rather than the fastest speed possible. Ensuring the development of products occurs at an appropriate rate of progression through the consideration of…
In order to stay competitive in today’s crowded and everchanging marketplace, manufacturers are tasked with delivering value in two ways. The first is by providing innovative products that ensure and improve safety and efficacy and the second is by maximizing cost-effectiveness throughout the product’s lifecycle, from development to launch to…
Suppliers are the most ideal resources to help manufacturers innovate due to their unique perspectives and abilities. Manufacturer-supplier innovation can be taken a step further when manufacturers choose suppliers focused on their relationships with their customers, also known as customer-intimate suppliers. According to Michael Treacy and Fred Wiersma, customer-intimate suppliers…
In a recent article in Forbes, “What ‘Ingredient Brands’ Are And Why They’re Important,” Richard Kestenbaum writes about how the use of ingredient brands can help a brand communicate the quality and craftsmanship of its product. Citing the suitcase brand Voicer, Kestenbaum writes, “Voicer developed an ingenious method for making…
