The Lean Business Model is for Everyone: How To Avoid Undoing Continuous Improvement Progress
Managing a company using the Lean approach requires everybody at every level of the organization to think about time all the time. Lean enthusiasts think about ‘lead-time, ‘wait-time, ‘through-put time’, ‘on-time delivery’, ‘takt-time’, ‘set-up time’, ‘down-time’, etc. It is also about time that someone addresses how the Lean approach can…
Do You Have An Exit Strategy?
There are 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 years of age every day for the next 14 years. As a business owner within 7-years of departing your business you should be planning for your eventual exit. Developing a transition plan provides you the freedom and financial security you have always envisioned.
How the Process of Change Can Bring Manufacturers Growth
Results matter Just ask any olympic athlete about the importance of results .025 seconds can mean the difference between a bronze medal or none at all. What do you do as a business when you’re not getting the results you want? What if you’re not profitable enough? What if your marketing plan is collecting…
Workforce Opportunity Tax Credit
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) has been extended through 2025. This is an incentive for employers to broaden their job applicant pools and hire from certain groups of people who may need assistance finding jobs such as: Unemployed or disabled military veterans Long-term unemployed Temporary Assistance for Needy Family…
How to Calculate the Financial Impact of Continuous Improvement Projects
A full-length version of this article was published February 22nd, 2021 in The Fabricator, From my early days working in a precision sheet metal shop and through my career as a lean consultant, I frequently have found it challenging to convince finance teams to allocate funds for continuous improvement…
Prioritized PPP Loan Applications for Businesses with 20 or Fewer Employees
The Biden Administration announced that it is opening a special two-week period for businesses with less than 20 employees to apply for PPP assistance before the March 31 deadline. The SBA has established a 14-day, exclusive PPP loan application period for businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 20 employees, beginning…
Mechatronics Program Request
PCC is developing a mechatronics program designed to meet industry’s evolving needs in the areas of electrical and mechanical maintenance and automation. We recognize that “Mechatronics” is a broad field, and have focused our program design on the following objectives: Program content should be highly relevant to local industries and employers’ needs,…
ISCO Manufacturing Solutions Achieves AS9100D Certification
Established in 1973, ISCO Manufacturing Solutions (ISCO) is a precision machine shop and manufacturing facility specializing in CNC Machining, Fabrication and Assembly. Located in Bend Oregon, ISCO serves customers in many industries including Aerospace, Electronics, Medical Equipment, Industrial Manufacturing and Construction. Typical projects range from one-off R&D, to long…
Smart Manufacturing Survey from University of California, Irvine: Your chance to voice your opinion!
Do you work in a small or medium manufacturing firm (fewer than 500 employees)? Or do you work with such companies as a consultant? Consider donating 10-15 minutes of your time! You could win a gift card of $500! With your help, this will be the largest national study ever…
New Alliance Announced to Serve Mid-Willamette Valley Businesses
In Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley, the partnership of Chemeketa Community College, the Small Business Development Center, the Willamette Workforce Partnership, the Strategic Economic Development Corporation, and the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership form a coalition of organizations with resources designed to strengthen the region’s manufacturers…